The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Hour 2 – “Some Voters Were Probably Being Petty Towards Belichick, USC's Schedule Next Season, Looking at Sam Darnold's Career, Albert Breer”

Date: January 28, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Colin Cowherd dives into several hot topics in the sports world, focusing on:

• The Hall of Fame voting process, particularly regarding Bill Belichick and the role of pettiness.
• The changing landscape of college football schedules, specifically the challenges facing USC and comparisons with Notre Dame.
• A detailed evaluation of Sam Darnold’s career resurgence and what his trajectory says about NFL quarterback assessment.
• NFL coaching hires, the comfort of promoting from within, and the risks associated with such hires.
• A news segment featuring the Baker Mayfield-Kevin Stefanski drama, changes within the Denver Broncos coaching staff, and the promotion of Joe Brady to head coach.

Albert Breer joins live from the Senior Bowl to provide insider analysis and context on NFL topics.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Hall of Fame Voting and Bill Belichick's Snub

Colin’s Take:

• Opens with a story about his father's advice: “Many decisions in your life about your career will be made when you're not in the room.”
  (Colin Cowherd, 02:30)
• Applies this lesson to Bill Belichick's Hall of Fame situation, noting that voters may have been “as petty as Bill can be.”
• Suggests that Belichick’s reputation for being abrasive and controlling rooms may have influenced voters against him, stating:

  “If you can be nice as often as you can be, I know it shouldn’t matter, but it does.”
  (Colin Cowherd, 04:28)

Albert Breer’s Analysis:
(05:28)

• Breaks down the voting process: Five candidates, voters choose three, so votes are split.

• Points out some voters may reason, “Bill’s going to be nominated until he gets in, let’s put the player in over the coach,” which Breer disagrees with:

  “To me, it shouldn’t be what it is. The first ballot Hall of Famer… should be the guy you cannot say no to. And that’s what Bill is as a coach.”
  (Albert Breer, 07:04)

• Both agree Hall of Fame decisions should be a simple yes/no process and that Belichick will eventually get in.

Notable Quote:

“Pull the lever, check the box. Belichick. Yeah, he’s in… you get that much hardware, you’re in.”
(Colin Cowherd, 16:54)

2. NFL Coaching Hires – Comfort vs. Competence

Steelers’ Hiring Strategy:

• Discussion on Mike McCarthy being an uninspiring but understandable hire for the Steelers, given ownership's reluctance to risk “being bad.”

  “I don’t think the Rooneys want to sink to the bottom of the league... It does make sense to bring in a more experienced guy.”
  (Albert Breer, 09:00)

Buffalo Bills and Joe Brady:

• Colin questions whether Josh Allen influenced the choice to promote Joe Brady, highlighting the danger of “comfortable” hires.
• Breer reveals Allen did have a seat at the table among a small group of decision-makers. Continuity, familiarity, and Joe Brady’s CEO vision stood out in interviews.
• Segment on poor historical outcomes for teams promoting from within.

  “Promoting from within is very dangerous… the comfortable hire, last nine years… this is the ultimate poo poo platter.”
  (J. Mac, 29:23)

• Colin:

  “The greater the coach who leaves, the wider the search has to be to replace him… I just don’t think the answer is usually down the hallway.”
  (Colin Cowherd, 39:41)

3. Sam Darnold’s Career Arc and NFL QB Evaluations

Darnold vs. NFL Market:

• Colin is puzzled by the lack of market interest in Darnold, comparing it to the tepid pursuit of Tom Brady in 2020:

  “He didn’t have a big market… More demand for Kirk Cousins leaving Minnesota than Tom Brady when he hit the market. And Sam Darnold, I like Kirk, but give me a break.”
  (Colin Cowherd, 32:32)

Albert Breer’s Take:

• Old evaluations “die hard” in the NFL; early-career struggles with the Jets and coaching changes soured his perception.
• Darnold benefited from the “Shanahan incubator,” proving himself in Minnesota and now thriving in Seattle.

  “You have to give Seattle a lot of credit for cutting through that… what he is, is I think who a lot of people thought he was going to become when he came out of USC in 2018.”
  (Albert Breer, 15:09)

Colin’s 'Blind Résumé' Segment:
(32:32 – 37:19)

• Uses statistical comparisons to show Darnold's performance since late 2022 rivals or surpasses big names: Josh Allen, Matt Stafford, Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes, and Jalen Hurts.
• Acknowledges Darnold’s turnover issues but stresses aggressiveness and big-play potential:

  “I want my quarterback to be aggressive… I don’t think in a league with the margins this thin, you win being safe.”
  (Colin Cowherd, 38:16)

4. USC’s Brutal 2026 Big Ten Schedule & Notre Dame’s “Advantage”

Colin’s Analysis:

• USC’s move to the Big Ten creates a “six-game stretch of Oregon, Washington, Penn State, and Ohio State,” making the addition of Notre Dame nearly impossible:

  “You can kiss the CFP goodbye, baby. The world has changed.”
  (Colin Cowherd, 20:09)

• Criticizes Notre Dame’s easier playoff qualification, noting Big Ten/SEC teams face much harder schedules.

