Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Episode: THE HERD - Hour 1 - Jalen Hurts is mostly to blame, Caleb Williams and the Bears should be fine, Dodgers still spending
Date: December 10, 2025

Overview

In this hour, Colin Cowherd delivers strong, fact-driven takes on current sports storylines including the struggles of Jalen Hurts and the Eagles, optimism about Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears, and the Los Angeles Dodgers' model of franchise management and spending. The episode also covers NFL quarterback dynamics, college football’s NIL revolution, the Chiefs' evolving roster, and debates about upward mobility for coaches and quarterbacks.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Jalen Hurts’ Limitations and the Eagles’ Slump

• [03:47]–[09:00]

• Colin opens with a hard stance: Jalen Hurts’ small stature and growing limitations as a passer are hurting the Philadelphia Eagles during their losing streak. He cites Nick Sirianni's public backing of Hurts but then pivots to assert that, statistically, the more Hurts throws, the worse the Eagles perform.

• Quarterback Height Matters:
  Colin highlights that nearly all division-leading or MVP-level QBs are 6’3” or taller:

  “I'm 6'2. I can't be taller than your franchise quarterback.” (Colin, [05:45])

• Durability & Size:
  Jalen Hurts, Tua Tagovailoa, Kyler Murray, and Brock Purdy are cited as examples of smaller QBs who struggle to stay healthy or effective late in seasons.

• Offensive lines are massive, creating visibility and leverage disadvantages for shorter quarterbacks.

• Comparison to Justin Herbert:
  Herbert, notably larger and physically robust, has taken more hits yet sustained his caliber and team record.

  “Justin Herbert…closer to 6’7” than 6’6”... been hit 106 times, has a broken hand, no run game—and his team is 9-4.” (Colin, [07:03])

2. Caleb Williams, Completion Percentage & The Rookie Contract Window

• [09:00]–[12:48]

• Colin transitions to a conversation with an NFL GM about Caleb Williams’ sub-60% completion percentage.

• Argues that Josh Allen had similar struggles early; his current improvement is more about targeting tight ends and throwing shorter passes, not just newfound accuracy.

• Rookie Contract Advantage:

  “When you’re on your rookie contract, have an offensive coach and are really, really above average in athleticism… you’re allowed to be [uneven].” (Colin, [11:34])

• Both Caleb Williams and Bo Nix are winning because their teams are stacked—large cap space means better supporting casts due to low rookie QB salaries.

• Quote from RG3 on Caleb Williams:

  “Accuracy is a myth. Accuracy to me is always dependent upon where the defense is and what you’re trying to get the receiver to do.” ([12:48])

• Colin stresses that risk-taking and upside matter more than pedestrian completion rates, especially in a league with high roster turnover and limited QB availability.

3. Dodgers: Excellence Beyond Payroll

• [14:09]–[22:31]
• Colin makes the case that the Dodgers are the best-run franchise in any North American sport, outpacing rivals not just with money, but with scouting, R&D, and forward-thinking strategy.
• Comparing Sports and Media:
  Emphasizes the importance of having dynasties (“Mission Impossible, Avengers”) in a content-saturated world—parity doesn’t move the needle in distracted markets.

  “Parody doesn’t cut through…you gotta go Mission Impossible, you gotta go Avengers.” (Colin, [20:08])

• The Dodgers “force you to pick a side;” they are never boring, which is vital in modern sports media.

  “What’s boring is Oklahoma City, a personality-less team in a parity-driven, new-champ-every-year sport nobody’s watching.” (Colin, [20:45])

• Colin draws parallels to college football, where consolidation of power is driving ratings up, even as tradition-bound conferences dissolve or merge.

4. NFL Notes: Chiefs’ Troubles & Player Declines

• [23:54]–[27:15]
• Jason McIntyre joins to discuss the Chiefs’ playoff risk, Travis Kelce's age showing, and the team’s vanished offensive spark.

