Podcast Episode Summary

Podcast: The Herd with Colin Cowherd
Episode: THE HERD - Hour 2 - Ranking the best players in the NFC Championship game, Tom Brady stops by The Herd
Date: January 23, 2026
Host: Colin Cowherd
Guest: Tom Brady
Key Segments: In-depth player rankings for the NFC Championship, Tom Brady guest appearance to discuss playoff preparation, coaching culture, quarterback leadership, and more

Episode Overview

This episode of "The Herd" with Colin Cowherd dives deep into the NFC Championship game, focusing on his ranking of the best players involved and the major storylines leading up to this pivotal matchup between the Rams and the Seahawks. A major highlight is the in-depth, insightful conversation with seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady, who offers his expertise on playoff preparation, quarterback challenges in new environments, coaching cultures, and what makes successful teams tick. The episode also touches on broader NFL headlines, coach of the year talk, and quarterback leadership.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. NFC Championship: Setting the Stage

• Consistent Frontrunners: Colin reflects on how, despite ups and downs, the Seahawks and Rams have emerged as the NFC’s most reliable teams. Injuries and fluctuations among contenders like Green Bay, Philadelphia, and San Francisco left these two squads as the most stable through the season.
• The Game's Importance: “Over the course of a journey, what we have is I think the two most consistent for the most weeks during the regular season.” (Colin; 03:40)

2. Colin’s Top 10 Player Rankings for the NFC Championship

(Timestamps are rough; whole segment 03:06–12:00)

Colin argues that the team with more Top 10 players typically wins. He lists and analyzes his picks:

10. Puna Ford (Rams, DT):

• “The Rams’ highest graded defensive player… just an incredibly impactful offseason move.” (05:23)

9. Kevin Dotson (Rams, Guard):

• “Second highest graded guard in the league. They stole him from Pittsburgh… the best guard combination in the NFL.” (05:46)

8. Jared Verse (Seahawks, Edge):

• “People think he’s having a down year. He leads the NFL in quarterback hits.” (06:14)

7. Kyron Williams (Rams, RB):

• “Fourth highest graded running back in the league… He is just fantastic” (06:42)

6. Kenneth Walker (Seahawks, RB):

• “Highest graded running back in the league… really hard to bring down on the opening shot.” (07:35)

5. Sam Darnold (Seahawks, QB):

• “Only quarterback in league history with three 14-plus-win and 4,000 yard seasons back to back for two teams... Darnold wins a lot of games and is super productive.” (08:06)

4. Devin Witherspoon (Seahawks, CB):

• “Not allowed a touchdown in coverage since week four. The highest graded cornerback… He is the best corner in this game.” (08:44)

3. Jackson Smith-Njigba (JSN, Seahawks, WR):

• “Led the NFL in receiving yards in his first season as a #1… Never drops passes. Very elusive, very clever.” (09:20)

2. Matt Stafford (Rams, QB):

• “Highest graded quarterback… He plays bigger in big moments… led NFL in passing yards. He is my MVP.” (09:55)

1. Puka Nacua (Rams, WR):

• “Highest receiving yards per game in league history… I think he has the strongest hands I’ve ever seen on any receiver.” (10:46)

• Notable Split: “So the top two players are Rams, 3 through 6 are Seahawks, 7 through 10 are Rams. Pretty evenly split.” (11:16)

• Notable Omission: “The one you all want to push back on… Sam Darnold at number five. Everybody wants to push back on that.” (11:56)

3. Guest Segment: Analyst on Seattle’s Balanced Attack

Greg Cosell discusses the Seahawks’ offense:

• “Walker has been attacking downhill much more... allowed them to stay on schedule... I don’t think they want Sam Darnold dropping back 35 times.” (12:18)

Colin concurs, emphasizing that only a rare few QBs should ever be throwing 40+ times, otherwise it means the offense is out of balance. (12:47)

4. Colin and Tom Brady: Deep Dive into Playoff Preparation and Quarterback Experience

Start: 19:46

Seattle’s Youth and Energy

• Colin asks about game-planning against young, athletic, energetic teams:
  • “Young teams tend to play with a lot of emotion… when a young team is feeling it… you don't want to let Seattle start playing like that.” (18:41)
• Tom Brady: “If they play well on special teams, their defense, we know they’re going to play great. …this game is just incredible for me to be at. I’m so excited.” (19:46)

Coaching and Ball Security

• Colin praises the Rams’ clean, disciplined game and asks Tom about coaching’s role in limiting drops, fumbles, and penalties.
• Brady shares practice habits:
  • “There’s an urgency in practice that the coaches drive home… Bill would actually take—he called them grease balls—silicone spray he’d spray on the ball… So that urgency and point of emphasis always showed up in games.” (21:12)
• “If you fumbled, you were out of the game. All the backs knew that.” (21:32)

Quarterback ‘Year One’ Challenges

• “What is the hardest part about that year one journey for a quarterback with a new team?” (Colin; 24:12)
• Brady: “A lot of newness—location, practice format, receivers, O-line, line calls… It took us 12 games [in Tampa] to really feel familiar… Seattle’s going to need to play two games the best they have all year.” (24:12, 25:14)

Denver as a Unique Challenge

• Colin: “The only place that sticks in my mind where you struggled was Denver. What is it about Denver?” (25:43)
• Brady: “Unique playing environment... altitude, incredible fan base… tough place to play.” (26:10)
• Praises Sean Payton’s coaching turnaround.

