Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Episode: Hour 1 - The Tush Push is on life support, issues between Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson
Air Date: September 18, 2025
Host: Colin Cowherd | Guest/Co-host: Jason McIntyre (J. Mac), Ashley Fox

Overview

This episode dives into the evolving landscape of the NFL, focusing on the potential demise of the Eagles’ controversial “Tush Push” play, tensions around the Bears’ offense and Caleb Williams’ fit with Ben Johnson, quarterback impact on franchise wins, and key trends and matchups across the league. Colin and J. Mac break down why certain on-field strategies face resistance, the shifting value of fundamental football, and how quarterback quality is the NFL’s new dividing line.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The “Tush Push” Debate: Is It on the Brink?

[03:04–08:18]

• Media buzz (fueled by Adam Schefter) that the NFL is considering banning the Tush Push, a short-yardage quarterback sneak play made famous by the Eagles and Jalen Hurts.
• Colin defends the play, calling it good strategy—a legal football maneuver that leverages unique player skills, particularly Hurts’ power.
  • Quote: “Why take away the number one asset for one of the star quarterbacks in the league?... One guy can do it. Why punish him? Because he’s doing it too often. That’s it.” —Colin Cowherd (07:29)
• Concern is less about safety or fairness, more about aesthetics, excessive use, and bad television optics.
• Comparisons to other sports: NBA’s “Hack-a-Shaq” and MLB’s defensive shift—strategies legislated out when they start to dominate the game and impact entertainment value.
• NFL is revenue-driven and TV-centric; overuse and officiating difficulties drive change.
• Nick Sirianni quote: “There’s a beauty too, when everyone knows what you’re going to run and you can still get it. I mean, isn’t that football?” —(07:58)
• Colin: Believes it’s headed for a rule change because the Eagles now run it more than passing attempts of >10 yards. Says it’s a victim of its own success.

2. Bears Drama: Ben Johnson’s Fundamental Concerns with Caleb Williams

[08:18–14:04]

• Bears offense facing criticism from OC Ben Johnson, not about their defense or special teams, but basic offensive execution—blocking, footwork, mechanics.
  • Quote: “Simple things like how do we properly block, how do we catch a ball…that stuff you should know in youth league.” —Ben Johnson, read by J. Mac (08:58)
• Jason notes Johnson has praised backup QB Tyson Bagent (Bajan) for his fundamentals twice, drawing a sharp contrast with Williams.
  • Johnson on Bagent: “He does a tremendous job knowing what to do, how to do it and getting it done.” (10:27)
  • “He’s so serious about his job…wants the team to do well… always locked in. I can appreciate that because I can relate.” (11:08)
• J. Mac interprets this as a clear signal of fundamental/chemistry concerns between Johnson and Williams:
  • “They’re just different cats… one guy is all about stacking and system and timing and rhythm, and the other guy is just this artist who paints the fingernails, ad libs, huge arm, momentum plays, little hero ball. They’re just different dudes.” (13:00)

3. Refereeing and Strategic Matchup Previews

[14:04–15:56]

• Discussion on officiating adapting to the Tush Push; potential for increased penalties against the Eagles.
• J. Mac notes crews have different thresholds—some call more holding, some let DBs play physical, which impacts certain teams each week.
• Lean toward Rams over Eagles, citing Philly not throwing deep and Rams having receiver mismatches (Nakua/Adams).

4. Steelers Schedule Advantage & What Makes a “QB Stat”

[19:15–22:44]

• Steelers get a huge break in upcoming schedule: facing rookie or backup QBs (Drake Maye, Joe Flacco, Carson Wentz, Jake Browning). If they don’t go 4–0, it’s a problem.
• Colin emphasizes that not all wins are equal—judging Steelers only on performances against quality QBs and teams.
• “You got six trophies. So there’s a lot of breaks teams get.” —Colin Cowherd (21:52)

5. Kansas City Chiefs’ Early Struggles

[23:28–27:41]

• Chiefs are 0–2 for first time under Mahomes, who takes blame but both hosts think it’s more about lack of run game, receiver talent, and a defense gassed by too many snaps.
  • Mahomes: “If I kind of sit in that pocket a little bit longer, trust those guys, get the ball to the guys down the field, I feel like we can make some more explosive plays.” (23:49)
• KC blitzes most, but is low in pressure rate—a mismatch between intent and execution.
• Chiefs run game: only 16 rushing yards per game by RBs.
• Conclusion: KC no longer blows teams out, every game is a grind.

