The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Hour 3 – Tomorrow's Headlines Today, Tyler Dunne
Episode Date: January 30, 2026
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume

Overview

This episode centers around key NFL coaching changes, quarterback dynamics, and bold predictions for the upcoming football and World Cup seasons. Colin Cowherd, joined by NFL writer Tyler Dunne of GoLongTD.com, dives deeply into the Bills’ leadership changes, quarterback destinies (especially Aaron Rodgers), the evolving Bears and Vikings sagas, and peeks ahead to football headlines and World Cup anticipation. True to the show’s style, the tone is candid, quick-witted, and filled with both insider analysis and memorable sidebars.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Buffalo Bills Coaching Shift: Joe Brady Replaces Sean McDermott

• Emotional Contrast in Leadership

  • Colin and Tyler discuss Joe Brady’s emotional approach at his presser compared to the typically stoic Sean McDermott.
    • "You never see Sean McDermott get that emotional at a podium... He gets super emotional. Is that part of his attractiveness?" [00:38]
  • Tyler attributes Joe Brady’s authenticity and accountability as a needed contrast.
    • "To hear that kind of accountability out of Joe Brady, breath of fresh air. To hear him know that everything orbits around Josh Allen, breath of fresh air." [03:35]
    • Criticizes McDermott’s tendency to deflect blame:
      "After 13 seconds, publicly you hear 'execution'—that's code for the players screwed up." [03:10]

• McDermott’s Legacy & Problems

  • Tyler points to McDermott's style becoming stale and wearing down not just players, but staff across departments.
    • "Whenever the pressure ratcheted up, Colin, you're in the playoffs, facing Andy Reid...he'd revert to his old ways. That wears on people." [02:33]
  • The lack of private accountability was worse than the public narrative.

2. Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy: Reunion or Re-run?

• Can They Reunite?

  • Colin and Tyler dissect the possibility of another chapter for Rodgers and McCarthy, drawing on both personal and reported insights.

    • Tyler draws a wry analogy:
      "Is this like...your friend who's single...market’s dry—they just get married to get married? Does Aaron Rodgers really have any other options?" [04:52]

  • Citing a Packers source:

    • "Aaron's an all-time grudge holder. They're gonna be fighting right away. They'll be at each other's throats. This isn't gonna work." [06:03]

  • Mike McCarthy praised for his coaching resilience in Dallas under difficult circumstances, but skepticism remains about replicating old chemistry.

3. Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams’ Tumultuous Rookie Year & Ben Johnson’s Arrival

• Behind-the-Scenes Dysfunction
  • Tyler recounts the organization’s attempts to "placate" Williams during his rookie year, admitting the team bent over backwards to cater to him—which didn’t deliver results.
    • "Everything was kind of to placate Caleb and run what he did in college. ... By the time an interim coach tried to hold him accountable, it was too late for that message to really resonate." [08:09]
  • Ben Johnson’s new approach emphasized discipline and development:
    • "Day one, you’re under center, wristband off...building both an offense and a quarterback...they forced a ton of turnovers." [08:39]
    • Credit to Williams for responding and the team’s subsequent success.

4. Minnesota Vikings: GM Firing, QB Uncertainty, and Organizational Tension

• Front Office Power Struggle
  • Colin asks about the firing of the Vikings’ GM; Tyler says the tension was probably long-standing ("head coach/GM clash").
    • "Coach GM tension...all that stuff is going to come out now. Right. It always does." [13:06]
  • The Sam Darnold debate and JJ McCarthy’s readiness at QB are symptoms of broader confusion:
    • "Plan was just a little confused...on paper it looks great, but you didn't really know if JJ McCarthy was that dude yet." [13:34]

5. Sean McDermott’s Next Move

• Sitting Out—A Strategic Retreat
  • Tyler isn’t surprised McDermott is stepping away:
    • "Not surprised. It took until about year eight, eight and a half, for Sean to realize...we don't have jobs without Josh Allen. ... He’s going to be picky, choosy." [15:02]
  • Speculates a reset year is wise given potential staff-building difficulties and need for the right QB situation.

6. Rapid-Fire "Tomorrow’s Headlines Today": NFL Team Outlooks

(Predictions and headlines for franchises as they navigate new coaches and roster questions.)

