Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd – "What's Wright - Best Of - Chiefs are BACK, Lamar's big game struggles, Shedeur Sanders self-sabotage, 49ers regretting Purdy?"

Date: October 6, 2025
Host: Nick Wright
Producer/Co-host: Demanze

Episode Overview

This episode of "What's Wright" features Nick Wright breaking down some of the most compelling storylines in the NFL:

• The Kansas City Chiefs' return to form and the media's fickle perception
• Lamar Jackson's struggles in big games and why narratives don't change
• Shedeur Sanders' self-sabotaging behavior and the challenges of being a high-profile backup QB
• Whether the San Francisco 49ers are regretting their big-money investment in Brock Purdy
• A quick look at Puka Nacua’s rise among NFL wide receivers

Nick Wright leans into his trademark candor, combining meta-media analysis with sports insight, and doesn't shy away from calling out football’s biggest characters—players, coaches, pundits, and even the nature of modern NFL celebrity.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Chiefs' Resurgence and Media Overreaction

Segment starts: [02:45]

• Chiefs' Bounce-Back: Nick recounts how the media was quick to count Kansas City out after an 0–2 start, ignoring the team's resilience and elite leadership.

• Mahomes & Adversity: Wright details the adversity Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs faced, including injuries and suspensions to their top receivers, yet highlights how they always manage to "figure it out."

  "The fatalism surrounding the Chiefs from almost everyone else in the media was...so myopic. As if they don't have a Hall of Fame head coach, a Hall of Fame caliber D coordinator and the most talented quarterback to ever live." – Nick Wright [04:30]

• Media’s Short Memory: He laments what he calls embarrassing punditry, criticizing the flip-flopping of opinions without respect for context or past performance.

• Injuries as Excuses: Nick points out the inconsistency of the national conversation, with some using Ravens injuries as an after-the-fact excuse despite not picking Baltimore to lose for that reason before the game.

• Not All Problems Solved: Wright is clear that the Chiefs still have issues—running back depth, pass rush without blitzing—but calls claims of a crisis deeply exaggerated.

2. Ravens, Lamar Jackson, and the Big Game Narrative

Segment starts: [07:38]

• Lamar's Costly Mistakes: Nick calls out Lamar Jackson’s tendency for back-breaking mistakes in marquee games, specifically citing a critical interception against the Chiefs.

  "This game turned on a totally predictable yet inexplicable horrific Lamar pick." – Nick Wright [11:20]

• Changing the Narrative: He critiques the media and fandom for refusing to acknowledge patterns in Jackson’s postseason and Chiefs performances, drawing parallels to past QBs like Peyton Manning, who had similar big-game struggles publicly discussed.

• Data-Driven Critique:

  • In Lamar's last 30 games, he’s had multiple turnovers in only three—all in elimination situations.
  • Many of his regular season INTs are incidental, but the "what was that" picks show up only in high-leverage spots.

  "The all-time great legendary player who sadly gets tight in his biggest spots and plays his worst in his biggest moments. That's part of sports, man." – Nick Wright [14:05]

• Protectionism and Dishonesty: Nick addresses the reluctance to criticize Lamar because of historic, unfair slights (e.g., Bill Polian’s comments) but insists honest analysis is still fair and needed.

• Advice to Ravens Fans:

  • The bigger worry isn't the defense—it can be fixed—but the uncertainty regarding "which Lamar" will show up in defining moments.

3. Shedeur Sanders: Self-Sabotage and Backup QB Celebrity Problems

Segment starts: [26:13]

• Background:

  • Shedeur, after a benching of Joe Flacco and elevation of Dylan Gabriel, remained third-string and responded to media questions by mouthing silent answers—a "bit" widely shared on social media.

• Rex Ryan’s Criticism: Nick critiques analyst Rex Ryan for unsubstantiated claims that Shedeur “isn’t doing the work,” labeling such broad attacks as unconstructive.

• The Media Bit:

  • Wright analyzes how Shedeur's silent protest is a perfect storm of modern sports media—feeding those who wish to blast him for immaturity, as well as those who frame him as a perpetual victim.

• Advice Segment:

  “If Shedeur was your best friend...what my plan is: I’m going to answer their questions silently...All of us would say, don’t f***ing do that, man. It’s a bad idea. Fair or not, bad idea.” – Nick Wright [33:24]

• Public vs. Private Persona:

  • Nick argues Shedeur is acting like a top draft pick, but his fifth-round reality as a backup QB means all that "celebrity" now works against him.
  • NFL backup is “one of the only jobs left in modern America where celebrity works against you.”