  “[Kelce] continues to look—listen, we said maybe he’s washed. That was an awful game, an awful ending, and Taylor Swift was there to see it.” (J. McIntyre, [24:21])

• Colin contextualizes Kelce’s decline: earlier in-season numbers were boosted by weakened supporting cast; cumulative wear and cold-weather injuries take their toll.

  “Older players can be very effective early. But this sport wears you down…he’s first, second or third best tight end I’ve ever watched.” (Colin, [25:48])

5. Coaching Carousel: Should Marcus Freeman Jump to the NFL?

• [31:02]–[35:44]
• Colin contemplates Marcus Freeman’s rumored NFL prospects, highlighting the growing appeal—and better aging process—of top college coaching jobs.

  “College jobs now pay about 80–90% of NFL jobs…you get to control the personnel…” (Colin, [32:18])

• College coaches are happier, look younger, and enjoy better job security compared to their NFL peers battered by owner volatility.
• Notre Dame AD commits to keeping Freeman well-compensated and valued.

  “Everybody has eyes on Marcus. College has eyes on Marcus. NFL has eyes on Marcus. I bet Hollywood has eyes on Marcus…” (ND AD, [34:34])

6. Quarterback Draft Trends & the Value of Coaching

• [41:14]–[51:35]

• Discussion on the QB draft market, including Shadour Sanders' NFL case and the Fernando Mendoza phenomenon: supply cannot keep up with demand for starting QBs.

• NIL and college salaries give young QBs reason to stay in school longer.

• Debate on trading up for quarterbacks: success is tied less to pick order, more to coaching quality.

  “When does it work?…If you have a really smart coach that can get the most out of a young player, trading up works.” (Colin, [51:31])

• Positive spin on NIL and transfer portal: rather than ruining college football, they have democratized talent and increased ratings.

  “For all you the world is ending—the nil and transfer portal, I’d argue saved college football.” (Colin, [45:19])

• Ed Orgeron’s take:

  “Back then we used to walk through the back door [with cash]. Now we just gotta walk through the front door.” (Ed Orgeron via Colin, [49:03])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Jalen Hurts's Limitations:

  “The more Jalen Hurts throws, the worse Philadelphia is. Those are the facts.” — Colin Cowherd [04:47]

• On QB Size and Durability:

  “I'm 6'2. I can't be taller than your franchise quarterback.” — Colin Cowherd [05:45]

• On Accurate Passing vs. Risk-taking for Young QBs:

  “Accuracy is a myth…he is willing to take more chances to have big plays occur…” — RG3, via Colin Cowherd [12:48]

• On the Dodger’s Winning Model and Sports Media:

  “You gotta go Mission Impossible. You gotta go Avengers…They [the Dodgers] force you to pick a side.” — Colin Cowherd [20:08]

• On College vs NFL Coaching Lifestyles:

  “College coaches are happier, they age better. You ever see somebody, it’s 70 years old and they look great? They never are angry.” — Colin Cowherd [34:19]

• On NIL and Transparency in College Sports:

  “Back then we used to walk through the back door of the cash…Now we just got to walk through the front door.” — Ed Orgeron, via Colin Cowherd [49:03]

Timestamps to Key Segments

• [03:47] — Jalen Hurts and QB Size Debate
• [09:00] — Caleb Williams, Josh Allen, Rookie Contract Window
• [14:09] — Dodgers, Sports Parity, and Franchise Models
• [23:54] — Chiefs, Travis Kelce’s Age and Offense
• [31:02] — Marcus Freeman: Stay or Go?
• [41:14] — QB Draft Trends & NIL
• [45:19] — NIL and College Football’s Changing Landscape
• [49:03] — Ed Orgeron on NIL, Transparency

Tone and Style

Colin maintains a signature tone: fact-forward, lightly provocative, with industry anecdotes and a penchant for connecting sports trends to culture and media shifts.

Summary

The episode is a brisk, blunt examination of current NFL and college football storylines, weaving together player analysis, franchise strategy, and macro sports business trends. Colin mixes statistical arguments with narrative hooks, broadening his analysis to include cultural and media-savvy takes—always drawing back to the central thesis that, in sports, size, savvy management, and adaptability to change are what define winning organizations and careers.