The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Episode: THE HERD - Hour 3 - Christian McCaffrey stops by The Herd
Date: February 4, 2026
Podcast: The Herd with Colin Cowherd, iHeartPodcasts and The Volume

Episode Overview

This episode of The Herd dives deep into the state of the NFL as Colin Cowherd hosts veteran Steelers captain Cam Heyward and renowned quarterback consultant Jordan Palmer. The themes revolve around NFL coaching lifespans, player development, assessments of current teams and young quarterbacks, and some mid-season NBA trade analysis. The episode maintains Colin's trademark conversational, analytical style with frank comments, stories from behind the scenes, and practical breakdowns for fans looking to understand football’s undercurrents.

Key Segments & Discussion Points

1. Cam Heyward Interview – Leadership, Mike Tomlin, and NFL Coaching Lifespans

[Starts ~02:41]

• The Value of Being a Team Captain

  • Colin highlights the significance of Cam Heyward’s 11-year run as Steelers captain (02:41).
  • Cam jokes about the wear and tear of 15 NFL seasons:

    “It feels like 15 years have passed.” — Cam Heyward (03:14)

• Mike Tomlin’s Impact on Players & Team Culture

  • Cam praises Tomlin's open-door leadership and honesty:

    “Mike is very approachable...He might not agree with you and he might have a different way of seeing it, but he makes himself available to discuss your problems…his honesty to the game…there are no shortcuts in our league and preparing the right one.” — Cam Heyward (03:49)

  • Colin and Cam discuss the notion of coaches needing breathers after long tenures, with Cam recognizing the pressure and lack of patience for coaches in today’s league:

    “I don’t think we provide coaches enough time to actually find out if they’re a good coach or not.” — Cam Heyward (05:03)

  • Cam respects what Tomlin has accomplished, calling him “the cream of the crop” (05:49).

• Breakdown of Seahawks vs. Patriots and Super Bowl Bound Teams

  • Colin and Cam analyze New England and Seattle, both tough, defensively solid, but with shaky offensive lines (05:57).
  • Cam’s take on Seattle post-match:

    “They played through emotions...they can bounce back from situations...their defense is really good...Leonard Williams, Byron Young up front. If they have a good game, usually they're winning.” — Cam Heyward (06:43)

  • On New England's evolution:

    “You watch their team battle back and become just a better unit on both sides of the ball...Drake May is playing on another level.” — Cam Heyward (07:46)

• Steelers’ Offensive Upgrades under Mike McCarthy

  • Colin expresses hope McCarthy helps modernize Pittsburgh’s offense (08:25).
  • Cam anticipates enhanced run game and more versatile weapon use (DK Metcalf):

    “Let’s mix it around. Let’s give him [Metcalf] the ball in space...” — Cam Heyward (09:07)

• Locker Room Culture, Aaron’s Fit in Pittsburgh

  • Cam lauds Aaron’s professionalism, accountability and how the team rallied around him:

    “He’s special...a great guy for the locker room. He’s also a big Nickelback fan. Shout out, Aaron. No, I’m just kidding. He hates Nickelback.” — Cam Heyward (10:15, lighthearted)

• Charity Work & Legacy

  • Cam discusses his role with the American Cancer Society, and his family’s experience with cancer:

    “Cancer is pretty prevalent in my family…being able to spearhead and find other ways where we get other people to donate...save a lot of people’s lives...” — Cam Heyward (17:10)

2. Colin’s Super Bowl/NFL News Segments

Super Bowl & NFL team rundowns, coaching analysis, and future outlooks. [18:02 – 21:10]

• Mike McDonald’s Coaching DNA

  • McDonald (Seahawks) credits John Harbaugh as a key mentor and influence:

    "All those principles that are part of his program that he's about as a person resonated with me...foundational principles that we brought to Seattle." — Coach Mike McDonald (18:25)

  • Colin analyzes Seattle’s defensive resurgence and sustainable roster construction:

    “They have no real holes...the O-line gets a bad rap; the left side of it's pretty good...you can see the Runway for Seattle and you’re like, oh, this is going to be a topic for two, three years now.” — Colin Cowherd (19:55, 21:10)

3. NBA Trade Deadline Analysis

[21:27 – 25:29]

• Harden–Garland Swap Rumors

  • Clippers/Cavs discussing James Harden for Darius Garland; Colin calls Harden “not a winning player” despite obvious Hall of Fame talent:

    “James Harden is known for the step back and nightclubs. Am I wrong? ...He’ll make the Hall of Fame, but there’s a lot of guys in the hall that aren’t winning players.” — Colin Cowherd (22:39, 22:53)

• Jaren Jackson Jr. Trade to Utah Jazz

  • Surprise deal sends Jaren Jackson to Utah; Colin believes this could solidify Utah as a playoff team with a young, defensive core:

    “This Jazz team could be a problem. I don’t know about this year...give it a couple years. I like this trade for Utah.” — Colin Cowherd (25:01, 25:28)

4. Jordan Palmer Interview – QB Development, Young Stars, and NFL Traits

[30:18 – 41:06]

• Sam Darnold’s Early Years & Mentality

  • Palmer recounts first meeting Darnold as a “redheaded, freckled, kind of had buck teeth” 14-year-old and details his rise through adversity at USC:

    “He rattled off eight or nine straight [in college]...Rose Bowl MVP, beat Penn State on fourth down...channel the frustration of not being named the starter but being ready, I think really laid the groundwork for a lot of these difficult situations that he's been in.” — Jordan Palmer (31:04)

• QB Training and Precision Adjustments

  • Palmer outlines his approach to year-round, individualized QB coaching, including mechanical tweaks that improved Darnold’s accuracy:

    “The largest grouping of misses...was outbreaking routes to the right...we addressed the mechanical issue...what he was doing from an alignment perspective....Since then, he has not missed one to his right behind a guy.” — Jordan Palmer (33:04)

• Drake Maye’s Comparison: Poise, Development, and Potential

  • Jordan sees Drake Maye as a “country cool” personality, likening his progression to Josh Allen’s:

    “Personality-wise, he’s a combination of like Philip Rivers, just good old boy, country cool...But physically, he’s this new era of quarterback....I see a lot of similarities, and Drake is kind of one of those guys who’s been ready for the moment.” — Jordan Palmer (35:42)

• Fernando Mendoza as a Franchise Prospect

  • Palmer praises Mendoza’s poise, humility, and clutch play:

    “I think he’s a franchise guy...the percentage of times that he made the clutch play when it was needed is really, really high....this guy is so pure. He is just so who he is and so comfortable in who he is.” — Jordan Palmer (38:48)

• Colin on Young QB Mentality

  • Colin reflects on the importance of a stable sense of self in young quarterbacks:

    “By and large, the great ones, 12, 13 years old, 14 years old, you can see it. You can see it at a camp. You can see it somewhere around other kids.” — Colin Cowherd (41:08)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Mike Tomlin's Legacy:

  "Every year you’re always going to wonder, is Mike Tomlin coming out of retirement? Because he was just that good of a coach." — Cam Heyward (05:57)

• On NFL Roster Building:

  “It’s not just that Sam [Darnold] was good this year. You can see the Runway for Seattle and you’re like, oh, this is going to be a topic for two, three years now.” — Colin Cowherd (21:10)

• On James Harden's Career:

  “James Harden is known for the step back and nightclubs. Am I wrong? Cold blooded. Am I wrong?” — Colin Cowherd (22:53)

• On Young Quarterbacks' Authenticity:

  “A lot of these guys are chameleons and they try and fit into the situation that they're in. And I never see that work.” — Jordan Palmer (39:51)

Segment Timestamps Guide

• Cam Heyward Interview: 02:41 – 17:49
• Super Bowl/NFL News & NFL analysis: 18:02 – 21:10
• NBA Trade Deadline Analysis: 21:27 – 25:29
• Jordan Palmer Quarterback Interview: 30:18 – 41:06

Tone & Style

The episode maintains Colin’s conversational, sharp, and honest approach—blending behind-the-scenes anecdotes, tactical breakdowns, seasoned analysis, and humor. Cam Heyward and Jordan Palmer contribute candid, heartfelt, and insightful commentary, painting a thorough picture of NFL life—on the field, in the locker room, and off-season preparations.

Takeaways for the Listener

• The importance of character, stability, and authenticity in both coaches and quarterbacks is a recurring theme.
• Coaching lifespans in the NFL may be too short, with long-term vision sometimes taking a back seat to impatience.
• Mechanical precision and year-round coaching can transform QB play at the highest levels.
• Both NFL and NBA team building require not just talent but the right culture and leadership—as demonstrated in Seattle, Pittsburgh, Utah, and beyond.

Perfect for listeners eager to look past the surface of NFL headlines into the “why” behind a successful team, the journey of a franchise quarterback, and the latest NBA machinations—all served up in The Herd’s signature style.