• Family Influence:

  • Nick gently rebukes Deion Sanders for publicly encouraging the bit, contrasting Deion’s generational on-field greatness with Shedeur’s very different situation.

• The Tebow Zone:

  “He is risking entering the Tebow zone of your biggest fans hurt you...you are not only a person anymore, you are like a vessel for their own wants and desires. That works against you professionally.” – Nick Wright [46:33]

• Emotional Toll and Advice:

  • Wright and Demanze discuss how Shedeur, for the first time, is hearing “you’re not good enough”—something unfamiliar for elite athletes, and emotionally destabilizing.

4. San Francisco 49ers: Regret Over the Brock Purdy Contract?

Segment starts: [54:07]

• Purdy’s Health Mismanagement:

  • Nick is “furious” that the Niners let Purdy play through injury, risking long-term health to try for a short-term win, especially with a known Thursday-night turnaround.

• Contract Regret:

  “He struggle[d], had his worst year yet last year, has dealt with some injuries and has no leverage whatsoever. Just wait and see! They gave him fifty-three million a year and now…if they could wipe it away, would they? Of course.” – Nick Wright [55:25]

• Shanahan’s System:

  • Nick reinforces his long-held take that the Niners system and weapons are “quarterback-proof,” questioning the logic of allocating mega-money to a QB who isn't a true difference-maker.

• Comparisons to Mahomes:

  • Even with ex-Chiefs receivers, Mahomes wins Super Bowls, further suggesting the system and supporting cast are undervalued in quarterback assessment.

5. Puka Nacua’s Incredible Ascendancy

Segment starts: [58:59]

• Historic Stats:

  • Nacua leads the league in receptions and yards by a wide margin; on pace for a 2,000-yard, 160-catch season.

• Relative Value:

  “It’s weird to say he has almost an ironclad case that he should be in consideration as the best receiver in the NFL. Yet...I still would not be able to wrap my mind around [him being] better than Justin Jefferson or Jamar Chase.” – Nick Wright [59:26]

• Team Fit and Attitude:

  • Praises Nacua for production and humility—“doesn’t seem like he has the wide receiver curse”—while noting that anyone would be happy getting 15 targets a game.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Mahomes & the Chiefs:

  "If back means being the highest scoring team in the league, I don't think that's who they're going to be… But if you looked around the AFC… the only team you could say had no holes… was the Chargers. And then they melt down." – Nick Wright [06:17]

• Commentary on Lamar Jackson:

  "Why do we have to pretend what is obviously true is not?... The all-time great legendary player who sadly gets tight in his biggest spots..." – Nick Wright [14:05]

• On Shedeur Sanders’ Media Bit:

  "This is just. A perfect, just perfect moment for today's media and social media... The kid can't win. He talks and he gets yelled at. He literally doesn't talk and you kill him anyway." – Nick Wright [34:04]

• Advice if you’re a backup QB:

  "You have one of the only jobs left in modern America where celebrity works against you... The only job where your bosses want you to be as anonymous as possible is backup NFL quarterback." – Nick Wright [40:00]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [02:45] Chiefs' bounce-back and the media’s narrative
• [07:38] Chiefs vs. Ravens schedule strength and Nick’s media frustration
• [10:50] The Lamar Jackson mistake that turned the game
• [14:05] The "big game" Lamar debate: evidence vs. narrative
• [26:13] Shedeur Sanders’ benching, silent media response, and broader analysis
• [33:24] How Shedeur could/should have handled the situation
• [40:00] The unique challenge of NFL backup QB celebrity
• [46:33] The “Tebow zone” and dangers of overzealous support
• [54:07] Brock Purdy’s injury, contract, and 49ers as a "quarterback-proof" team
• [58:59] Puka Nacua’s record-setting pace and place among top wide receivers

Episode Tone

• Frank, direct, and often critical—but well-argued and layered with statistical and emotional context
• Aimed at challenging familiar narratives and “conventional wisdom”
• Heavy on meta-media commentary, exposing the cyclical logic in pundit circles

For new listeners:
This episode is a masterclass in how high-level football analysis and honest discussion can provoke both admiration and controversy. Whether it's Nick's takedown of lazy narratives around teams and players, or his focus on the human side of sports celebrity, you’ll leave with a deeper understanding of the complex forces shaping modern football conversations.