6. San Francisco 49ers and Player Rest Philosophy

[27:41–29:53]

• Brock Purdy’s recovery is ahead of schedule, but it’s more likely vet rest and caution.
• Notable trend: teams like the 49ers and Ravens rest key veterans in division games—because familiarity trumps practice volume.

7. Packers’ Offensive Explosion and Broader NFL Trends

[29:53–36:02]

• Packers are fastest offense in NFL; everyone is an athletic threat. Tight end Kraft hailed as a future six-time Pro Bowler.
• Caution about big upcoming matchup with Browns’ defense; could be a trap game for Packers.
• Colin’s Key Trend Insight: Large favorites (4+ points) are 12–0 this year; league “middle class” is vanishing.
  • Compares current NFL dynamics to David Stern’s NBA: stars (especially top QBs) determine outcomes, parity is fading.
  • “The only way to win in this league consistently—you have to have a great quarterback… Fifteen teams [have them], and that’s it.” (32:13)
  • Only 9 teams reappear in last 16 conference championships, nearly all with Pro Bowl QBs—reinforces the “B plus or better QB” thesis.

8. The Unmistakable Value of Elite Quarterbacks

[38:52–49:26]

• Rebuts the media argument that “winning isn’t a QB stat.” Cites the overlap between HoF quarterbacks and most career wins as clear evidence.
  • “It just opens doors. You get more opportunities. You almost always win with a great quarterback.” —Colin Cowherd (44:38)
• Three ways great QBs change a franchise:
  1. Top coaches and coordinators drawn to them.
  2. Teams never have to worry about drafting QBs; can focus on building around them.
  3. Top stars want to play with great QBs.
• Example: Chargers, Harbaugh, and the exodus/return of Keenan Allen and Mike Williams directly tied to Justin Herbert.
• Division dysfunction (Bengals w/o Burrow, Miami in turmoil, NFC North chaos) gives playoff advantages to teams like Buffalo, Baltimore, and Green Bay.
• Even great teams like Patriots got their dominant home records due largely to weak divisional rivals.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Tush Push & NFL rule changes:

  “Why take away the number one asset for one of the star quarterbacks in the league?... One guy can do it. Why punish him? Because he’s doing it too often.”
  — Colin Cowherd (07:29)

• Ben Johnson, on Tyson Bagent (contrasting with Caleb Williams):

  “He does a tremendous job knowing what to do, how to do it and getting it done.”
  — Ben Johnson (10:27)

  “He’s so serious about his job… always locked in. …I can relate.”
  — Ben Johnson (11:08)

• J. Mac on Bears’ QB-coach mismatch:

  “They’re just different cats… one guy is all about stacking and system and timing and rhythm, and the other guy is just this artist who paints the fingernails, ad libs, huge arm, momentum plays, little hero ball. They’re just different dudes.”
  — Jason McIntyre (13:00)

• On QB wins:

  “It just opens doors. You get more opportunities. You almost always win with a great quarterback.”
  — Colin Cowherd (44:38)

• On NFL’s changing competitive landscape:

  “Favorites now. Cover… In any business when one thing primarily becomes the thing… that business becomes haves and have nots. …What the NFL has become is David Stern’s NBA.”
  — Colin Cowherd (32:13)

Important Timestamps

• 03:04: Tush Push under scrutiny; why the NFL may ban it
• 07:58: Nick Sirianni defends the Tush Push as “football”
• 08:18: Issues arise in Chicago between Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams
• 10:27/11:08: Ben Johnson heaps praise on Tyson Bagent’s fundamentals and mentality
• 14:04: Ref officiating and Eagles matchup discussion
• 19:15: Steelers’ soft QB schedule highlighted
• 23:28: Chiefs’ struggles and Mahomes self-critique
• 29:53: Packers’ offense analyzed; NFL’s new “middle class” vanishing
• 32:13: Discussion of NFL’s concentration of success among “haves”
• 38:52: Colin's monologue on quarterback wins and why QBs matter above all
• 44:38: Why elite QBs draw coaches, free agents, and affect team futures

Episode Tone & Style

Opinionated, fast-moving, and conversational. Colin’s style is sharp, pragmatic, and often uses analogies to business and pop culture, while J. Mac anchors the show with concrete stats and a more casual, analytical approach. The interplay is confident yet light, sprinkled with humorous banter and relatable metaphors.

For listeners:
This episode breaks down not just the “what” in NFL drama, but the “why”—from rule changes to franchise-building. It’s rich in insight about how top quarterbacks shape not only games, but entire franchises and coaching trees. If you care about where the league is headed, what keeps franchises from chaos, and where the betting value lies—this is an hour packed with sharp angles and genuine chemistry.