The Herd with Colin Cowherd — Hour 2

Date: February 18, 2026
Hosts: Colin Cowherd, J. Mac
Guest: Matt Hasselbeck

Episode Overview

In this lively middle hour, Colin Cowherd explores dynamic trends and leading personalities in sports. The central focus covers Caleb Williams’ rapid rise and high praise in the NFL, the challenges of adapting to new coordinators, a discussion about the changing city of Las Vegas, organizational quality in pro football, and whether legends like Aaron Rodgers should continue their careers. Guest analyst and former NFL QB Matt Hasselbeck provides in-depth perspective. The segment concludes with breakdowns of NFL, NBA, and team management stories.

Main Topics and Key Discussion Points

1. The Evolution of Las Vegas

Timestamp: 00:30–05:50

• Colin reviews Las Vegas’ transformation from its mobster past to a family destination, then to nightlife, and now a bona fide "grown-up" city centered on pro sports and global spectacles.
• “Vegas is not dying… Vegas is pivoting. It’s now a grown-up city with pro sports. That’s what makes you a grown up city—when professional leagues and advertisers go, ‘Yeah.’” – Colin Cowherd (03:14)
• Observations on the shift from gambling/entertainment to sports-driven tourism, with mention of Allegiant Stadium, the Sphere, and the arrival of teams like the Raiders and possibly the A’s.

2. Matt Hasselbeck Joins: Adjusting to New NFL Coordinators

Timestamp: 06:00–09:00

• Discussion on the Seattle Seahawks’ offseason changes: losing OC Clint Kubiak, speculating about the future of Kenneth Walker, and the challenge of integrating a new offensive coordinator.
• Matt highlights the importance of coordinator continuity and credits tight ends coach Brian Fleury (from San Francisco) as having a “Gronkowski-like edge.”
• “Continuity is there… I do think this is going to show up to be a tight end heavy offense.” – Matt Hasselbeck (08:41)
• Talk about how team identity and run-first mentality will shape the Seahawks offense.

3. Caleb Williams: The Making of an NFL Star

Timestamp: 09:00–14:10

• Colin argues that Caleb Williams (Chicago Bears) already projects as potentially the best QB in the NFC North for 2026, citing his cap-friendly contract, health, low interception rate, and dynamic playmaking.
• “Is it outrageous to think he doesn’t get hurt, doesn’t throw picks, ascending player, and no cap hit—that Caleb Williams enters next year as a Top 3 or 4 quarterback? Does that just sound absurd to you?” – Colin Cowherd (10:16)
• Matt praises Williams’ “astronomical” year-one to year-two improvement, the roster built around him, and his “clutch gene.”
• Notable caution: Matt emphasizes that rapid QB rise isn’t always sustained—“every year is a little bit different.” (12:59)
• The duo discuss the compounding effect of a star QB on free agency and perception of a team as being “on the rise.”

4. Bottom-Tier Franchises and NFL Organizational Quality

Timestamp: 14:10–17:57

• Colin asks if quarterback prospects can truly thrive in poorly run franchises—naming Joe Burrow and C.J. Stroud as brief exceptions before cap hits and organizational dysfunction set in.
• Matt details disparities in team cultures: comparing personalized chef-made omelets versus two-hour-old breakfast sandwiches in parking lot coolers.
• “There are certain teams that are cutting edge… And then there’s other workplace environments that are not that way.” – Matt Hasselbeck (15:18)
• Outlines how teams with “football people” in charge fare better versus those with meddling owners.

5. Aaron Rodgers’ Future: System Fit and Urgency

Timestamp: 17:57–19:07

• Colin speculates on Aaron Rodgers' “casual timeline in a very urgent league” and whether he’d return only to a team (like Pittsburgh) using his offensive system and terminology.
• Matt agrees: “Someone that age, I lived it—you don’t want to try to learn a new language... He wants to own the offense. So it’s got to be that kind of system.” (18:33)

6. Ownership Styles & Facilities

Timestamp: 19:29–22:17

• J. Mac and Colin trade stories about “cheap” NFL owners (citing the A’s, Cardinals, Bengals, Jets) and how some franchises lag behind top college programs in facilities and player treatment.
• “There are some college programs that do a better job… Nick Saban at Alabama… They have it buttoned up better than we do as an NFL franchise.” – Colin Cowherd (21:42)

