The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Hour 2: Where Colin Was Right and Wrong, Caleb Williams, Chiefs Problems, Matt Hasselbeck Interview

Date: September 15, 2025
Podcast: The Herd with Colin Cowherd
Host: Colin Cowherd (with co-hosts/producers and guests incl. Aaron Rodgers, Matt Hasselbeck)

Episode Overview

This episode is a deep dive into the latest storylines from the NFL and college football, with Colin Cowherd offering his signature “Where Colin was Right / Where Colin was Wrong” segment, analysis of Caleb Williams’ struggles in Chicago, the Kansas City Chiefs’ offensive regression, and more. A significant portion features an in-depth football conversation with former NFL quarterback Matt Hasselbeck covering team identities, quarterback development, and trends shaping the current season.

Key Segments & Insights

Where Colin Was Right/Wrong

[03:26–08:10]

Colin reviews his recent predictions, pointing out calls that aged well and those that didn’t across the NFL and college football. The tone is self-aware, direct, and at times playful.

• Kansas City Chiefs Offense Falters
  • Right: Colin saw the Chiefs’ offensive drop-off coming, citing depth issues, key injuries/suspensions, and over-reliance on Mahomes.

    "Mahomes, as I said earlier, is like keeping the lights on in this shopping mall. He’s the only thing that’s working. So we call this regression." —Colin [03:34]

• Caleb Williams’ Struggles in Chicago
  • Wrong: Colin admits he underestimated how rough Caleb Williams’ transition would be, despite not expecting him to be a superstar right away.

    "His passer rating now is lower than Spencer Rattler...ad libs too much, holds the ball too long...It is much worse than I would have thought." —Colin [04:14]

• Aaron Rodgers to Steelers is “Jets 2.0”
  • Right: Predicted the Steelers would still be unable to run the ball or eliminate dumb mistakes, despite Rodgers’ arrival.

    “Aaron, after the game, just like he did in New York, is already calling out teammates.” —Colin [04:49] "Cal is the best kid ever, but he probably should have just stayed in the flat there...unfortunately that whole sequence...took points off the board." —Aaron Rodgers [05:14]

• Denver Broncos Disappoint
  • Wrong: Colin picked Denver to win the AFC West, which he now calls a “sloppy” prediction after poor play and costly mistakes.

    “I love Bo Nix, but his interception in the fourth quarter...Denver has not looked good through two weeks.” —Colin [05:44]

• Green Bay Packers at #1, despite skepticism
  • Right: Stuck by Green Bay, hailed their roster depth and defense after a dominant win.

    “Green Bay is absolutely the most complete team in the league...this is the best Packer defense.” —Colin [06:26]

• Texas Longhorns Offense Falters
  • Wrong: Expected national title-caliber play, but calls the Arch Manning offense “unwatchable.”

    “I don’t know if it’s mechanics or confidence, but Arch Manning is officially off.” —Colin [07:02]

• Mike McDaniel/Miami Dolphins Not Built to Compete
  • Right: Maintains skepticism about flashy Dolphins, predicting an 0-3 start and deeper issues with culture and roster.

    "...from the very beginning, I questioned if it was all about the sizzle and was I getting any steak." —Colin [07:35]

• UCLA Football Misstep
  • Right: Called out Nico Iamaleava’s transfer from Tennessee to UCLA as ill-advised.

    “UCLA’s Football NIL is at the very bottom of the Big Ten...I feel terrible for the kid. I think he got bad advice.” —Colin [08:10]

Matt Hasselbeck Interview: Team IDs, Quarterback Development, and NFL Trends

[09:35–22:43]

A rich football discussion mixing X’s and O’s with player insight. Hasselbeck’s coaching and playing experience offer a clear lens on today’s NFL.

1. Philly’s Winning “Ugly” Identity

• Philadelphia remains unbeaten in games where they throw for under 100 yards, thriving on big, physical football and time of possession.
• Hasselbeck: “It doesn’t feel like first and 10 for Philly because of how good they are at the tush push...It’s an identity of who they want to be offensively...part of your offensive philosophy is to just keep [the opposing QB] on the bench.” [09:35]
• Colin: “There is something about—they’re very comfortable playing big, strong, ugly football. It feels like to me, they kind of love what they are.” [10:03]

2. Coaching Fit: Caleb Williams & Ben Johnson

• Questions about how Caleb Williams’ improvisational style fits with Ben Johnson’s timing/structure approach.
• Hasselbeck: “You better make it work...take this beginner’s mentality...do it exactly the way that you’re asked to do it.” [12:27]
• Colin: “It feels like from a fit standpoint, this may not be perfect.” [11:48]

