The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Hour 1 (Sept 17, 2025)

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Colin Cowherd and Jason McIntyre discuss why patience is running thin for Vikings rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy, examine Jim Harbaugh’s legacy and transformative impact as potentially the greatest football coach ever, reflect on Baker Mayfield’s surprising resurgence in Tampa, and debate issues facing the Chicago Bears, Patrick Mahomes’ “GOAT” status, and Dabo Swinney’s unwillingness to embrace college football's new world. They also consider turbulence and adversity as key to quarterback development, focusing on rising and struggling prospects.

1. No Patience for J.J. McCarthy (03:03–08:03)

• Colin pushes back on the notion that NFL teams, especially playoff-caliber ones like the Vikings, should “be patient” with young quarterbacks.

  • The team’s situation (expensive talent, good roster, high fan expectations, potential loss of key staff) makes the window short for success.
  • McCarthy’s pedigree (three years under Jim Harbaugh, two under Kevin O’Connell) means he’s had world-class coaching; he cannot be allowed a long runway.

• Key Quote:

  • “JJ McCarthy does not get to pee on the carpet. He's got to be good in the next seven, eight weeks. I got to see something. And if you look at seven of his eight quarters, they've been terrible.” —Colin Cowherd (07:26)

• Broader Point: Patience is reserved for “parenting, or gardening, or potty training a puppy”—not for billion-dollar franchises in competitive divisions where owners and GMs are responsive to public and media pressure.

• Comparison: Contrasts veteran situations like Jared Goff (proven player, earned patience) with rookies or struggling young QBs like McCarthy and Bryce Young.

2. Is Jim Harbaugh the GOAT Coach? (08:03–13:00)

• Colin argues Harbaugh may be the greatest overall football coach, considering combined college and NFL resumes.

  • Five “turnarounds” (San Diego, Stanford, 49ers, Michigan, Chargers): successful everywhere, never failed, not tied to a single player or “system.”
  • “When Jim Harbaugh leaves you don’t lose a coach, you lose the soul of the franchise.”
  • College legends like Saban and Urban Meyer failed in the NFL.
  • His unique authenticity, relentlessness, and obsession with football create “Bar Rescue to Michelin Star” transformations.

• Notable Quotes:

  • “He’s taken over five messes. They're all very good by year two, some by year one. ... When he leaves, … there is a noticeable drop off overnight.” —Colin (09:51)
  • “Harbaugh takes stuff and one day it's bar rescue, and the next day it's Michelin star.” —Colin (10:50)

• Supporting Example: Justin Herbert’s leap under Harbaugh after stagnating in the previous coaching regime.

• Personality Factor: Eric Mangini describes Harbaugh as unlike anyone he's worked with—more than X’s and O’s, it’s a relentless, obsessive culture change.

3. Baker Mayfield: The Gunslinger Reborn (13:00–21:00)

• Baker Mayfield’s Career Arc: Colin and J-Mac discuss Baker’s transformation from a “flammable” presence in Cleveland to a rejuvenated “gunslinger” in Tampa—now legitimately a top-10 QB.

  • Stats: Leads league in “interception-worthy throws” but that reflects his bold style—"a lot of Favre."
  • Fit: His style and personality match the “sleepy, well-run, not flammable” Buccaneers organization.
  • Contrast: The Browns were “flammable”—guaranteed massive contracts, draft odd fits, and churn through quarterbacks quickly.

• Notable Quotes:

  • “He is a gunslinger. He is, he is a lot of Favre. And I think that's incredibly appealing to a lot of football fans.” —Colin (14:42)
  • “If you're doing top 10 quarterbacks, you cannot leave Baker out of the top 10.” —Jason McIntyre (16:11)

• Baker on ‘New Heights’ Podcast (Played Clip):

  • “When you step in and your GM and head coach say, ‘hey, just be you’... After I've been told everywhere I go, ‘hey, you need to tone it down a little bit’, it’s just not who I am. … It's felt like home since the beginning.” —Baker Mayfield (22:18 summarized)

• Impact of Modern NFL: League is more transactional, GMs younger, talent moves more freely; second and third chances (e.g., Geno Smith, Darnold) are now realistic.

4. Chicago Bears: Blame and Roster Woes (28:05–32:22)

• Chicago’s Dysfunctional Environment:

  • Media and fanbase begin blaming GM Ryan Poles for poor drafts and lack of roster talent as the Bears start 0-2 and Caleb Williams struggles.
  • Ben Johnson (head coach) and others already seem to be dodging blame—classic finger-pointing dynamic.

• Colin’s Perspective: Bears are a political, multi-layered organization (many McCaskey family members, divided interests), making the job “heavier lift” than most.

  • “Ryan Poles got an extension. I didn’t get it. A lot of people I trust in the league didn’t really get it.” —Colin (29:31)

• Draft Critiques: Many picks have not panned out; a few “potential stars” (Roma Odunze), but not enough hits, especially compared to rivals like Detroit.

