The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Episode: THE HERD - Hour 3 – Matt Hasselbeck Stops By The Herd

Date: December 17, 2025
Host: Colin Cowherd
Guest: Matt Hasselbeck
Platform: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume

Episode Overview

In this engaging hour, Colin Cowherd welcomes former NFL quarterback and analyst Matt Hasselbeck to break down the latest and most compelling NFL storylines. Their lively conversation covers playoff dark horses, quarterback dynamics, franchise quarterback traits, the ongoing Tua Tagovailoa saga in Miami, and the debate over who deserves MVP honors this NFL season. The latter part of the episode shifts into NBA talk—discussing coaching impacts, league expansion, and shifting conference strengths—before wrapping up with a fiery debate about college football's supposed "problems."

Key Discussion Points

1. The Playoff Picture and Underrated Teams

(03:18–04:56)

• Hasselbeck pushes back against dismissing teams like Jacksonville and Green Bay:
  • “Where are the Pittsburgh Steelers? Where are the Green Bay Packers? Yes, you’re hating on Jacksonville because who knows why...because they’re a small market.” (03:32 – Matt Hasselbeck)
• Emphasis on late-season performance:
  • “It’s what everybody says. It’s the team that plays the best football at the end of the year. It doesn’t matter what you did in September; it doesn’t matter what you did two years ago. It does not matter.” (03:56 – Matt Hasselbeck)
• Houston and Jacksonville as dangerous, overlooked opponents:
  • “Houston’s exactly the kind of team that people are going to overlook...that coaches and players are going to watch film and go, ‘Dang, we’ve got issues here.’” (04:13 – Matt Hasselbeck)

2. Quarterback Evaluation: Bo Nix vs. Caleb Williams

(04:56–06:58)

• Polish vs. upside:
  • “He’s [Bo Nix] way more polished, refined, game-ready to me.” (05:14 – Matt Hasselbeck)
• Concerns about Bo Nix’s decision-making:
  • “Against Green Bay, he put the ball in harm’s way four times...gave them opportunities to lose that game.” (05:25 – Matt Hasselbeck)
• Caleb Williams praised for football protection and his connection with the play caller:
  • “I think that’s a compliment I’d give to Caleb Williams: he does a really nice job of protecting the football and his team." (05:57 – Matt Hasselbeck)
• Comment on the Chicago situation:
  • "I'm not 100% sure that’s what the Chicago Bears have ... The next three weeks are going to tell a lot." (06:42 – Matt Hasselbeck)

3. Interceptions, Quarterback Mentality, and Sam Darnold

(06:58–09:23)

• Interceptions aren’t always QB’s fault:
  • “Quarterback interceptions are not always on the quarterback.” (06:58 – Colin Cowherd)
• Sam Darnold: effort and overreaching:
  • “His protection wasn’t great and he was just trying too hard... He wants it so bad.” (08:00 – Matt Hasselbeck)
• Advice from coaching:
  • “Hey, if you just go from three interceptions to two, we win. As a quarterback, it's like, oh man, I can do that.” (08:33 – Matt Hasselbeck)
• Shift from ‘hero ball’ to team-first:
  • “It’s not all on me. This is me and my guys. This is me and my specialists, my defense, Leonard Williams... And that mindset can kind of free you up as a quarterback.” (09:09 – Matt Hasselbeck)

4. The Plight of Smaller Quarterbacks: Tua's Struggles

(09:23–11:45)

• Russell Wilson, Tua Tagovailoa, Kyler Murray—all “fell off cliffs” post-peak:
  • Physical limitations and loss of mobility cited as root problems.
• Tua’s specific issue? Grit:
  • “What got Tua benched was a lack of grittiness...He has no ability to do anything with his legs.” (10:43 – Matt Hasselbeck)
  • “He takes sacks that don't need to be taken...third and one, you go to scramble, third and two, you slide too early.” (10:51 – Matt Hasselbeck)
• Dolphins’ benching Tua is financial, not about performance:
  • “This is a financial decision ... saying, ‘We’d rather pay you $54 million to not be our quarterback next year because we are frustrated.’” (11:27 – Matt Hasselbeck)

5. Josh Allen vs. Patrick Mahomes: MVP and Franchise Value

(11:51–14:04)

• Josh Allen’s immense impact:
  • “He’s 4–0 this year when his defense has given up 31+ points, the rest of the league is 6–80.” (11:51 – Colin Cowherd)
  • “He’s otherworldly...when you have that kind of grittiness, competitiveness, belief...the opposing coaches are like, ‘Ah, shoot, Josh Allen’s on the other side.’” (13:04 & 13:28 – Matt Hasselbeck)
• Mahomes vs. Allen debate:
  • Discussion about system, coach, and supporting cast differences.
  • “Josh Allen ended up exactly where he needed to end up...He developed and evolved.” (12:43 – Matt Hasselbeck)
• MVP definition:
  • “If the MVP is truly just the MVP...Josh Allen would be that guy.” (13:22 – Matt Hasselbeck)

