Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Episode: Cowboys Are Better Than People Think, Believe in Caleb Williams and the Bears, Defending Sam Darnold
Date: November 18, 2025
Podcast: The Herd with Colin Cowherd (iHeartPodcasts & The Volume)

Overview

In this hour of The Herd, Colin Cowherd unpacks why the Dallas Cowboys are in a stronger position than critics claim, defends optimistic takes on Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears, and draws fascinating parallels between Sam Darnold and Andrew Luck. Additional segments cover Jalen Hurts’ status in Philadelphia, Aaron Rodgers' injury news, Brock Purdy's return, and the evolving landscape of elite NFL quarterbacks. The tone is energetic, opinionated, and full of signature Cowherd wit, offering in-depth football analysis while blending in engaging sports culture discussion.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Dallas Cowboys: Underrated and Ascending

[03:03]

• Cowherd contends Dallas is not as far off as critics believe, citing strong performances even in less-notable matchups (“You can say it was just the Raiders...but it should be noted. Dallas, Quinn and Williams down. They got that linebacker back. That second round pick is healthy.”)
• Emphasizes the impact of recently returning defenders (Quinnen Williams, Donovan Ezraku, Demarvian Overshone) and the development of young offensive linemen.
• Points out Dallas has “a top 10 to 12 quarterback,” solid run game, young and "ascending offense", and valuable draft capital (two first-round picks).
• On Dak Prescott vs. Dolphins: “Dallas has the same number of wins as the Miami Dolphins and I would take Dallas 10 out of 10 times because of Dakota.”
• Praises front office savvy for not surrendering a future first-rounder for Quinnen Williams, setting up favorable draft flexibility.
• “Dallas is young, they're ascending... Not all struggling teams are equal. Dallas has the offense right.”
• Potential draft targets: “Maybe go get Caleb Downs, Ohio State. Go get an edge rusher. Problem solved. Young, athletic.”
  Memorable moment: His consistent argument Dallas does NOT need a quarterback, letting them manipulate the 2025 draft.

2. Believing in Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears

[09:52]

• Cowherd pushes back against detractors downplaying Chicago’s 7–3 start: “The big question is, the Bears are 7 and 3 and in first place... and everybody's saying, oh, yeah, but the schedule. Whoa.”
• Analysis: The next five Bears opponents (Steelers, Eagles, Packers, Browns, Packers) all “struggle with offensive identity,” unlike Chicago, which “runs the ball a lot, runs the ball well,” and “leads the NFL in big plays.”
• Bears as a “Quentin Tarantino movie—strong plot, excellent character development, seems a little out of order,” but it comes together by the end.
• “You do not have to be perfect to get to a Super Bowl. You just have to have an identity.”
• On Caleb Williams: Learning on the fly, but the team is “winning as he's learning.”
  [12:46] J. Mac: “Caleb is a young player learning on the fly. And as he's learning they're winning…”
  [13:14] Colin: “No, they haven't really beat anybody... but... Happy birthday to Caleb. Happy birthday to first place. Happy birthday to facing five straight games with teams with no offensive identity.”
• Cowherd avoids fretting over point differential: “I don't get caught up into those numbers… here's the number I see, the seven and first place.”

3. The Bo Nix Debate—Coaching & Quarterback Success

[18:02]

• Highlighting how quarterback fortunes are tied to coaching: “There are no quarterbacks that are elite that had a string of bad coaches.”
• Lists his “15 best quarterbacks” and notes they all had strong coaching.
• Reframes narratives around Bo Nix, comparing his trajectory to Andrew Luck and Troy Aikman—elite QBs who benefited from good coaching (e.g., Sean Payton).
• Nix’s high pass attempts seen as “the ultimate sign of respect” from Sean Payton: “Bo Nix leads the whole freaking league in pass attempts, so he can drive me crazy… but that's trust.”
  [24:50-25:20] Notable exchange:
  J. Mac: “People are always entitled to their opinion... but you just gotta block it out.”
  Colin: “He's near the top of the league in a lot of things. At number one in total pass attempts. That speaks well of what Sean Payton thinks of him.”

4. Jalen Hurts’ Future & Eagles Drama

[25:39]

• Discusses “wacky” insider rumors about Jalen Hurts’ standing in Philly: “There's an insider who's claiming that folks within the Eagles organization have grown frustrated with the quarterback situation. The insider added that some people… would like to move off Jalen Hurts, but the money just makes it impossible.”
• Jordan Mailata, Eagles LT, dismisses rumors as “kind of crazy.”
  [26:56] J. Mac: Citing Hurts’ record (22-3 in last 25 starts), expresses disbelief: “To think Jalen Hurts is the problem. Colin, how many offensive coordinators has he had in Philly?”
  [27:18] Colin: “You say battle ax, I say seasoned journalist. He's not making it up. Somebody inside...”
• Both find the idea that Hurts is the problem “flabbergasting.”