7. The Dollars & Sense of NFL Quarterbacks

Timestamp: 24:00–25:49

• Colin revisits his core point: “You have to consider the cap hit” in judging the best quarterbacks.
• Four of the eight NFL playoff QBs were on rookie deals, two on discount deals, and only two (Josh Allen, Brock Purdy) were big earners.
• “Who’s the best quarterback? Well, am I going to consider cap space, your coach, arm, talent, mobility?” – Colin Cowherd (25:05)
• Short Caleb Williams quote from the Maxx Crosby podcast about Ben Johnson:
  “He like tilts his head back and I already know his mind’s like, what the [heck] is he doing?... My only thought was put this ball in the back of the end zone. When I let it go, I knew it was a touchdown.” – Caleb Williams (25:18)

8. Eagles Coaching Turmoil & NFL Franchise Trends

Timestamp: 25:49–29:30

• J. Mac and Colin discuss Philly’s declining coaching staff, the promotion of an inexperienced coach, and instability around Jalen Hurts.
• Colin suggests gut-level concern: “There’s always a great team that falls off a cliff… If this thing in Philadelphia unraveled by late October, you wouldn’t be shocked.” (27:06)
• Sirianni’s unpopularity among coaching peers, staff turnover, and trouble replacing seasoned talent is dissected.

9. Free Agency: Mike Evans’ Future

Timestamp: 29:30–30:18

• Mike Evans to return for a 13th season; uncertainty about whether he’ll remain in Tampa. “Somebody’s going to get a good one in Mike Evans.” – J. Mac (30:13)

10. NBA Star Power, Defense, and the Lakers' Playoff Outlook

Timestamp: 30:18–33:46

• LeBron James comments on the Mind the Game podcast about team health and perseverance.
• Colin’s skepticism of the Lakers’ playoff defense vs offensive regular-season strength.
• “Offensively you can win a lot of games in this league. Playoffs come down to health.” – J. Mac (33:07)

11. “Face of the League” & Star Driven Sports Leagues

Timestamp: 35:43–45:15

• Colin analyzes why the NBA, UFC, and Hollywood rely on star power more than NFL/baseball.
• ruminates on the rarity of transcendent stars and how one magnetic personality (Jordan, LeBron, Steph) can “solve all problems.”
• “NBA, UFC, Hollywood are star-driven vehicles… The talent is through the roof in the NBA, but to hit on a star—so much of it is luck.” – Colin Cowherd (44:07)
• Parallels NBA’s need for star “faces” with politics and entertainment; discusses Anthony Edwards, Cooper Flagg as possible future faces.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Colin on Vegas: “What makes you a grown up city? When professional leagues and advertisers go, ‘Yeah.’” (03:14)
• Hasselbeck on Industrial Gaps: “One place I was…by the time I pulled into my parking spot, the chef…was already working on my veggie omelet…Another team…an igloo cooler with two-hour-old breakfast sandwiches.” (15:18)
• Hasselbeck on QB Progress: “Caleb’s got a clutch gene that you don’t know if a quarterback has it until you put him in that situation.” (10:22)
• Colin on QB Costs: “Not considering a quarterback’s cost is like doing your family budget and not counting the Maserati payment.” (12:11)
• Hasselbeck on Aaron Rodgers: “Someone that age…you don’t want to try to learn a new language. If it’s in Pittsburgh with Mike McCarthy or someone that runs that same offense, yes. If not, then no.” (18:33)
• Colin on Ownership: “Some of these owners are just cheap, man. It’s really not a smart way. Your employees—you want them happy, right?” (21:11, via discussion with J. Mac)
• Colin on NBA’s Star Crisis: “The NBA has a little bit of the UFC issue…star-driven vehicles…To hit on a star, a lot of it’s luck.” (44:07)

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• Las Vegas’ Evolution: 00:30–05:50
• Hasselbeck on Coordinators & Seahawks: 06:00–09:00
• High Praise & Analysis on Caleb Williams: 09:00–14:10
• NFL Organization Quality & Facilities: 14:10–22:17
• Aaron Rodgers Future System Fit: 17:57–19:07
• Judging QBs by Cap Hit: 24:00–25:49
• Philadelphia Eagles Coaching Problems: 25:49–29:30
• NBA/Star Power Rant: 35:43–45:15

This hour is a fast-paced, opinionated, and insight-rich cross-sport journey, packed with big-picture analysis and sharp anecdotes for fans and sports business observers. Great context for anyone who missed the show, giving you both the substance and flavor of the day’s big topics.