The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Hour 1 – Steelers Still Don’t Get It, Giants Should Bounce Back, Stop Crying Over the Dodgers

Date: January 21, 2026
Podcast: The Herd with Colin Cowherd
Host: Colin Cowherd (with Jason McIntyre)

Episode Overview

In this thought-provoking Hour 1, Colin Cowherd dives into the NFL coaching carousel with a focus on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ stagnant approach, argues for optimism around the New York Giants’ future, and delivers a pointed takedown of recent outrage toward the Dodgers' MLB dominance. The episode features trademark Cowherd humor, common-sense takes, and heated debates on NFL and MLB trends, punctuated by listener-challenging opinions and sharp analysis from both Colin and Jason McIntyre.

Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. Steelers Coaching Search: Stuck in the Past

[00:25 - 08:30]

• Main Argument: Cowherd is critical of rumors linking Mike McCarthy to the Steelers as a replacement for Mike Tomlin, seeing it as the franchise failing to modernize.
  • “Mike McCarthy isn’t just older, he’s old school. That was Mike Tomlin, right? Tone deaf to one side of the ball. A lot of penalties.” – Colin Cowherd [01:10]
• Steelers’ Loyalty Problem: Colin likens the Steelers to someone who’s out of touch after a long relationship, unable to adapt to new trends in hiring or strategy.
  • “They're like the guy who was married for 35 years and now gets divorced and is single and thinks app is short for appetizer at Chili’s.” – Colin Cowherd [03:30]
• Contrast With Modern NFL: The teams with the fewest penalties—Rams (McVay), 49ers (Shanahan), Bengals (Taylor), Bucs (Canales)—are led by young, innovative coaches. Steelers refuse to pivot to the NFL’s modern direction: offense-minded, aggressive, forward-thinking staff.
• On Age vs. Mindset: Being older isn’t the issue; thinking old is. He cites older leaders who stay current (Richard Branson, Jensen Huang, Kurt Signetti) as examples of true progressive thinking.
  • “You gotta be somebody that wakes up, optimistic, not cynical, that understands offense, can appreciate defense.” – Colin Cowherd [06:10]
• Art Rooney’s Perspective: Colin plays an audio clip from Steelers owner Art Rooney, who admits the search will take time but also reveals a bias for a candidate “in the mold” of previous coaches (Knoll, Cowher, Tomlin).
  • Rooney: “…could I sign up for another Chuck Knoll or another Bill Cowher or another Mike Tomlin? Sure…But for now, we’re not going to narrow the box too much.” [07:25]
• Takeaway: Cowherd warns that repeating the same conservative hiring will only lead to stagnation, arguing without bold change, the Steelers will continue to fall behind.

2. Giants’ Future: More Promising Than Their Record

[08:40 - 12:20]

• The Giants Are Not Like Other 4-Win Teams: Despite their 4-13 record, the Giants lost seven one-score games and held double-digit fourth-quarter leads against strong teams.
  • “Four-win teams are not all the same. Playoff losses are not all the same.” – Colin Cowherd [10:40]
• Impact of John Harbaugh’s Hiring: Harbaugh brings youthful energy despite his age; the contrast with the routine, uninspired coach is stark. Colin insists mindset trumps age.
  • “When you hire John Harbaugh in the NFC East, you immediately, first day on the job, have the best coach in the division.” – Colin Cowherd [09:50]
  • Harbaugh soundbite: “You build your team around your quarterback… More than that, I like who he is and what he’s about. To me, he’s about football.” [11:25]
• Giants’ Outlook: Just a few personnel moves (right tackle, receiver, secondary help) could make the Giants contenders. Colin argues they’re not the same as franchises like Arizona, Tennessee, or the Jets.
• Optimism Over Cynicism: Coaches who “wake up optimistic” and adapt are the future; old habits, even from established NFL franchises like the Giants and Steelers, can hold teams back.

3. Stop Complaining About the Dodgers’ Baseball Success

[13:28 - 21:27]

• Colin’s Take on Salary Cap Outrage: Recent reports say MLB owners are furious about the Dodgers signing Kyle Tucker, fueling demands for a salary cap. Colin scoffs at this outrage as misplaced.
  • “It took a Kyle Tucker move to outrage you? Cub fans complained about him all year. They wanted him out of town.” – Colin Cowherd [13:38]
• Comparisons to the Past: Previous massive contracts (Pujols/Hamilton with the Angels, Yankees in the 2010s) never stirred such backlash. The difference: The Dodgers are “rich and exceptionally well-run.”
  • “Let’s keep it 100. They’re rich and exceptionally well run. And winning the World Series, that’s what bothers you.” – Colin Cowherd [14:23]
• The Real Issue: Fans and owners aren’t mad just about spending; they’re mad because the Dodgers win. It’s envy, not fairness, driving the discourse.
  • “If you’re rich and good looking, studies show men hate you. And that’s the Dodgers. They’re rich, good looking, driving a convertible, own a tech company, and keep being the richest guy in the sport, and it pisses you off.” – Colin Cowherd [15:04]
• Other Teams Have Opportunities: Players like Teoscar Hernandez (Dodgers’ 10th-best player, by Colin’s reckoning) were available at affordable rates, but other owners and GMs weren’t aggressive or savvy enough.
• City & Franchise Challenges: It’s not the Dodgers' fault if franchises like the Pirates or Cardinals can't keep up—those teams have city and ownership challenges predating the Dodgers’ spending spree.
• Bottom Line: Colin argues that the narrative that the Dodgers are “ruining baseball” is disproven by booming ratings and a great product on the field. If the Dodgers were losing, fans would be laughing at them instead of complaining.