3. Quarterback Play: Speed & Confidence

• Penix’s fast release compared with JJ McCarthy and Caleb, who hold the ball too long; hesitation erodes line’s and team’s confidence.
• Hasselbeck: “You say see it and let it rip. I think it’s more like anticipate it and let it rip...when you hold on to the ball, it doesn't necessarily hurt your confidence as a quarterback, it hurts the confidence of the offensive line.” [14:31]
• Colin: “When I watch Penix, I’m like, oh, that works…Is that part of JJ’s problem—he’s just not letting it go?” [13:41]

4. QB Health and Pre-Snap Intelligence

• Durability is tied to fast processing, avoiding hits. Big hits often blamed on O-line, but smart QBs “live to play the next play.”
• Hasselbeck: “There’s something to not being hurt. There’s something to not ending the season on IR...protect the team by protecting yourself.” [16:44]
• Colin: “It seems like the Bradys and the Elis, they get down or they don't get hurt.” [15:54]

5. Kyle Shanahan’s ‘Quarterback for Dummies’ System

• Shanahan’s schemes are QB-friendly, making life easier for guys like Mac Jones (in for injured starters) and resurrecting careers.
• Hasselbeck: “If you were to talk to quarterbacks around the league...Kyle Shanahan and Matt LaFleur are the guys they would want to go play for.” [18:56]

6. Dak Prescott’s Return to Form

• Dak’s mobility, confidence, and sideline energy post-surgery stand out.
• Hasselbeck: “It's the eye test...you feel great about your offseason training, you feel confident...That screams like a guy who had a great offseason.” [20:45]
• Colin: “Dak looked unbelievable yesterday...he still had, at the end of the game, the energy to peel off a run in overtime.” [21:56]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Mahomes’ Role in KC:

  “Mahomes…is like keeping the lights on in this shopping mall. He's the only thing that's working.” —Colin [03:34]

• On Caleb Williams’ Struggles:

  “His passer rating now is lower than Spencer Rattler…It is much worse than I would have thought.” —Colin [04:14]

• On Aaron Rodgers’ Teammate Critique:

  “Cal is the best kid ever, but he probably should have just stayed in the flat there…that whole sequence…took points off the board.” —Aaron Rodgers [05:14]

• On Philly’s ‘Tush Push’:

  “It doesn’t feel like first and 10 for Philly because of how good they are at the tush push.” —Matt Hasselbeck [09:35]

• On Quarterback Development:

  “You gotta throw it almost before you see it.” —Matt Hasselbeck (on Penix’s style) [14:31]

• On QB Durability:

  “Protect the team by protecting yourself...By learning to live for the next play, I'm really doing my part to protect the team.” —Matt Hasselbeck [16:44]

• On Dak’s Resurgence:

  “If you watch Dak this year, he's not like sitting on the bench...The whole time he's on his feet, he's dapping up his teammates...that screams like a guy that had a great off season.” —Matt Hasselbeck [20:45]

NFL News & Analysis

Detroit Lions Identity/Outlook

• Lions' big win over Bears contextualized as a convergence of motivation (facing former OC Ben Johnson), talent, and timing.
• Connection between Goff and Amon-Ra St. Brown called out as one of NFL’s best duos with “years and years” of chemistry. [32:06]

Dallas Cowboys v Giants Recap

• A wild game with numerous lead changes; Dak and Russell Wilson both stood out, but Wilson’s late-game mistake pivotal.
• “The difference between Dak and Russell…Russell made the big mistake late and Dak did not.” —Colin [35:34]

Kansas City Chiefs Troubles

• Lack of a run game is keeping KC’s defense on the field too long, compounding issues as season wears on.
• “Chiefs can’t run the ball…So that Kansas City defense is on the field too much.” —Colin [47:24]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Right/Wrong Segment Start: [03:26]
• Caleb Williams Critique: [04:14]
• Aaron Rodgers Postgame Callouts: [05:14]
• Matt Hasselbeck Segment Starts: [09:35]
• Philly Identity Discussion: [09:35–10:29]
• Caleb Williams/Ben Johnson Fit: [11:48–13:41]
• QB Play/Anticipation: [13:41–15:54]
• QB Health Conversation: [15:54–18:15]
• Cowboys/Giants Recap: [35:34–36:28]
• Chiefs & Steelers Defensive Struggles: [47:24–end of hour]

Tone and Style

The episode is fast-paced, direct, humorous, and opinion-driven. Colin’s commentary is both analytical and conversational, while guests like Matt Hasselbeck bring practical, firsthand knowledge from their playing/coaching days. The exchanges with co-hosts and guests keep the energy dynamic and engaging.

Takeaways for Listeners

• Expect frank, sometimes self-deprecating analysis from Cowherd, always backed by reasoning and anecdotal evidence.
• The hour is packed with information relevant not only to current scores and stats but trends in team culture, player development, and management strategy.
• Notable analysis on why star QBs struggle (and how coaching systems help/hurt) delivers insight beyond the box score.

For football fans wanting context, nuance, and up-to-the-minute analysis—along with behind-the-scenes QB development talk—this episode of The Herd delivers.