The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Hour 2 (October 6, 2025)

iHeartPodcasts and The Volume

Episode Overview

In this Monday episode of "The Herd," Colin Cowherd dives into his recurring "Where Colin Was Right, Where Colin Was Wrong" segment, reflecting on NFL storylines, coaching assessments, team performance, and standout players. The episode features a lively discussion with former NFL QB Matt Hasselbeck about the evolution of quarterbacks like Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold, the importance of grit, and the emergence of new football trends. The hosts also analyze the Detroit Lions' rushing duo, the impact of performative culture on the game, and the persistent issue of coaching shortfalls on certain teams.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. "Where Colin Was Right, Where Colin Was Wrong" (03:30–09:45)

Highlights and Self-Assessments

• Eagles’ Troubles Are About Coordination, Not Talent

  • Colin emphasizes that Philadelphia's struggles are due to issues with coordinators, not players.
  • “Not only does coaching matter, I’ve been preaching this, coordinators matter.”
    — Colin Cowherd (03:30)

• Patriots’ Resurgence Under Vrabel

  • Predicted New England would turn things around; attributes the improvement to coaching culture.
  • Drake May showing both promise and fixable flaws as a young QB.

• Raiders and Geno Smith Underperforming

  • Colin admits to being wrong about the Raiders, particularly Geno Smith’s potential as a comeback story.
  • "He's not that good. Second worst point differential in the NFL."
    — Colin Cowherd (05:09)

• Miami's Identity Crisis

  • Miami Dolphins’ lack of toughness cited as cause for blowing big leads.
  • “This goes back to the hipster head coach. Zero toughness, zero culture...I never ever know quite what they are outside of really fast at wide receiver.”
    — Colin Cowherd (05:30)

• Detroit Lions “Hazmat” Narrative Reversed

  • Colin admits he overreacted to concerns about new coordinators; credits successful culture and smart front office decisions.

• Yankees Analysis

  • Yankees labeled “good but not great”—criticizes roster construction, not manager Aaron Boone.

• College Football Misses

  • Initial predictions about Penn State and Texas faltered; credits UCLA’s adaptation and the evolving quarterback landscape.

2. Interview with Matt Hasselbeck: QB Development & Grit (09:45–13:01)

Baker Mayfield’s Resurgence

• Hasselbeck and Colin agree that Baker's early-career adversity gave him grit, now reflected in his leadership and play.
• “Those experiences that both of those quarterbacks had early in their careers have hardened them and given them the grit and the determination and that like I don't give a rip factor that they have in these games.”
  — Matt Hasselbeck (09:52)

Darnold’s Improvements

• Darnold’s growth in accuracy and composure highlighted.
• “That was never my concern with Sam Darnold. My concern…his eyes were never really in the right place. But that’s a young player; those are fixable things.”
  — Matt Hasselbeck (11:15)

Coaching & Identity in Philadelphia

• Discussion about Philly’s identity crisis; Hasselbeck advises the Eagles to lean into their strengths and ignore outside noise.
• “I think Philly needs to just be proud of who they are…There’s enough credit to go around.”
  — Matt Hasselbeck (13:04)

3. Young Quarterbacks and Coaching Trends (14:11–18:04)

• Drake May’s Accelerated Progress
  Colin notes how May and the Patriots may be ahead of schedule; Hasselbeck credits team buy-in and focus on supporting star receivers like Stefon Diggs.

• Dak Prescott’s Leadership
  Both hosts agree this is the best Prescott has looked, especially as a leader:

  • “This is absolutely the best that I’ve seen Dak Prescott look…the most I’ve seen him as a leader on the team.”
    — Matt Hasselbeck (17:05)

4. The “Performative” Athlete and Dropped Touchdowns (18:04–20:36)

• Colin theorizes social media is driving young players toward performative, high-risk behavior—such as dropping the ball before the end zone to celebrate.

• “Everything’s performative…I think it’s bleeding into sports.”
  — Colin Cowherd (18:04)

• Hasselbeck responds with insights about how fundamentals aren’t coached as strictly anymore, sharing stories from his playing career.

