The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Hour 1 (Dec 1, 2025)

Main Theme:
This episode delves into the evolving landscape of NFL coaching and team identity, exploring why fans are turning on Mike Tomlin in Pittsburgh, the significance of Lane Kiffin’s move to LSU, the rapid transformation of the Bears under Ben Johnson, and broader football trends.

Episode Overview

Colin Cowherd discusses the stagnation of defensive-minded, long-tenured coaches like Mike Tomlin, the drama and implications of Lane Kiffin leaving Ole Miss for LSU, and how offensive innovation is changing franchises like the Bears. Key moments feature blunt analysis, notable fan reactions, and timely discussion about NFL and college football power shifts.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Pittsburgh Steelers & the Mike Tomlin Backlash

• Fan frustration is boiling over: Steelers fans chanted “Fire Mike Tomlin” as the Bills dominated Pittsburgh.
• Colin’s critique: The Steelers have been stuck in a cycle—above .500 but lacking real progression, consistently suffering from weak offense, an O-line "in crisis," and an overpaid, underperforming defense.
• Defensive legacy outdated: Colin argues that veteran defensive-minded coaches (Tomlin, Carroll, Belichick, Rivera) are no longer suited to today’s offense-driven NFL.
  • "The guy in charge, Mike Tomlin, is tone deaf to offense. NFL head coaches have gotten younger, smarter and more offensive." (04:36)
• TJ Watt’s comments possibly shade Tomlin:
  • "I've never seen a team run the same play as much as they ran it tonight and have as much success as they had. I'm out of words for it... right now we don't have a kick ass defensive group." – TJ Watt (07:37)
• Colin’s bottom line: Steelers’ issues are systemic and reflect a need for offensive innovation; it’s not just roster, but leadership, that must evolve.

2. Coaching Trends: Offensive Minds Rise

• Offensive coaches like Sean Payton, Ben Johnson, Sean McVay, and Kyle Shanahan are “younger, smarter, more current.”
• Colin asserts: "Offensive coaches can fix problems in season. Defensive guys feel like they need an off season." (05:34)
• Comparison with younger defensive minds: Demeko Ryans and Mike McDonald are “young, current, aggressive—different from the old guard.”

3. Lane Kiffin Leaves Ole Miss for LSU

• Lane Kiffin's move: Kiffin leaving for LSU is painted as college football’s “attention economy” at work—star presence trumps tradition and stability.
  • “Say what you want about Kiffin, you don’t have to like him ... Kiffin, the LSU, they feel big.” (10:26)
• Perspective for Ole Miss fans: Kiffin’s departure is painful, but his tenure raised the program to heights unseen in decades.
  • “If I told you four years ago, Lane Kiffin's gonna burn you at the end. But it'll make you the number one offense...You'd have taken it on the spot. You date the supermodel, she dumps you. You knew it was coming.” (11:10)
• College football’s volatility: The sport is chaotic, unregulated, and prone to drama—like “bitcoin” or the “wild, wild west,” per Colin.
• Kiffin’s own words on his exit:
  • “This was a very challenging, difficult day...I just totally wish the team the best of luck, wish that I was coaching, but understand..." – Lane Kiffin (13:26)
• Colin defends Kiffin, warning against sentimentality in a business built on constant change.

4. Chicago Bears Turnaround Under Ben Johnson

• Rapid transformation: Ben Johnson's arrival redefines the Bears' identity—tough, physical, and committed to running the ball.
  • "Ben Johnson has been in Chicago less than a year. They already have an identity." (07:58)
• Statistical leaps: Last year’s Bears ranked 29th in big plays; this year, they're top 2. Defense is #1 in takeaways, #2 in rushing defense.
• Coaching DNA: Colin stresses that great coaches create structure and squeeze the most from the roster: “Getting the right coach does not guarantee Super Bowls…But it does guarantee an identity.” (23:54)
• On QB development & toughness: “All good coaches are tough and demanding on quarterbacks.”
• Ben Johnson’s approach: Hard on Caleb Williams (“no pandering”) and demands focus, discipline, and physicality.