Pittsburgh Steelers – Mike McCarthy Era Begins

• Headline: "It's McCarthy, We Can Lose If We Want To"
  • Skepticism about roster age, lack of star talent, likely QB instability.
    • "Second oldest roster...not a lot of blue chip talent. ... Maybe you win five games and get a high draft pick." [26:04]

Buffalo Bills – Joe Brady’s First Year

• Headline: "Say It Ain't Joe, Bills Barely Clear Playoff Window"
  • Playoff berth mostly due to weak division, not roster strength; aging, expensive, and losing free agents.
    • "Eight starters are free agents...if Josh Allen's healthy, they're fine. ... If he misses time, this is a bottom five team." [27:29]

Las Vegas Raiders

• Headline: "Rubik’s Kubiak: Raiders Still Stuck on Playoff Puzzle"
  • Ownership likely to go with Kubiak; optimism for rookie QB Mendoza, but still a 5-6 win team.
    • "Raiders have cap room, but little blue chip talent after a few standouts. The skill group’s rough." [29:00]

Arizona Cardinals

• Headline: "One LaFleur Over the Cardinals' Nest: Cards Stay Cuckoo"
  • Mike LaFleur is favored for head coach; prediction Ariz. moves off Kyler Murray, giving Malik Willis a shot.
    • "Division is loaded, but with the right QB, Arizona can hang. Defense is another story." [30:41]

7. World Cup Buzz

• Unprecedented U.S. Hype & Expectations
  • "The excitement for the World Cup right now is crazy. ... A billion ticket requests." [16:16]
  • Discussion about the U.S. Men’s National Team’s maturation:
    • "For the first time going into a World Cup...we can be an attacking team against even the best countries." [17:18]
    • Pulisic and other stars are now entering their prime, with group-stage wins expected.

8. Bills’ Keon Coleman Situation

• Accountability & Player Support
  • Owner publicly trashes pick; Josh Allen takes the mature route:
    • "He will come back from that. I'm not going to give up on zero. ... We'll work tirelessly...everyone in this building." [20:11 – 20:32] — Josh Allen
  • Joe Brady’s public support for Coleman contrasts with earlier regime’s messaging.

9. Cleveland Browns Coaching Search

• Odd twist: candidate interviews included a personality test on developing Shadour Sanders.
  • Colin and Ben mock the logic:
    "Why make it tougher? Why ask more of your candidates? ... What are we doing in Cleveland? Just pathetic." [22:30]

10. Potential Giannis Antetokounmpo Move – NBA Speculation

• Knicks a Top Suitor
  • "Fedegged about it: Greek Oak Planted in the Garden" [32:18]
    • Both hosts feel Knicks could and should make an aggressive move, but worry about Giannis’ injuries and the risk versus draft picks—“Draft picks mean more now.” [35:21]
  • Discussion of Knicks’ current squad; debate if they’re Finals-capable with or without Giannis.

Memorable Quotes

• “Whenever the pressure ratcheted up...he’d revert to his old ways. That wears on people. Not just players—medical, trainers, coaches, everybody.” — Tyler Dunne on Sean McDermott [02:33]

• “Aaron’s an all-time grudge holder. They’re gonna be fighting right away. This isn’t gonna work.” — Tyler Dunne (via ex-Packer source) on Rodgers-McCarthy reunion [06:03]

• “Everything was kind of to placate Caleb...By the time [they tried to] hold him accountable, it was too late.” — Tyler Dunne on the Bears’ Caleb Williams strategy [08:09]

• “You could sense our plan was just a little confused. On paper it looks great...but you didn’t know if JJ McCarthy was that dude yet.” — Tyler Dunne (Vikings source paraphrase) [13:34]

• “Not all these young guys are ready to be pros. ... I do like Josh Allen keeping up for his embattled wide receiver. Don’t like the owner taking jabs.” — Colin Cowherd on Bills WR Keon Coleman [21:15]

• “If Josh Allen is healthy, they’re a playoff team. If he goes down, bottom five.” — JMac on Bills this season [27:29]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Buffalo Bills, McDermott vs. Brady, Accountability: [01:58] – [04:07]
• Rodgers/McCarthy Reunion Prospects: [04:07] – [07:01]
• Chicago Bears Dysfunction & Ben Johnson’s Arrival: [07:01] – [09:44]
• World Cup Ticket Demand & USMNT State: [16:16] – [19:29]
• Bills’ Owner/WR Pick Fallout & Allen’s Maturity: [19:47] – [21:15]
• Tomorrow’s Headlines Today — NFL Team Previews: [26:04] – [31:58]
• NBA Trade Deadline: Giannis & Knicks Speculation: [31:58] – [37:22]

Summary Tone

Fast-paced, insider-driven, and at times tongue-in-cheek, the episode blends sharp NFL insight with larger sports context and bold, chatty future-gazing. The exchanges are opinionated but informed—full of analogies, stories from behind the scenes, and measured skepticism of organizational decision-making. Fans of NFL intrigue and those anticipating the World Cup or NBA blockbuster trades will find this episode compelling and accessible, even without prior listening.