Scouting Report: Jared Stidham

• “He’s a very natural passer of the football, very competitive, very smart… sneaky, good athleticism.” (27:28)
• Stidham’s readiness, opportunity, and importance of avoiding turnovers.

High-Stakes, Clean Football

• “Whoever wins the special teams battle and field position will have an advantage… will come down to third down, situational, red zone… These games are going to be very close.” (28:43)

The Value of Humility in QBs

• “Cocky does not work in this league. It turns teammates off.” (Colin; 28:53)
• Brady on humility:
  • “If you’re not humble, this game will humble you. …True leadership is about service. And how do I show up every day to be the best I can be for my teammates?” (29:35)

On Drake May and Young QBs

• Tom Brady: “Drake May has that humility. Everything that comes out of his mouth is always about the team. …That really should be the lesson for all quarterbacks in the NFL.” (30:20)

Final Quick Hits: Tom on Watching Fernando Mendoza

• “He’s just a very mature young man and he's got a bright future. …All these young prospects, I hope they go to environments that embrace them…” (31:12)
• “Nobody’s a finished product… what do you do when you get there? How important is this to you? Are you obsessed?” (32:25)

5. Rams vs. Seahawks: Roster Depth and "Clean Football"

• Trench Play Acknowledged: Colin emphasizes the impact of less-heralded players (linemen, defenders) and how omitting some stars is not a slight, but a byproduct of incredible roster depth.
• “With these lists, I don’t want it to be all quarterbacks and receivers. I mean, like Puka and JSN are insane, but it’s... the guys in the trenches.” (35:31)
• Game Keys: “This game is tremendous… it’s going to come down to who plays cleaner football, third downs, turnovers.” (36:35; 49:34)
• “The most consistent team without the mistakes was the Rams. That’s why I like the Rams to win this game, but... am I going to be surprised if Seattle wins? No.” (47:58)

6. Coach of the Year and NFL Headlines

• Panel discusses Coach of the Year candidates; Colin prefers Ben Johnson or Vrabel, J Mac (Jason McIntyre) brings up Liam Cohen's regular-season turnaround (33:47–34:40).
• New York Giants hire John Harbaugh, who is effusive in praise of new QB Jackson Dart. (36:35–39:40)

7. Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On the Rams’ preparation:

  • “For them to perform like that, lack of penalties, obviously no turnovers, and the drop passes, that’s just—I’m very jealous of receivers that don’t drop balls too, by the way—that’s a great stat for any quarterback.” (Tom Brady; 22:40)

• On humility in football:

  • “If you’re not humble, this game will humble you.” (Tom Brady; 29:36)

• Setting expectations for QBs with new teams:

  • “It took us 12 games to feel like we were starting to get familiar… So that by December, the playoffs, we started to play our best football.” (Tom Brady; 24:56)

• The stakes:

  • “These games are going to be very close and, and, and they’re playing for a lot. This is a chance to go… to win a world championship. So no bigger weekend in football than this.” (Tom Brady; 28:53)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• NFC Championship Context and Player Rankings: 03:06–12:00
• Greg Cosell on Seattle’s Balanced Approach: 12:18
• Seattle's Youth & Energy, Brady Interview Start: 18:41–31:16
• Tom Brady on Practice, Ball Security, and Coaching: 21:12
• Brady on Transitioning to a New Team: 24:12
• Brady on Stidham and Denver’s Toughness: 25:43–28:43
• Brady on Leadership, Humility, and Young QBs: 28:53–31:16
• Rams/Seahawks “Roster Depth” & Clean Football: 35:16–36:35; revisited at 47:05–52:08

Tone & Style

• Colin Cowherd: Analytical, energetic, often irreverent but highly focused on team-building, talent evaluation, and NFL culture.
• Tom Brady: Candid and insightful, highlights practice habits, leadership, humility, and the realities of season-long preparation.
• Panel/Guest Analyst (Greg Cosell): Technical and schematic, provides balanced view of Seattle offense and Darnold’s role.

Summary Highlights

• The NFC Championship is a matchup of the two most consistent NFC teams, the Rams and Seahawks.
• Colin’s Top 10 players are split nearly evenly between teams, with trench players getting due respect.
• “Clean football” (few turnovers, penalties, drops) is seen as the key to playoff wins, with Tom Brady providing practice stories showcasing why New England and now the Rams are so good at this.
• Brady articulates the unique hurdles of being a new QB on a new team, and why leadership and humility are more important than arm strength.
• The Rams’ surgical preparation and Seahawks’ energy are poised for a clash that, in many eyes, feels like a “de facto Super Bowl.”
• Leadership, accountability, and meticulous practice habits are credited as the true separators under postseason pressure.

This episode offers a rich blend of tactical analysis, behind-the-scenes stories, and leadership lessons from all-time greats—essential listening for any NFL fan, player, or coach ahead of championship weekend.