5. NFL Week Reactions & Notable Games

• Chargers/Herbert: Despite injuries, L.A. remains tough under Harbaugh (“good coaching does that; toughness seeps through the roster”).
• Broncos: Sean Payton’s team survives close games, underscoring that good coaches consistently find ways to win: “It’s no coincidence that Sean Payton and Ben Johnson win all these close games…” (30:17)
• Packers/Lions: Jordan Love praised for clutch performance and rapid in-season offensive fixes by coach Matt LaFleur.
  • “Green Bay's offense was broken three weeks ago... What did their young offensive coach do? He fixed it in season. Pittsburgh can't do that.” (33:39)

6. Wider NFL & College Football Trends

• Teams like Philadelphia are exposed for their schematic stagnation (“Nick Sirianni feels almost like a defensive coach—brute strength over tweaking”).
• Young offensive minds adjust quickly, while old-school coaches lag.
• Lane Kiffin and conference realignment foreshadow major shifts in college football’s landscape.
• Jerry Jones’ bold trades—like moving off Micah Parsons—highlight the NFL as a business of flexibility, not sentimentality.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Colin on Tomlin & Older Defensive Coaches:
  "NFL head coaches have gotten younger, smarter and more offensive. And these older defensive guys… They feel outdated." (04:36)
• TJ Watt’s Frustration:
  "I've never seen a team run the same play as much as they ran it tonight and have as much success as they had." (07:37)
• Colin on Kiffin's Move:
  "You date the supermodel, she dumps you. You knew it was coming." (11:10)
• Lane Kiffin on Leaving:
  "This was a very challenging, difficult day... I just totally wish the team the best of luck, wish that I was coaching, but understand..." (13:26)
• Colin on Ben Johnson & Coaching Impact:
  "Getting the right coach does not guarantee Super Bowls…But it does guarantee an identity." (23:54)
• Caleb Williams (Bears QB) on Mindset:
  "Every single game that we play... is to make a statement. That's just another game for us, you know, focus on being 1 and 0 each week." (25:50)

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• Steelers Fan Backlash & Tomlin Critique: 02:50–07:15
• TJ Watt’s Candid Comments: 07:37
• Rise of Offensive Coaches: 04:36–06:51
• Lane Kiffin to LSU & Ole Miss Reflection: 10:26–16:22
• Lane Kiffin’s Exit Statement: 13:26–14:03
• Ben Johnson and Bears Identity Shift: 21:47–26:19
• Caleb Williams Post-Game Thoughts: 25:50
• Packers' In-Season Offensive Fix: 33:39–34:50
• Colin’s Jerry Jones/Dallas Analysis: 41:51–49:00
• Colin on Philadelphia’s Identity Crisis: 49:00–52:06

Summary Table: Main Themes

| Segment / Topic | Time | Main Takeaway | |-----------------------------------|----------|--------------------------------------------------------------| | Steelers/Tomlin | 02:50 | Fan unrest, outdated defensive coaching, need for offense | | Offensive Coaching Trend | 04:36 | Youth, adaptability, problem-solving in season | | Lane Kiffin to LSU | 10:26 | Big move, attention economy, Ole Miss pains | | Kiffin’s Exit Statement | 13:26 | Handling the breakup with respect, college football chaos | | Bears/Ben Johnson | 21:47 | Quick culture shift, running game, tough-minded QB coaching | | Packers Offense Fix | 33:39 | Young coaches quickly fix schematic issues | | Cowboys/Jerry Jones Flexibility | 41:51 | Trading stars for infrastructure, bold GM moves | | Eagles’ Offensive Issues | 49:00 | Stagnation, lack of midseason adjustment, scheme critique |

Conclusion

This hour of The Herd takes a sweeping look at football’s power dynamics—on the field and the sidelines. From Pittsburgh’s cries for change under Mike Tomlin, to the seismic Lane Kiffin coaching move, to the Bears’ rapid development under Ben Johnson, Colin Cowherd argues that modern football belongs to bold, adaptive, and offensively-minded coaches. The show’s tone is candid, a blend of humor, real talk, and pointed critique, packed with memorable lines and sharp insight for any sports fan.