Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Hour 2

Episode Date: January 14, 2026
Main Topics: NFL Super Bowl Contenders ("Bubble"), Steelers’ Next Head Coach, NFL Coaching Carousel

Overview

This episode dives into two headline NFL debates:

1. Which remaining playoff teams are truly Super Bowl contenders ("in the bubble")?
2. What’s the best available head coaching job, and who are the leading candidates—especially for the Pittsburgh Steelers?

Host Colin Cowherd, joined by guest Albert Breer, delivers bold opinions, sharp analysis, and inside info about the league’s biggest teams and coaching moves.

Super Bowl Bubble: Who Can Actually Win It All?

[00:30–06:45] Colin Cowherd Solo Segment

Key Points

• Colin assesses the remaining eight NFL playoff teams and narrows it to four he considers true Super Bowl threats.
• He emphasizes current form, coaching, offense/defense balance, health, and playoff history.
• Teams making Colin’s "bubble": Rams, Patriots, Seahawks, Bills

Team-By-Team Breakdown

1. LA Rams

• Best offense (scoring and total yards), healthy, Matt Stafford’s playoff record (6-2 with Rams, 107 passer rating)
• Weakness: Questionable special teams.
• “I’m glad [Brooks Koepka]’s back…and I like watching him play. The more he’s on my TV, the happier I am.” (00:45, on sports as entertainment and player movement)

2. New England Patriots

• “They’ve won 14 of the last 15 games. Top five coach. They lead the NFL in yards per play.”
• No major holes. “May not be great at anything…are they terrible at anything?”
• Resemble the “old Patriots” in maturity and completeness.

3. Seattle Seahawks

• “They’ve won 11 of 12, [only] lost by two points in a turnover play game against the Rams.”
• Fourth-best scoring offense, best run defense, “defensive version of Sean McVay.”
• Some reliance on certain WRs, but “I don’t know where their hole is…well, Darnold throws picks. So did Brock Purdy and Matt Stafford…”

4. Buffalo Bills

• “Best second-half team in the league. Josh Allen has twice as many wins [in playoffs] as the other AFC QBs combined.”
• Offensively talented, some worries on defense.

Teams Left Out of the Bubble

• Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers, Denver Broncos, Houston Texans
  • Bears/49ers: Too many injuries, porous defenses, or not enough offense.
  • Broncos: “Played a very easy schedule…struggling offensively…people got a lot of film on Bo Nix.”
  • Texans: “Oh and six divisional round all time…something’s not quite right with CJ Stroud…24th in yards per play, 30th in the red zone, settle for field goals not touchdowns.”

Quote:
“Rams, Seahawks, Bills, Patriots: in. By the way, it’s feet, not even yards [difference]. Denver…Houston…we’re not saying they can’t win another game, but I think only four of eight can get to and win the Super Bowl.” (06:16)

Deep Dive: Houston Texans’ Defense & Their Ceiling

[06:45–09:33] Guest: Albert Breer

Breer’s Take

• Houston’s D gives “2015 Broncos, 2013 Seahawks, 2000 Ravens” vibes—fly to the ball, incredible closing speed, “looks like 13 guys out there.”
  • “It is as if they’re playing with another man…” (07:43, Colin)
• Offense is very young; depends on rookies and first-year players—question is, can they do just enough?

Memorable Moment:
“There was the deep ball to Jalen Noel that was right on his numbers and he dropped it…They’re right there. This team could be even better next year.” (08:51, Breer)

NFL Coaching Carousel: Best Openings & Top Candidates

[09:33–24:48] Cowherd & Breer

What’s the Best Job After the Ravens?

• Cowherd: “The Giants is a better job today to me than Pittsburgh.”
  • Giants have the foundational pieces (left tackle, defensive front, weapons) and “solvable” gaps.
  • Steelers: No franchise QB, “very, very young defensively next year,” lots of work.

Breer:

• Agrees: “How attractive [these jobs are] is largely dependent on your individual evaluation of the quarterback.”
• Giants: “Franchise left tackle in Andrew Thomas, franchise receiver in Malik Neighbors, and a chance to be dominant up front…If you love [QB Jackson] Dart, it’s got everything you’d want.”
• Steelers: “Attractive because it’s the Steelers…flagship franchise, patient ownership…but man, you got a lot of work to do on that roster…eight guys 30 or older.”

Quote:
“Eight guys in [the Steelers] starting 22 right now that are 30 or older. So what do you do with TJ Watt? Cam Heyward? …You don’t have a lot of guys on that roster where you look and say, yeah, that guy’s going to be here three years from now.” (12:14, Breer)

Cowherd’s Coaching Tiers

• Top Options: Harbaugh, Stefanski, Tomlin, McCarthy ("very good options").
• Second-Chance Guys: Saleh (could bring brilliant staff), Flores, Dabol.
• Rising Defensive Names: Minter (“requested by every single team”), Jeff Hafley (“fantastic in Green Bay”), Anthony Campanelli, Matt Burke, Ejiro Evero—“backlog” due to focus on offensive HCs in prior years.
• Offensive Prospects: Clint Kubiak, Davis Webb—young, promising, but “rolling the dice.”