5. Aaron Rodgers’ Injury & NFL News

[28:36]

• Discusses how quickly Rodgers’ injury leaked and the impact on the Steelers’ betting line.
• Cowherd’s insight: “It's hard to keep things under wraps… I don't feel like the Steelers have a leak. I just think Aaron's a high profile guy...”

6. Defending Sam Darnold—The Andrew Luck Comparison

[42:14]

• Defends Sam Darnold, drawing direct statistical/situational lines to Andrew Luck:
  • Both averaged about one INT per game; both had at least five seasons with 10+ INTs.
  • Darnold “more accurate” per stats; Luck’s situation was more favorable (good first gig with Bruce Arians vs. Darnold’s Jets).
• “If you take the Jets out and just count Carolina, Minnesota and Seattle, Sam looks like an A quarterback.”
• “What was the worst game Andrew Luck ever had? Four interceptions against Belichick in the playoffs. What are the two worst games Sam Darnold's ever had? Both against the Rams. 1 and 1 last year in Minnesota versus the Rams in the playoffs and this weekend.”
• On risk-taking QBs: “Completion percentage matters... but I want wins and playoff wins. I don’t care about passer rating.” [45:27] Seahawks coach Mike McDonald on Darnold: “Sam's played in time and in rhythm... made a lot of plays off schedule... you don’t want to take the playmaker out of him.”

7. Mahomes & Chiefs: Under the Microscope

[45:27]

• Cowherd claims some of the Chiefs’ struggles stem from Mahomes himself: “In the last two seasons, he has not been in Josh Allen's galaxy.”
• Mahomes’ drop-offs: Worse accuracy, underwhelming road play (“barely completes 60%,” passer rating in the low 80s on the road), winless when trailing in the fourth quarter.
• Calls for KC to “rip off the bandaid” with aging stars and prepare to “reboot.”
• Compares Mahomes’ division dominance to Brady and LeBron feasting in weak divisions/conferences: “To create a dynasty, everyone else has to underachieve a little or be dysfunctional.”
• Concludes Chiefs’ “era” benefits from weak competition, but with stiffer opponents and declining Mahomes performance, “Kansas City needs a reboot.”
  [47:51] Mahomes quote: “It's just about being more consistent... I think it starts with me…”

8. Additional NFL Notes

[52:23]

• Brief takes on Tampa’s tumbling defense, Green Bay’s bounce-back potential, the wacky nature of NFL point spreads, and the Thanksgiving week “danger zone” for favorites.
• Cowherd: “This week is a dangerous week. Be a little bit cautious just because of the holidays approaching.”
• Recommends 49ers as a strong Monday night pick.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Dallas’ potential:
  “Dallas has a top 10 to 12 quarterback... they are an ascending offense and remember I've been on this, they don't need a quarterback.” – Colin Cowherd [03:46]

• On the Bears’ identity:
  “They are going to run the ball a lot and they're going to run it well. So that's an identity. The Bears, you know, it's a little like a Quentin Tarantino movie. Strong plot, excellent character development. Seems a little out of order.” – Colin Cowherd [10:45]

• On Bo Nix and coaching:
  “There are no quarterbacks that are elite that had a string of bad coaches.” – Colin Cowherd [18:54] “Bo Nix leads the whole freaking league in pass attempts, so he can drive me crazy… but that's trust.” – Colin Cowherd [25:13]

• On Jalen Hurts criticism:
  “To think Jalen Hurts is the problem... I'm just flabbergasted.” – J. Mac [28:37]

• On Sam Darnold’s comp:
  “So when Sam Darnold came out... I said he's about 80% of Andrew Luck. That's his comp... Andrew Luck never played for the Jets.” – Colin Cowherd [42:14]

• On Mahomes & Chiefs:
  “Some of the Chief's underachievement this year is on Mahomes. He's been less consistent, less accurate...” – Colin Cowherd [45:27]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [03:03] Cowboys Analysis: Why Dallas deserves more respect
• [09:52] Case for the Bears and Caleb Williams’ development
• [12:46] J. Mac joins—Caleb Williams' learning curve & Bears culture
• [18:02] The “Elite Quarterbacks Need Elite Coaches” argument
• [25:39] Eagles’ internal drama with Jalen Hurts
• [28:36] Aaron Rodgers’ injury and media leaks
• [42:14] Sam Darnold–Andrew Luck comparison and Darnold’s value
• [45:27] Mahomes’ struggles, Chiefs dynasty context, and division history
• [52:23] Rapid-fire NFL lines, holiday schedule risks
• [54:19] 49ers pick and closing week outlook

Conclusion

This episode features Colin Cowherd at his analytical, contrarian best: challenging groupthink on Dallas, standing firm on the promise of Caleb Williams and the Bears, and offering stats-laden defenses of embattled quarterbacks like Sam Darnold. Listeners are treated to a fast-paced, deep-dive journey through the week’s NFL narratives—always with Cowherd’s blend of data, storytelling, and opinion.

Whether you root for the Cowboys, Bears, Eagles, or crave straightforward quarterback talk, Colin’s nuanced breakdowns and sharp takes provide clarity and context for NFL fans looking to see past the headlines.