6. NBA Talk: Knicks Offense, Coaching, and East/West Strengths

(18:17–20:35)

• Coaching shift in New York improves offense:
  • “Could I argue they’re better offensively? Not quite as good defensively, but they’re a little better offensively?” (19:11 – Colin Cowherd)
• Mike Brown’s assertive benching decisions:
  • “He benched Mikal Bridges for the entire fourth quarter ... Tibbs wouldn’t play those guys ... now Mike Brown’s here and he’s like, ‘If the starters aren’t performing, we’re going to play our bench guys.’” (19:11 – J. Mack)
• Playoff and conference assessment:
  • “They’re the best team in the East. You’d agree, right?” (20:05 – J. Mack)

7. NBA Expansion: Las Vegas and Seattle, Conference Realignment

(25:46–29:45)

• Adam Silver outlines NBA’s expansion focus:
  • “Not a secret, we’re looking at Las Vegas ... we are looking at Seattle ... we’re in the process of working with our teams and gauging the level of interest.” (25:46 – (paraphrased) Adam Silver via Colin Cowherd)
• Colin’s take:
  • “I don’t think most sports in America need expansion, but I do think there is a ton of really good basketball talent globally. I’d put it in Vegas.” (26:35 – Colin Cowherd)
• East/West juggling—who shifts?:
  • “Seattle and Vegas are West Coast teams; they go in the Western Conference. So you’ve got to move somebody to the East.” (26:42 – J. Mack)
  • “Minnesota and Memphis, I think, will have a knockdown, drag-out fight ... winning in the East…” (27:04 – J. Mack)
• On Anthony Edwards’ potential:
  • “Anthony Edwards isn’t breaking through the West, Colin … Put him in the East, he might be in the Finals in three years.” (28:26 – J. Mack)
  • “Would you take Anthony Edwards—move him out of the West to the East?” (28:43 – Colin Cowherd)

8. College Football “Problems” – Cowherd Rant

(33:49–40:32)

• Colin’s fire on athletic program bloat:
  • “You could do yourself a favor and get rid of 20 of your athletic programs. Why do you have fencing and rowing and all these sports that don’t make any money?”
• College football is thriving—rest of athletic departments hemorrhaging money:
  • “College football didn’t have a problem ... The problem is all these programs, they’re all hemorrhaging money.” (35:17 – Colin Cowherd)
• Title IX and scholarships?:
  • “I’m not saying get rid of women's programs. I’m saying get rid of both [men’s and women’s] ... of the stuff that doesn’t make any money...” (39:09 – Colin Cowherd)
• J. Mack notes on niche sports aiding college admissions:
  • “A lot of people have gravitated towards a sport like fencing because ... it’s an easier way to get into really good colleges.” (39:38 – J. Mack)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On playoff upstarts:
  • “It’s the team that plays the best football at the end of the year ... So the team that’s playing the best.” (03:57 – Matt Hasselbeck)
• On Tua’s criticism:
  • “He has no ability to do anything with his legs. He takes sacks that don’t need to be taken... That’s coach frustration.” (10:44 – Matt Hasselbeck)
• On Allen's grit:
  • “He can literally put his team on his back. He can go above the X's and O's.” (13:10 – Matt Hasselbeck)
• On college football's status:
  • “College football doesn’t have a problem ... The problem is you have all these programs. They’re all hemorrhaging money.” (35:18 – Colin Cowherd)
• On NBA possible expansion:
  • “Vegas is who I would pick. Seattle and Vancouver ... long flight in a long winter season.” (26:30 – Colin Cowherd)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 03:18 – Matt Hasselbeck defends small-market playoff teams
• 05:14 – Hasselbeck on Bo Nix vs. Caleb Williams
• 06:58 – Quarterback interception discussion and Sam Darnold analysis
• 09:23 – Size, mobility, and Tua Tagovailoa’s struggles
• 13:04 – Josh Allen's value, grit, and comparison to Mahomes
• 18:17 – Knicks’ improved offense under new coaching
• 25:46 – NBA expansion: Las Vegas and Seattle, conference impacts
• 33:49 – Cowherd’s rant on college athletics financial bloat

Conclusion

This episode showcases Colin Cowherd and Matt Hasselbeck’s chemistry as they break down the unsung contenders of the NFL, evaluate the most scrutinized quarterbacks, and debate what grit, talent, and context really mean in sports success. The second half moves seamlessly into basketball, discussing the impact of coaching, player movement, league structure, and the future of NBA expansion. Colin’s unapologetically strong views on college football and athletic department management cap off a show packed with perspective, energy, and signature sports debate.