Memorable Moment:
“On the offensive side, I think you’d be looking at guys that are just dice rolls…whereas on defense, you got more who are ready.” (15:41, Breer)

Steelers’ Future at QB & HC: Rodgers’ Retirement, Coaching Candidates

Rodgers Recap

[15:41–18:05]

• Colin: “Aaron [Rodgers] did the best of what you can do with a kind of a tone deaf offensive…last seven years the Steelers have been bottom 10 in offensive spending.”
• Breer: “People in Pittsburgh think this is going to be it for him…this year gave him some closure. He wanted to fall in love with football again…Pittsburgh gave him that. But if the perfect situation came along…maybe he’d jump.”

Leading HC Names for the Steelers

Rapidfire Coaching Matches
[21:16–24:48]

• Titans: Stefanski if not hired by New York; Saleh in the mix.
• Raiders: Jesse Minter (Michigan/Brady connections) or even a bold move like Davis Webb.
• Dolphins: Clint Kubiak ("collaborative environment" important).
• Steelers: Chris Shula cited as a leading name; Marcus Freeman ("carries himself like a Steelers head coach") could be a dark horse.

Notable Exchange:

• “Chris Shula…despite his last name, he’s had to work his way up. He had to really earn that job [Rams DC].” (23:27, Breer)
• “I think Chris Shula…would check a lot of those boxes [for the Steelers].” (24:41, Breer)

Roundtable: Steelers’ Timeline, Roster, and Draft Assets

[25:01–27:10] Cowherd, Co-Hosts

• Steelers have lots of picks: “a first, a second, three thirds, two fourths” (25:21, Cowherd).
• Marcus Freeman would bring major college recruiting/draft expertise.
• Debate over whether Steelers will be “terrible for three years”—Colin doesn’t buy it, citing draft capital and cap space.

“Shocking” Prospects and Rumors

• Davis Webb floated as HC contender: “He was in the league like seven minutes ago,” co-host marvels. (27:10)

News Round-Up: Headline NFL Developments

[34:48–41:47] Herdline News

• Ravens HC Search: Owner Steve Bisciotti involves Lamar Jackson in process but not empowering him; the hosts urge caution about giving players too much sway.
  • “I want you to have a say…but you throw the passes.” (36:37, Cowherd)
• Eagles OC Firing: Kevin Patullo out; Jalen Hurts will have his fifth OC. Eagles’ coordinator situation in flux; possible targets include Mike McDaniel, Kliff Kingsbury.
  • “It’s a good time to be an offensive coordinator in this league.” (39:05, Cowherd)
• Vikings QB Room: Kevin O’Connell says there’ll be competition for J.J. McCarthy. Speculation continues on possible Aaron Rodgers move to Minnesota.
  • “I’d have no problem having both McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers. None at all.” (41:08, Cowherd)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Houston’s Defense:
“It legitimately looks like there are 13 guys out there.” (07:43, Breer)

On Steelers’ Coaching Tree:
“Mike Tomlin doesn't have a coaching tree. It’s a cactus.” (15:59, Cowherd)

On Giants’ Job:
“If you love [QB Jackson] Dart, I think it’s got everything you’d want. Stable ownership, all of that.” (11:19, Breer)

On Coaching Candidates:
"There’s almost like this backlog of young defensive coaches because everybody’s been mining the offensive pipeline for so long." (14:19, Breer)

Key Timestamps

• Super Bowl Bubble Talk: 00:30–06:45
• Albert Breer on Houston: 06:45–09:33
• Best Coaching Jobs & Candidates: 09:33–18:05
• Steelers, Rodgers Future: 15:41–18:05
• Rapidfire Job Matches: 21:16–24:48
• Steelers Roster/Draft Debate: 25:01–27:10
• NFL News (Ravens, Eagles, Vikings): 34:48–41:47

Takeaways for Non-Listeners

• Cowherd is down to four real Super Bowl contenders, touting health, offense, and playoff mettle.
• Houston’s defense is historic, but offensive youth holds them back (for now).
• Steelers job, despite history and patience, will require a “relatively lengthy rebuild” (12:39, Breer).
• Giants HC job benefits from foundational roster and cap flexibility; appeal rises if you like Jackson Dart.
• Expect coaching hires to feature rising defensive stars; bold young offensive coaches are “dice rolls.”
• Debate over giving players (like Lamar) say in HC selection; panel prefers a traditional top-down approach.
• Eagles and Vikings both face critical coordinator/QB decisions—expect big news soon.
• Marcus Freeman and Chris Shula are the most intriguing new names for the Pittsburgh vacancy.

Episode Tone:
Bold, fast-paced, and straight-shooting with Cowherd’s signature blend of deep analysis, rumor-mongering, and wry humor.
Breer brings insider insight, measured takes, and a deeper look at team-building challenges.
Co-hosts chime in with skeptical but informed banter.