• “I don’t think fundamentals get coached nearly as much as they did 30, 40, 50 years ago…You gotta get more creative, much like Pete Carroll did.”
  — Matt Hasselbeck (19:14)

5. Franchise Trends & the Roster/Contract Debate (34:10–35:14)

• Cowherd and Dan Beyer discuss how top NFL rosters are often built around QBs on rookie deals or non-max contracts, allowing for deeper team talent.
• “Look at the best rosters in the NFL right now. They’re all the best teams—Denver…the Colts roster…Seattle’s roster, Tampa. Why? Because you’re not paying the quarterback 60 large.”
  — Colin Cowherd (35:10)

6. Football News Roundup (28:50–35:47)

Detroit Lions’ Rushing Duo

• Montgomery and Gibbs compared to Emmitt Smith and Daryl Johnston for their effectiveness.
• Dual-RB schemes promoted as a trend for team success and player health.

Run Game vs. Pass-Heavy Offenses

• Colin argues it’s smarter to have two fresh RBs than to wear one down, using examples from Detroit, Buffalo, and San Francisco.

Bad Teams, Coaching, and Player Development

• Jets and Bears lamented as franchises not maximizing talent, often due to poor coaching; contrast with teams maximizing rookie quarterback windows.

7. Coaching Evaluation: When to Move On (42:42–48:55)

• Colin lays out how to judge coaches: look for improvement on their specialty side of the ball. Cites Aaron Glenn and the Jets as current cautionary tales.

• “If you can hire…find a guy that’s in his coaching prime, that means he’s not in his 60s…with a lot of energy that has been successful in previous stops.”
  — Colin Cowherd (46:51)

• Names like Vrabel, Harbaugh, and Sean Payton held up as sure bets due to successful track records.

8. The Value of Adversity: Baker Mayfield as MVP Candidate (48:55–End)

• Colin concludes that overcoming adversity built Mayfield into the composed and effective leader he is today.
• “There’s nothing wrong with having a chip on your shoulder…but as long as it’s a functional chip on the shoulder. Right now, Baker…he’s really smartly using that chip.”
  — Colin Cowherd (50:15)

Memorable Quotes & Timestamps

• On Eagles’ Issues:
  “This is not a players issue in Philly. It’s a coordinator issue.”
  — Colin Cowherd (03:30)

• On Baker Mayfield’s Leadership:
  “I think Baker, his grit, this team has taken on his personality…Incredibly impressive.”
  — Matt Hasselbeck (09:52)

• On Dak Prescott:
  “This is absolutely the best that I’ve seen Dak Prescott look…physically, and I think it’s showing up in how he plays.”
  — Matt Hasselbeck (17:05)

• On performative sports culture:
  “This constant need to be performative…And we had another running back…drop the ball at the goal line…this is what is happening in society.”
  — Colin Cowherd (18:04)

• On Baker Mayfield and Adversity:
  “Those Cleveland years…there’s nothing wrong with having a chip on your shoulder. Michael Jordan had it until the last day. But as long as it’s a functional chip on the shoulder. Right now, Baker…he’s really smartly using that chip.”
  — Colin Cowherd (50:15)

Important Segments & Timestamps

• 03:30 – 09:45: Where Colin Was Right/Wrong
• 09:45 – 13:01: Matt Hasselbeck on Baker Mayfield and QB grit
• 14:11 – 18:04: On Drake May’s rise and QB evolution
• 18:04 – 20:36: Performative culture and dropped goal line balls
• 28:50 – 35:47: Detroit Lions’ RB tandem and roster building philosophies
• 42:42 – 48:55: Coaching hot seats and evaluation
• 48:55 – End: Life lessons from Baker Mayfield’s journey

Tone and Style

Colin delivers his takes with signature frankness and quick humor, sparking lively analysis from his co-hosts and guests. Matt Hasselbeck brings an insider’s perspective, blending anecdotes with pragmatic football wisdom. The tone is insightful, brisk, and at times irreverent, making for a sports radio experience that’s both accessible and sharp.

Summary for New Listeners

This episode is a spirited blend of NFL self-audit, deep-dive analysis into the evolution of quarterbacks, and candid takes on coaching trends. Cowherd is at his best blending data, cultural observations, and locker-room insights, especially when exploring why players like Baker Mayfield thrive through adversity and how teams like the Lions and Patriots have built their current identities. If you care about how team culture, quarterback trajectories, and coaching hires shape the NFL’s future, this episode offers a full hour of highly listenable wisdom.