The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Episode: THE HERD – Hour 1 – Michigan fires their head coach after shocking news surfaces, Rich Paul may have been right about the Lakers
Date: December 11, 2025
Host: Colin Cowherd
Guests: Bruce Feldman, J. Mac

Overview

This episode of The Herd is packed with reactions to major breaking sports news: Michigan football’s head coach Sharon Moore has been fired following a personal scandal, and there’s deep analysis on why the Lakers’ struggles prove that agent Rich Paul’s concerns were well-founded. The show also touches on several other high-stakes sports stories, including the Kansas City Chiefs’ regression, Dallas Cowboys’ playoff hopes, college quarterback prospects, and a provocative look at NBA dynasties – with a special focus on the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Main Topics & Key Insights

1. Michigan Fires Head Coach Sharon Moore (03:42–12:00, 48:50–56:33)

The Firing and Michigan's Standards

• Colin Cowherd opens the show reacting to the surprise firing of Michigan head coach Sharon Moore.
  • “There are certain jobs in America you need an elevated sense of character, both personally and professionally.” (04:09)
  • Emphasizes Michigan football as one of America’s “great public institutions” with the highest standards, comparing it to coaching at Duke or Carolina in basketball.
  • Sharon Moore never felt like the right long-term fit: “He always felt like an interim coach. I just didn’t think he was that good of a coach... he didn’t have his own identity.” (05:01)

Timing, Search Process & University Resilience

• Colin notes reports that Michigan may have known about Moore’s issues but waited until after signing day for action:
  • “When you’re talking about internal affairs, you can’t go on hearsay or rumor. You have to have admission and proof... you can get sued really quickly.” (06:13)
• Stresses Michigan still has loads of time to recruit a top replacement, with the transfer portal not opening until January.

On Replacing Icons

• “The greater the employee you’re asked to replace… the wider the search has to be.” (05:26)
• Urges Michigan to pursue top-tier candidates (Kalyn DeBoer, Mike Vrabel) instead of just promoting internally.

Personal Reflections on Moore

• Suggests that Moore’s personal life may have unraveled due to job pressure: “Sadly, his personal life, maybe due to the pressure, completely unravels. I wish him the best. Michigan will get a great coach.” (07:20)

Bruce Feldman Interview: Insider Perspective on Michigan’s Firing

(48:50–56:33)

• On Timing and Cause:

  • “It was sudden in regard to what they could prove to fire him... there were rumors for at least a month, if not longer.” (48:50–49:11)
  • “I think Michigan got more information that was really damning that they could act on.” (49:18)

• On Moore as a Coach:

  • “He’d made questionable hires the last few years on the offensive side of the ball. No question, they were terrible on offense last year... underwhelming on offense this year with some young talent.” (50:44–50:58)

• Job Quality and Candidate Search:

  • “It’s the bluest of blue, blue blood jobs... Jim Harbaugh won a national title... lots of pieces to work with. Absent of this, there were concerns about Moore even before.” (50:19)
  • “Kalyn DeBoer is a name that could make a lot of sense for Michigan.” (51:23)

• Why Michigan Gave Moore the Job:

  • “I think they were hoping for continuity... players responded to him... probably also hoping he would keep more of the staff... but maybe this guy’s not ready for this job.” (52:53–54:02)

• On Jesse Minter’s Candidacy:

  • “He’s this close away from NFL head coaching jobs... if you’re really close to getting an NFL head job, why would you jump back into [college football]?” (54:10)

• Jed Fisch as another candidate and timeline:

  • “Jed Fisch might make a lot of sense. He worked under Harbaugh... did an amazing job at Arizona and now Washington…” (54:52)
  • “They’ll try to have as best stability as they can, then kick the tires on DeBoer and Fisch and see what else happens from there.” (56:17)

2. The Lakers’ Defensive Woes & “Rich Paul Was Right” (08:01–12:32)

• Colin revisits Rich Paul’s controversial statement that the Lakers are not built to win a championship and finds it validated:
  • “Rich Paul was right… The Lakers are not built to win a championship. They’re just not good enough, especially on defense.” (08:06)
  • Goes through San Antonio’s easy victory against the Lakers, even without 7’4” Wembanyama, highlighting Lakers’ poor defense:
    • “Spurs players who were guarded by Austin Reeves shot an outrageous 63.5%. Oh wait, that’s what the Timberwolves did…the Lakers are bad defensively.” (10:28)
  • Colin criticizes roster construction and notes the path forward:
    • “The future of this organization is two guys: Luka number one, JJ Redick number two. Everybody else is available.” (11:10)
• JJ Redick’s honest assessment (12:06):
  • “We gotta ask a little bit more of everybody. We don’t crash, can’t force a lot of turnovers. If a team shoots well, we’re really in trouble.” – JJ Redick (12:06)
• Colin’s takeaway:
  • “J.J. Redick is telling you the truth, whether you want to believe it or not.” (12:32)

3. Kansas City Chiefs: Not Just Retooling, But Rebuilding? (18:53–25:24)

• Colin addresses the narrative around the Chiefs’ “retool”:
  • “Kansas City has gone from, ‘we don’t really need wide receivers, Kelsey and Mahomes will figure it out,’ to, ‘we may finish sub-.500’…the kitchen needs work. So does the roof and a couple of bathrooms. It’s not just a tile job.” (22:09)
• Mahomes on missing postseason (23:26):
  • “We’re in unprecedented territory, a place that we haven’t been since I’ve been here. So why not give ourselves a chance to do that, and we have to start by winning football games.” – Patrick Mahomes (23:26)

