Podcast Summary: "The Herd with Colin Cowherd"

Episode: THE HERD - Hour 1 - Mike McCarthy & Aaron Rodgers may still work, taking a look at Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson
Date: January 30, 2026
Host: Colin Cowherd
Producer: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume

Main Theme / Purpose

This episode dives into NFL coaching hires and quarterback situations heading into the pre–Super Bowl week. Colin Cowherd explores the perceived reputations and actual effectiveness of coaches like Mike McCarthy, and discusses the challenges faced by highly-paid quarterbacks such as Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson. The conversation broadens to compare eras, coaching trees, and organizational strategies, offering sharp commentary on team-building, coaching philosophy, and the evolving culture in the NFL and NBA.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Mike McCarthy Reputational Disconnect & Steelers Analysis

(Starts ~03:00)

• Cowherd uses an Apple vs. Android analogy to describe Mike McCarthy’s image problem: He suggests McCarthy (Android) has better “features” than his brand (Apple) indicates—underrated achievements compared to higher-profile peers like Pete Carroll.
  • “Mike McCarthy's problem, like Android, is the marketing and branding.” (03:55)
• Steelers hire Campen (Rodgers’ favored line coach), and Cowherd argues that McCarthy should not be dismissed—pointing to 12 top-10 scoring offenses as evidence.
  • “He wins a lot of games and his teams score a lot of points.” (04:15)
• Revisits McCarthy’s impact in Green Bay, developing both Favre and Rodgers, and positions the Steelers’ move as a culture/relationship fit.
• Quotes author Ian O’Connor (on Rodgers & McCarthy): “Their relationship is better now than it ever was when they were together in Green Bay.” (05:22)
• Colin sets reasonable expectations: Steelers with McCarthy might reach “11–6 at best, maybe win a playoff game.” (07:00)
• Compares McCarthy’s résumé favorably with that of John Harbaugh, emphasizing how branding shapes perception.

2. Josh Allen & Lamar Jackson: The MVP/Super Bowl Gap

(Starts ~11:00)

• Cowherd notes that every NFL MVP QB in the last 40 years has won a Super Bowl—except for Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen. Both now face similar organizational constraints:
  • Big cap hits.
  • Coaches possibly a downgrade from predecessors.
  • Supporting casts hampered by salary structure and injuries.
• “If I had to bet today, is Lamar Jackson going to get to a Super Bowl? My bet would be no...If I had to bet will Josh Allen get to a Super Bowl, yes, but he’d be an underdog.” (12:40)
• Warns that AFC competition will be steep; rookie contract QBs like Drake May and Bo Nix, paired with top coaches and flexible rosters, will make the path harder.
• Plays Josh Allen’s quote on organizational faith:

  “As much success as we’ve had over the last, you know, eight to nine seasons, we still haven’t been able to get the main job done. …I truly believe in the direction of this organization starting from the top. Whatever Joe needs from me, I’m going to do.” (Josh Allen, 15:45)

3. Coaching Hires: Fit, Expectations, & Grading

(Starts ~34:49)

• Colin ranks new head-coaching hires with “confidence meters”:
  • Supremely Confident:
    • John Harbaugh (Giants) – Should immediately compete, citing past consistency and division context.
      • “I am supremely confident that John Harbaugh...they’re going to vie for the division title next year.” (35:20)
  • Confident:
    • Kevin Stefanski (Falcons)
    • Robert Saleh (Titans)
  • Competent:
    • Jesse Minter (Ravens): Young, promising, benefits from organizational continuity.
    • Mike McCarthy (Steelers): “High floor, offensive version of Mike Tomlin.”
  • Concerned:
    • Joe Brady (Bills): Youth, questionable improvement over predecessor, Allen’s cap hit a limitation.
    • Todd Monken (Browns): Unproven, not a hot commodity on the market.
    • Jeff Hafley (Dolphins): Lacking clear QB future, organizational instability.
• Colin underscores that high-floor, “competent” hires keep a team solid, but only clear vision and the right talent bring the leap.

4. NFL Relationships & Conflict Are Healthy

(Starts ~16:00)

• Cowherd shares his appreciation for coaches and QBs with strong personalities and open conflict—he references historic sideline dustups (Manning–Saturday, Brady–McDaniels) as proof that tension can be productive, not destructive.
  • “I don’t mind conflict...Head coach–quarterback, to me, is a lot like a marriage. When you stop talking, that’s the problem.” (16:50)
• Reframes the Bo Nix–Sean Payton disagreement as healthy back-and-forth, not dysfunction:
  • “Any relationship that’s close has disagreements. Deal with the conflict. It’s not that big of a deal.” (17:55)

5. Eagles Hire Sean Mannion as OC – Experience vs. Age

(Starts ~18:21)

