The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Hour 3: Drew Brees Joins The Herd

Date: February 11, 2026
Podcast: The Herd with Colin Cowherd
Notable Guests: Drew Brees (NFL Hall of Famer), Albert Breer (NFL reporter), JMac/Jason McIntyre (co-host)

Main Theme

Hour 3 centers on Colin Cowherd and JMac’s discussion with NFL Hall of Famer Drew Brees, focusing on Brees’ Hall of Fame moment, his reflections on his career, QB development, and the journey of Sam Darnold. The episode also explores broader NFL storylines—such as the evolution of quarterback prospects, coaching changes in the league, and the importance of team-building and self-assessment—with sharp, insider perspectives.

Key Discussion Points

1. Drew Brees’ Hall of Fame Surprise & Reflections

Segment Start: 29:20

• The Dan Fouts Moment (29:55)

  • Brees recounts the surprise Hall of Fame knock on his door by Chargers legend Dan Fouts while his family tried to orchestrate the perfect setup.
  • Quote:
    “[My sons] were messing around upstairs... I’m literally about to leave the boys...then there’s a knock at the door and I’m like, who’s knocking at the door? We’re trying to get out...and so then there’s Dan Fouts and ten cameras, and it’s like, oh boy, you got me.” – Drew Brees (30:34)
  • His wife and daughter had orchestrated a diversion, stalling for the knock.

• Receiving the News: The emotional and well-choreographed moment, mixing a family anecdote with the magnitude of a Hall of Fame induction.

2. Saints’ Super Bowl Run & Lessons on Team-Building

Segment Start: 32:03

• Brees discusses the confidence of the 2009 Saints, their aggressive approach, and facing a “gauntlet” of legendary quarterbacks (Kurt Warner, Brett Favre, Peyton Manning).
  • Quote:
    “If we played our game...we could win. I would always define our team as a somewhat aggressive team, knowing Sean Payton, knowing kind of the way he likes to call a game... I knew he was going to dial it up, but he also had trust and confidence in me to make great decisions—to check the ball down if it wasn’t there, not take unnecessary chances.” – Drew Brees (33:02)
• The importance of trust between coach and quarterback, and how coaching style fosters player confidence.

3. Quarterbacks’ Journeys: Brees & Darnold

Segment Start: 33:33

• Brees relates to Sam Darnold’s adversity-filled career, stressing growth through setbacks.
  • Quote:
    “It embodies all the lessons that we hope to teach our kids through sports... You will face adversity...it’s how you react to it that matters.” – Drew Brees (33:47)
• The idea that a winding career path can bring out the best in a player.

4. The Evolution of Quarterback Accuracy

Segment Start: 34:37

• Cowherd notes Brees’ growth from a ~60% completion passer to the NFL’s most accurate QB; Brees explains how accuracy is developed.
  • “Accuracy is trust and anticipation...the chemistry and timing with your receivers, and knowing when to check it down. … At the end of my career, I was so in tune with my body, I could fix problems immediately…” – Drew Brees (35:48)
• Discusses how physical mechanics and decision-making evolve over time—and how this applies to current young QBs like Caleb Williams.
  • On Williams: “He’s got a lot of horsepower. If he can get to 63%, I’m kind of good with it.” – Colin Cowherd (35:34)

5. The Impact of Coaching on QBs

• Coaching plays a key role in accuracy and decision-making; good coaching encourages QBs to take what the defense gives them and avoid unnecessary risks.
  • “Open receiver, live to play another day, make good decisions, you know, never go broke taking a profit. Completions are at a premium.” – Drew Brees (38:14)

6. Stretch Zone & Life After Football

Segment Start: 39:17

• Brees, as an investor and board member of Stretch Zone, shares how practitioner-assisted stretching improved his flexibility and recovery late in his career and is beneficial for all ages and lifestyles.
  • “The Stretch Zone method applies to anybody… increased energy, increased productivity, a higher range of motion, less pain, better sleep, and just an overall better quality of life.” – Drew Brees (40:35)