4. Around the NFL: News with J. Mac and Colin

Dallas Cowboys Playoff Push (25:29–27:18)

• J. Mac notes: “29 points per game, highest ever by a Cowboys [head] coach.” (25:29)
• Colin: “You can’t sit up here and talk about winning world championships…if you don’t make the playoffs…” (25:54)

Patriots vs. Bills – Changing of the Guard? (27:24–30:48)

• J. Mac: “It feels like this is maybe the changing of the guard in the division.” (28:09)
• Colin: “If New England wins, Sean McDermott…has to look in the mirror on the GM and the coach…in a quarterback league, you can’t finish second to Drake May…” (28:23)

Caleb Williams vs. Myles Garrett and the Browns (30:48–33:39)

• Colin appreciates Williams’ composure at the podium:
  • “Caleb Williams is excellent at the podium. Always says the right thing. Very smart, very measured.” (31:43)
• On his NFL comp: “Caleb’s comp is Josh Allen. He may not get there, but there’s no ceiling on Caleb Williams. Arm, movement, toughness, durability... it’s Josh Allen.” (33:21)

5. NBA Dynasties & Oklahoma City Thunder: The “Boring Dynasty”?

(34:02–41:52)

• Colin lauds the Oklahoma City Thunder’s ascendance, calling them “analytically the best team ever.”
  • “They are easily the best defensive team that’s ever been formed in the NBA. Analytically... SGA is so... oh yeah, they have three first round picks this year.” (34:17)
• He pushes back on anti-dynasty sentiments:
  • “I don’t get the anti dynasty crowd. You can create one with a smart GM (OKC), international scouting (San Antonio), recruiting (Miami’s Pat Riley), or market and money (LA and the Dodgers).” (35:09)
• “Oklahoma City has a chance to win five of the next six. They are stacked... their GM is brilliant. The coach is excellent. The depth is insane. The best defensive team ever — it’s a dynasty, it’s just a boring one. So stop being paralyzed by it. Let players be players.” (39:36)
• J. Mac tags in: “Give me super teams or give me death. The problem with OKC is... they’re boring. What happens if they’re Spurs 2.0?” (40:54)
• Colin pushes for embracing greatness in sports, via whatever route:
  • “Some do it with a GM, some with Pat Riley, some with LA’s vibe, some like the Dodgers with money.” (41:09)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• Colin on job standards:
  • “Certain jobs in America you need an elevated sense of character… Michigan football is not only a college football job, it’s one of America’s great public institutions.” (04:09)
• Colin on Sharon Moore:
  • “He always felt like an interim coach… didn’t have his own identity… didn’t meet the standard.” (05:01)
• Colin on replacing icons:
  • “The greater the employee you’re asked to replace Jim Harbaugh, the wider the search has to be.” (05:26)
• JJ Redick on Lakers’ struggles:
  • “The things that help you win on the margins, we’re just not very good at right now… we don’t crash… we can’t force a lot of turnovers. And if a team shoots well, we’re going to be really in trouble.” (12:06)
• Colin on OKC:
  • “Oklahoma City has a chance to win five of the next six. They are stacked... Their players are all young... It’s a dynasty — it’s just a boring one.” (39:36)
• Bruce Feldman on Michigan firing:
  • “I think Michigan got more information that was really damning that they could act on—and I think that was it from that point, from a sense of, they can fire him for cause, for now, for this. But yeah, it's a really sad story.” (49:18)
• Bruce Feldman on job quality:
  • “It’s the bluest of blue, blue blood jobs.” (50:19)
• Colin comparing Caleb Williams:
  • “Caleb’s comp is Josh Allen. He may not get there but there’s no ceiling on Caleb Williams.” (33:21)
• J. Mac’s NBA take:
  • “Give me super teams or give me death. The problem with OKC is... they’re boring.” (40:54)

Segment Timestamps

• Michigan's Firing of Sharon Moore: 03:42–12:00; Bruce Feldman Interview 48:50–56:33
• Lakers, Rich Paul & Defensive Issues: 08:01–12:32
• Chiefs’ Future & Mahomes Soundbite: 18:53–25:24
• Cowboys & NFL Playoff Discussion: 25:29–27:18
• Patriots-Bills, Drake Maye: 27:24–30:48
• Caleb Williams / Browns Preview: 30:48–33:39
• OKC Thunder & NBA Dynasties: 34:02–41:52

TLDR

• Michigan Football: Sharon Moore fired after a scandal, with replacement search open and program’s strength undiminished.
• Lakers: Rich Paul’s skepticism about title contention is validated by defensive failures; Austin Reeves and aging LeBron are not a contender’s core.
• Chiefs: Colin argues the team needs more than just “retooling”—the roster is aging and flawed.
• Oklahoma City Thunder: Colin calls them “analytically the best team ever”; champions the virtue of sports dynasties, even if OKC is “boring.”
• NFL Hot Topics: Insightful discussion on Cowboys, Patriots, and college quarterback stars.