• The Eagles tap 33-year-old former QB Sean Mannion as offensive coordinator—discussion focuses on age vs. readiness for top roles:
  • “Your first big job...you should bail water for about six weeks if you’re ready for the job.” (Colin, 19:23)
• Stresses that intelligence and adaptability matter most; notes several star coaches (McVay, Shanahan) also got top jobs young.
• Philadelphia OC is described as perhaps the “toughest coordinator job in the league.” (20:52)

6. Titans & Giants to Bounce Back

(Starts ~22:00)

• Cam Ward (Titans) and Giants projected as “easiest bets” to double win totals after coaching changes and infusions of talent.
  • “The two easiest bets…to double their win total: New York Giants and the Tennessee Titans.” (22:42)
• Titans lauded for pairing Robert Saleh with Brian Daboll, expecting rapid improvement.

7. Eric Bieniemy Returns to Chiefs

(Starts ~23:52)

• Chiefs bring back Bieniemy as OC: Solid relationship with Reid and Mahomes, though skepticism surfaces about recycling ideas instead of bringing in fresh perspectives.
  • “If something works, it’s okay to go back to it.” (Colin, 25:54)
  • Acknowledges shifting personnel (no Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce aging) could make success harder to replicate.

8. NBA: Celebrating College as a Pathway & New Stars

(Starts ~26:26)

• Cowherd lauds Adam Silver and the NBA embracing college basketball as a true farm system, after years wasted emphasizing the G League.
  • Notes second-year Duke stars Cooper Flag and Con Kanopol are setting rookie records.
  • “These kids are unbelievable…Cooper Flag, I said it before the draft, I’ll say it now: He’s a better version at this age than Jason Tatum.” (28:55)
• College basketball is now producing more, better-prepared NBA stars—helped by multi-year stays.
• Flags that next year’s NBA draft could be the strongest in years.

9. Age & NFL Quarterbacking: Both Longevity and Youth are Winning Out

(Starts ~40:00)

• Colin highlights how NFL is more age-agnostic: older QBs (Rodgers, Brady, Stafford) perform, while the league simultaneously gets younger (May, Purdy, Hurts, Nix with extensive college starts).
  • “I think young people are savvier than I was…there are so many places to get information.” (41:40)
• Suggests coaching and player development has never been better; young QBs can thrive, and age is no longer a disqualifier.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Mike McCarthy’s problem, like Android, is the marketing and branding.” (Colin, 03:55)
• “Their relationship is better now than it ever was when they were together in Green Bay.” (quoting Ian O’Connor on Rodgers/McCarthy, 05:22)
• “If I had to bet today, is Lamar Jackson going to get to a Super Bowl? My bet would be no...If I had to bet will Josh Allen get to a Super Bowl, yes, but he’d be an underdog.” (Colin, 12:40)
• “Head coach–quarterback, to me, is a lot like a marriage. When you stop talking, that’s the problem.” (Colin, 16:50)
• “The two easiest bets…to double their win total: New York Giants and the Tennessee Titans.” (Colin, 22:42)
• (On Cooper Flag and Con Kanopol) “God….They look like they’re 26, 27-year-old guys…They both have a sense of what’s around them.” (Colin, 30:45)
• “I think young people are savvier than I was when I was young.” (Colin, 41:40)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Mike McCarthy Reputation & Steelers Move: (03:00–10:30)
• Allen & Lamar: MVP/Super Bowl Drought, Roster/Cap Woes: (11:00–15:45)
• Healthy Conflict in NFL Relationships: (16:00–18:21)
• Eagles' OC Sean Mannion Youth/Experience Debate: (18:21–21:30)
• Titans & Giants Next-Season Forecasts: (22:00–23:15)
• Eric Bieniemy Back to Chiefs/Ideas vs. Familiarity: (23:52–26:26)
• NBA Rookie Phenoms & College Basketball's New Value: (26:26–33:40)
• Coaching Hires “Confidence Meter” Rankings: (34:49–40:00)
• Quarterback Age & NFL Skill Trends: (40:00–44:40)

Tone & Style

Colin Cowherd’s delivery is fast-paced, anecdotal, and colloquial—marked by analogies (Apple vs. Android, Head Coach/QB = Marriage), unsolicited advice, and direct attributions. He combines data with industry stories, projecting both skepticism and optimism about NFL storylines. The tone is opinionated but supportive of coaches and young talent.

Conclusion

Hour 1 delivers a deep, candid assessment of NFL hiring logic versus public narrative, quarterback career arcs, and the structural variables influencing team success. High-profile coaching changes are critiqued with both skepticism and nuance, while the success stories and potential pitfalls for young and old leaders alike are thoroughly examined. Colin wraps with hope for a league where both boomers and Gen Z quarterbacks/innovators can thrive—and gives NBA fans a reason to watch the next generation of stars.