7. Memorable Anecdotes

• Brees recalls having to end an interview with Cowherd after the Super Bowl because President Obama was calling him—a “only in football” moment.
  • “We were in the middle of an interview and I said, Colin, I am so sorry, I never thought I would say this, but can I call you back because Obama is calling on the other line to say congratulations.” – Drew Brees (39:13)

Other Notable NFL Talk (pre-Brees segment)

Segments: 03:55–29:00

• Draft discussion: Albert Breer contextualizes NFL draft prospects: Mendoza would rate as the “fourth of those [2024] quarterbacks,” comparable to Jared Goff (05:00).
• Seattle Seahawks as a model organization: JMac and Breer praise John Schneider’s team-building, adaptability after the Legion of Boom, and strategic patience in hiring coach Mike Macdonald (08:16).
• Buffalo Bills & Joe Brady: Questions on internal hires, the difficulty of their 2026 schedule, and pressure to maximize Josh Allen’s window (11:19).
• Drake May’s learning curve: Concerns over May’s playoff performance being a reflection of his development trajectory, but faith in his resilience (13:52).
  • “The gap between [Stafford and May] in knowledge pre-snap is the Grand Canyon.” – JMac/Jason McIntyre (16:29)

Quick-hitting NFL News with JMac (22:07–29:05):

• Davis Webb reportedly set to call plays in Denver—skepticism about Sean Payton relinquishing control.
• Baltimore Ravens contract/extension challenges with Lamar Jackson—will a new negotiation get “messy”?
• Todd McShay’s mock draft surprises: Ty Simpson as a Sean McVay fit with the Rams.
• Jets and Rams’ ongoing quarterback quests.

Timestamps for Key Moments

• [29:55] – Brees’ Hall of Fame door-knock story with Dan Fouts
• [32:03] – Saints’ Super Bowl run and offensive philosophy
• [33:47] – Drew Brees on Sam Darnold’s journey and adversity
• [34:37] – Quarterback accuracy and Brees' evolution
• [35:48] – Brees on QB anticipation, mechanics, and NFL decision-making
• [39:13] – The “Obama calling” post-Super Bowl anecdote
• [40:35] – Brees on Stretch Zone and recovery
• [16:29] – JMac on the difference between Stafford and Drake May

Notable Quotes

“It was a shock, but really it was like the setup before that… Literally about to leave the boys…then Dan Fouts and ten cameras, and it’s like, oh boy, you got me.”
— Drew Brees (30:34)

"I would define our team as a somewhat aggressive team. Knowing Sean Payton...I also knew he had trust and confidence in me to make great decisions..."
— Drew Brees (33:02)

"It embodies all the lessons we hope to teach our kids through sports...it's how you react to adversity that matters."
— Drew Brees (33:47)

“Accuracy is trust and anticipation...it’s about the chemistry and timing you develop...and anticipating what’s happening given your preparation, your knowledge...”
— Drew Brees (35:48)

“Completions are at a premium. Never go broke taking a profit.”
— Drew Brees (38:14)

“We were in the middle of an interview and I said, Colin, I am so sorry...can I call you back because Obama is calling on the other line.”
— Drew Brees (39:13)

Tone and Style

• The conversation is lively and anecdote-rich, mixing football insider analysis, personal stories, and good-natured humor.
• Brees’ humility, candor, and leadership ethic come through strongly.
• Colin Cowherd and JMac maintain their characteristic style: topical, sharp, sometimes playful, and focused on pulling out the deeper lessons behind the veneer of sports headlines.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This hour delivers a rare, personal look inside how one of the NFL’s greatest quarterbacks sees not just the game, but leadership, growth, and legacy. Brees’ reflections offer lessons for fans, coaches, and young players alike—on the importance of adaptation, accuracy, perseverance, and the power of trust between coach and QB. The show also traverses the evolving NFL landscape: the challenges of team-building, the nuances of quarterback evaluation, and the relentless search for “the next great thing”—whether in player or coach form.

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