5. Patrick Mahomes “GOAT” Talk: Premature? (32:15–33:52)

• Debate: Mahomes turns 30; the show compares his early-career stats to Brady’s.

  • Colin’s Take: “What I care about is playoff wins and Super Bowls. Brady faced him in an AFC championship in Arrowhead and beat him. And Brady faced him in a Super bowl and blew him out. So Tom is the Goat. And it's not particularly close at this point.” (33:15)
  • J-Mac adds: “I don't remember Tom Brady missing the playoffs in his prime, do you? … There is some pressure quietly on Mahomes this year.” (33:52)

• Core Point: Longevity, context (Mahomes landed with Andy Reid in a pass-happy era vs. Brady entering a different league), sustained dominance matter most.

6. Dabo Swinney & College Football’s New Reality (34:41–39:21)

• Dabo’s Rant: Defends his success at Clemson amid fan/media impatience (“If they tired of winning, they can send me on the way because that's all we've done is win…” —34:41).

• Colin’s Analysis:

  • Compares Dabo to Mike Krzyzewski—both reluctant to embrace big change (Krzyzewski resisted “one-and-done” basketball, Dabo resists NIL/transfer portal).
  • Observation: College football is a depth and recruiting arms race now. NIL isn’t only about stars—it’s about filling backup and role positions to stay competitive.
    • “It’s not just getting stars, it’s adding depth.” (36:32)
    • “The NIL isn't just for finding stars, Jason. A lot of times it's like. Like we need depth at linebacker.” —Colin (36:50)
  • J-Mac: “I don't want to hear I win the ACC every year. Whoopty damn do. You're an SEC country, bro. That's not the standard anymore.” (37:53)

• Lesson: Adapt or fall behind—even big-name coaches are not immune when culture and competitive environment evolve rapidly.

7. Quarterback Turbulence Builds Greatness (41:29–52:25)

• Thesis: QBs need turbulence, adversity, or challenge for long-term NFL success; “easy” backgrounds rarely translate smoothly to pro greatness.

  • Examples: Mahomes (losing college record), Josh Allen (small school, Year 1 struggles), Burrow (transfers, injuries), Hurts (benched, transferred), Mayfield (bounce between teams).
  • Contrast: Arch Manning is struggling at Texas—his “never-failed” life, private school, family fame, has not prepared him for ongoing adversity.
    • “If your last name is Manning, you don't have a lot of turbulence.” —Colin (45:00)
    • “...Matt Leinart played at USC. They were so dominant... never seen that with Matt Leinart. … He lived this life. He sat in the pocket, he threw to great players. Five star... that's not preparing you for the NFL.” (50:00)

• Supporting Audio: Texas coach Sarkisian agrees adversity is ultimately good for Arch Manning’s development.

• Draft Class Woes: Many highly-touted 2026 QBs (Manning, Nussmeier, Clubnick) have started the year poorly, resetting expectations for the next draft class.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On J.J. McCarthy:
  • “JJ McCarthy does not get to pee on the carpet. He's got to be good in the next seven, eight weeks.” —Colin (07:26)
• On Harbaugh:
  • “When Jim Harbaugh leaves, you don't lose a good coach, you lose your personality … your org’s soul.” —Colin (11:14)
• On Mayfield Chicago vs. Tampa:
  • “Now he's kind of the same guy. … But it feels perfect in Tampa because it's not a flammable organization.” —Colin (15:31)
• Dabo Swinney’s Defiant Rant:
  • “If we stink because we haven’t played for the national championship since January of 20, well, I guess we stink. … If they tired of winning, we've had. We've won this league eight out of the last 10 years. Is that not good? I'm just asking, you know. Oh, really? You know what? I like that.” —Dabo (34:41)
• On Mahomes v. Brady:
  • “The only thing I care about is playoff wins and Super Bowls… Tom is the Goat. And it's not particularly close.” —Colin (33:15)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• J.J. McCarthy – No Patience: 03:03–08:03
• Jim Harbaugh’s Legacy: 08:03–13:00
• Baker Mayfield Discussion (with soundbite): 13:00–22:18
• Chicago Bears Blame Game: 28:05–32:22
• Patrick Mahomes “GOAT” Talk: 32:15–33:52
• Dabo Swinney and College Football Adaptation: 34:41–39:21
• Quarterback Turbulence: 41:29–52:25

Tone and Style

Colin remains candid, punchy, and thought-provoking, blending data-driven analysis with strong opinions, occasional humor, and frequent analogies to business and pop culture. J-Mac functions largely as an informed sidekick, occasionally offering pushback or color commentary, always in a lively, sports talk radio style.

In Summary

This episode is a fast-paced, opinion-heavy tour of current NFL and college football storylines. Colin challenges the culture of “patience” with young quarterbacks, praises Harbaugh as a generational program builder, spotlights Baker Mayfield’s perfect new fit, warns of dysfunction in Chicago and rigidity in college coaching, and insists that adversity is a must for QB stardom. Essential listening for fans interested in coaching philosophy, NFL quarterbacking, and the intersection of sports, culture, and media.