4. Buffalo Bills Dysfunction and Front-Office Power Plays

[21:27 - 26:30]

• Owner Interference: A Buffalo press conference featured owner Terry Pegula jumping in to defend GM Brandon Beane for the Keon Coleman pick, bizarrely blaming ex-coach Sean McDermott and airing internal conflicts.
  • “Why in the world would my boss come out and say ‘I wasn’t really on the Cowherd bandwagon’?” – Colin Cowherd [22:55]
• Front Office Drama: Various draft pick decisions are being revisited publicly, damaging team unity and reducing trade leverage on current roster players.
• Wide Receiver Development: Colin points out that rookie WRs often struggle (Keon Coleman had a TD last week) and it’s unfair to call him a bust. He prefers mistakes be handled privately, not publicly.
  • “I just… don’t like calling out young players publicly. Privately, ream them all you want. But I don’t like [it].” – Colin Cowherd [25:23]
• Bills’ Window Closing?: Jason McIntyre argues Buffalo’s Super Bowl window is shrinking as Josh Allen ages (turning 30), noting Allen’s physical style and comparing him to Cam Newton’s career decline.
• Colin’s Perspective: Cowherd’s outlook is more optimistic, citing Matthew Stafford’s longevity and reasoning that, with a QB like Allen, “as long as he’s breathing, they’re fine.”

5. NFL Coaching News & Trends

[26:30 - 33:00]

• Mike McDaniel to Chargers: The former Dolphins head coach lands as OC in LA under Jim Harbaugh. Both hosts see this as a great fit for Justin Herbert and predict a Rams-like offense.
  • “He’s a very creative guy… I think both of us don’t know if he’s a head coach, but he’s a great offensive guy.” – Colin Cowherd [27:42]
  • Jason McIntyre: “This is a top three team in the AFC next year for me, Colin.” [28:52]
• Brian Daboll’s Next Step?: Rumored to be interested in Philadelphia or Tennessee OC roles but reportedly wanting the Buffalo head coaching job, signaling dysfunction or unattractiveness of some franchises (Philly, in particular).
• Eagles’ Challenges: Both criticize Nick Sirianni’s over-reliance on coordinators and question whether Sirianni would be highly sought if he were on the open market.

6. Should Buffalo Hire Bill Belichick?

[33:20 - 41:28]

• Rex Ryan’s Suggestion: Rex Ryan says Belichick is “his guy” for the Bills, but Cowherd lists three major problems:
  1. Personnel Power: Belichick's poor track record as a GM, especially post-Brady.
     • “He thinks he’s good at it. He’s awful at it. His last seven years were brutal in New England with personnel.” – Colin Cowherd [33:45]
  2. Old Defensive Coaches Age Poorly: Colin’s thesis—offensive minds age better, bringing creativity and adaptability, while old-school defensive coaches stagnate.
     • “Creatives age better. That’s not Bill’s thing.” – Colin Cowherd [35:00]
  3. No Fresh Blood: Belichick keeps hiring retreads and family members, not innovative young coaches.
• Alternative: Brian Daboll: Both agree Brian Daboll is the better fit, given his past success with Josh Allen and offensive credentials.
  • Jason McIntyre: “That was the best years of Josh Allen. I think that’s the move—you gotta bring him back.” [43:01]
• Colin’s Outlook on Buffalo: Despite challenges, with a star QB, left tackle, edge rusher, and new stadium revenue, the Bills will be “in that playoff chase…for the next decade.”
  • “If Josh Allen is upright, they’re going to be in that playoff chase. Week 16, 17, 18 for the next decade.” – Colin Cowherd [43:26]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “They're like the guy who was married for 35 years and now gets divorced and is single and thinks app is short for appetizer at Chili’s.”
  — Colin Cowherd on the Steelers’ inability to modernize [03:30]

• “If you’re rich and good looking, studies show men hate you. And that’s the Dodgers…they’re rich, good looking, driving a convertible, own a tech company and keep being the richest guy in the sport, and it pisses you off.”
  — Colin Cowherd on Dodgers hate [15:04]

• “When you hire John Harbaugh in the NFC East, you immediately, first day on the job, have the best coach in the division.”
  — Colin Cowherd [09:50]

• “Why in the world would my boss come out and say ‘I wasn’t really on the Cowherd bandwagon’?”
  — Colin Cowherd, discussing Buffalo’s draft drama [22:55]

• “Old defensive coaches…they don’t age as well. Offensive coaches tend to be creators…creative people age better than brute force.”
  — Colin Cowherd [35:00]

Segment Timestamps

• 00:25 – 08:30: Steelers coaching search, old vs. young thinking, trends in NFL coaching
• 08:40 – 12:20: Giants’ encouraging outlook, John Harbaugh’s energy, difference between 4-win teams
• 13:28 – 21:27: MLB salary cap discourse, Dodgers envy, franchise challenges vs. organizational excellence
• 21:27 – 26:30: Buffalo Bills’ front office dysfunction and draft drama, young players in the crosshairs
• 26:30 – 33:00: Coaching hires and rumors (McDaniel, Daboll), evaluating franchise appeal and dysfunction
• 33:20 – 41:28: Bill Belichick to Buffalo? Three reasons against, preference for Daboll, state of the Bills
• 43:26 – END: Closing thoughts: AFC East future, playoff outlook

Tone & Style

Colin’s language is assertive, witty, and often laced with humor—and he’s unafraid to mix cultural metaphors (Chili’s, dating apps) with trenchant sports analysis. Jason McIntyre contributes direct, sharp analysis and challenges Colin with fan-centric and contrarian viewpoints. The conversation is rapid, informed, occasionally tongue-in-cheek, and always engaging.

For listeners who missed Hour 1, this summary covers the major themes and spirited takes, providing a clear sense of the arguments and personalities at play.