Joel Klatt (clip):

“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but like to schedule Notre Dame because they have such an advantage over these teams… Ohio State schedule is brutal… and then go look at Notre Dame’s, and Notre Dame gets the automatic. That’s crazy.”
(Referenced by Colin, 21:57)

• Points out the shift away from “cupcake” schedules in the SEC, comparing new tougher schedules to those in Saban’s era.

5. News Segment Highlights

Baker Mayfield vs. Kevin Stefanski

(24:00 – 26:38)

• Discusses Baker Mayfield’s comments blaming Kevin Stefanski for his Cleveland departure.
• Stefanski’s diplomatic response is noted:

  “I have a ton of respect for Baker as a player, as a person. That’s a great team with a great player.”
  (Kevin Stefanski, 24:21)

• Colin: “Why can’t I like both?… I don’t root against Baker. When he wins, it’s good for the league.”

Denver Broncos Coaching Change

(26:42 – 28:18)

• Broncos fire OC Joe Lombardi; context: the push to elevate promising coach Davis Webb.
• Colin: Minor coaching changes are healthy: “I don’t think it’s the worst thing in the world every year to tweak somebody on your staff… just for freshness. New eyes, new narrative, new point of view.”

Buffalo Bills & Internal Promotions

(28:45 – 29:41)

• Staff research shows promoting coordinators to head coach rarely succeeds.
• Colin: “I just don’t think the answer is usually down the hallway.”

6. Debating Quarterbacks: Aggressiveness, Value, and Top 10 Rankings

Turnovers vs. Aggressiveness:

• Darnold led the league in turnovers but Colin defends aggressive QBs—references Stafford, Mahomes, and the increase in offensive snaps and tempo compensating for mistakes.

Is Darnold Top 10?

• Colin: “If you think about top 10 quarterbacks… What do I do with Darnold and what do I do with Drake May?… I think he’s a top 10 quarterback.”
  (Colin Cowherd, 42:31–42:50)

“One Game to Win” QB Draft:

• J. Mac asks who Colin would take for one game, Drake May or Dak Prescott.

  “Drake May.”
  (Colin Cowherd, 43:01)

  • Also picks Drake May over Jared Goff, citing mobility and improvisation.

Darnold’s Contract/Value:

• If Darnold wins a Super Bowl, would he be justified asking for a massive deal?

  “I don’t think that’s his personality and I don’t think he’ll get it.”
  (Colin Cowherd, 40:24)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Practice the stuff you’re going to do in the game. That has lived with me for 50 years.” (Colin, 02:13)
• “I think old evaluations of him die hard. And I think you have to give Seattle a lot of credit for cutting through that.” (Albert Breer, 15:10)
• “The world has changed… you can kiss the CFP goodbye, baby.” (Colin, 20:09)
• “Promoting from within is very dangerous… this is the ultimate poo poo platter.” (J. Mac, 29:23)
• “I just don’t think the answer is usually down the hallway.” (Colin, 39:41)
• “You get that much hardware, you’re in.” (Colin, 16:54)
• “I want my quarterback to be aggressive… I don’t think in a league with the margins this thin, you win being safe.” (Colin, 38:16)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Hall of Fame/Bill Belichick’s Snub – 02:30–07:17
• Albert Breer on NFL Coaching Trends – 08:15–16:27
• Sam Darnold’s NFL Market & Evaluation – 13:55–16:27, 32:32–41:50
• USC’s Big Ten Schedule/Notre Dame Advantage – 20:09–24:00
• Baker Mayfield/Kevin Stefanski Drama – 24:00–26:38
• Broncos Coaching Change – 26:42–28:18
• Promoting Internally/Head Coach Data – 28:45–29:41
• Blind Résumé – Darnold vs. League Stars – 32:32–37:19
• Turnovers vs. Aggressiveness Discussion – 38:16–41:50
• QB Draft: Darnold/May vs. League – 42:31–43:50

Tone & Style

Colin maintains his trademark blend of sharp, anecdotal insight and direct, often provocative opinion. Albert Breer delivers detailed, measured analysis. The episode is energetic, highly data-driven, but conversational, with a healthy dose of humor and irreverence, particularly when discussing league “pettiness” and the folly of overly safe organizational decisions.

End of Summary