The Herd with Colin Cowherd: "What’s Wright - Best Of"

Host: Nick Wright
Date: February 15, 2026

Episode Overview

This "Best Of" episode of What's Wright with Nick Wright dives deep into the aftermath of Super Bowl LX, where the Seattle Seahawks defeated the New England Patriots. Nick is joined by his co-host Damanza, and together they unpack the game, discuss Sam Darnold's redemption arc, analyze Drake Maye's struggles, and debate Matthew Stafford's legacy. The episode is filled with sharp observations, candid reflection on media narratives, and lively back-and-forths regarding NFL history, player development, and coaching prowess.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Was Super Bowl LX Actually Exciting?

• Boring or Brilliant?
  • Nick and Damanza open by discussing whether Super Bowl LX was engaging or underwhelming, ultimately agreeing that while the defenses played well, it felt like Seattle was in control from the start.
  • Quote:
    • Nick: "I think low scoring games can be great, but it needs to feel more in the balance... This didn’t quite feel like that, it felt like it was one team dominating the other." (03:09)
  • Damanza notes the Patriots' offense seemed stuck, "like they were still playing in the snow." (04:25)

2. Super Bowl Recap: Seahawks’ Defense Dominance

• Seattle’s Defensive Clinic
  • Nick asserts that the Seattle defense should have been the collective MVP, praising the disruptive performances of Devin Witherspoon, Derrick Hall, and Byron Murphy. He points out how first-time opponents against coach Mike Macdonald’s defense typically struggle.
  • Quote:
    • Nick: "Seattle’s defense, which Mike... Young quarterbacks get eaten up by Mike Macdonald’s defense... Quarterbacks of any age, the first time they play a Mike Macdonald defense, dating back to his time in Baltimore and Seattle, are like 10 and 33, scoring less than 16 points a game. He crushes people." (10:01)
  • Calls Kenneth Walker’s MVP win (for his rushing yards) understandable but argues the defense deserved collective recognition. (11:36)

3. Coaching & Team Building Lessons from the Seahawks

• GM John Schneider’s Moves
  • Nick reflects on John Schneider’s “gutsy” decisions: moving on from Pete Carroll and Geno Smith, acquiring players via the Russell Wilson trade, and drafting effectively.
  • Quote:
    • Nick: "Credit to John Schneider for—and gutsy moves, man... so many of the key guys from that Super Bowl were picks they got from Denver in the Russell Wilson trade." (18:40)
• Building a Champion: Defense over Superstar QB?
  • The episode debates what’s easier to build: a Mahomes-level QB or an elite defense.
  • Nick says the rest of the NFL shouldn’t hamstring themselves overpaying average QBs in hopes they develop into superstars:
    • "If after a couple years, you know deep in your heart he can be good, but he’s never going to be that guy... it doesn’t mean you can’t win a Super Bowl with him." (21:41)

4. The Darnold Redemption

• Sam Darnold: From Seeing Ghosts to Super Bowl Champs
  • Damanza brings up Darnold’s famously rough start, the “seeing ghosts” incident, and contrasts that with his journey to a Super Bowl win.
  • Nick compares Darnold to Jim Plunkett, another former top draft pick who found success after initial struggles, but notes Darnold’s trajectory is still rare.
  • The "seeing ghosts" moment is called a “brutal” and “borderline unfair” piece of NFL TV history. (33:42)
  • Darnold’s Super Bowl performance: not spectacular, but avoided disaster. His NFC Championship game, however, was MVP-caliber—353 yards, 3 TDs.
  • Quote:
    • "He was a punchline... but you gotta be happy for him. He was so good in the NFC Championship game... taken Baker’s corner as the gold standard of the contemporary redemption story arc." (39:14)

5. The Other Side: Drake Maye and the Patriots’ Painful Loss

• Second-Year Struggles
  • Nick acknowledges Maye had a strong regular season but struggled through all four playoff games, culminating in a poor Super Bowl performance with high sack and turnover counts. (40:40)
  • Maye’s postseason: 21 sacks (a record), 7 fumbles in 4 games; Nick argues not all the troubles can be blamed on Maye’s youth or his shoulder.
  • The Patriots’ easy regular season schedule is called out, with next year shaping up far tougher.
  • Quote:
    • "Drake Maye now... has been sacked 102 times [in 33 starts]. That feels like too big of a number and is something that I would be at least a little concerned about." (52:09)
  • Nick warns Patriots fans that making a return trip to the Super Bowl is rare for teams that lose (citing only Hurts and Elway as exceptions). (48:46)

6. Coaching Reputation: Mike Macdonald’s Rise

• Media and Regional Biases
  • Nick discusses Macdonald’s understated persona and the lack of media attention due to being on the West Coast. Compares him to more media-friendly coaches like Dan Campbell or Mike Vrabel.
  • Quote:
    • "There is a real coastal bias... if Mike Macdonald was doing this with the Washington Commanders, he would have had better PR." (24:22)

7. Matthew Stafford’s MVP and Legacy

• Was the Vote Right?
  • Nick believes Stafford deserved the MVP over Maye and unveils a long list of QBs clearly ahead of him in the all-time rankings.
  • He critiques odd MVP voting patterns (e.g., Josh Allen routinely receiving first-place MVP votes despite lesser stats).
  • Quotes:
    • "Stafford deserved league MVP this year. He was the best player in the league this season." (61:07)
    • "There are a couple MVP voters that are just Josh Allen no matter what voters. And it's baffling to me." (68:08)
  • On Stafford’s legacy: firmly a Hall of Famer, but not “top 10 all time”—places him in the top 20-25 QBs ever. (69:28, 71:14)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Nick on low-scoring games:

  "I can appreciate a low scoring game... but it needs to feel more in the balance, like... any one play could be captivating. This didn’t quite feel like that." (03:09)

• Sam Darnold’s path:

  "He was a punchline. And so I do think... the seeing ghosts thing was brutal. It was also borderline unfair." (33:42)

• On the Seahawks’ year:

  "Seattle’s defense... put you in hell all year long. All year long." (11:43)

• Regarding team building in the NFL:

  "Don’t hamstring yourself... by lying to yourself that your quarterback can be the next Mahomes." (21:50)

• Patriots’ sobering future:

  "In the last 50 years, there have only been two quarterbacks to lose the first Super Bowl they play in and ever win one, just two. And that’s Jalen Hurts and John Elway... This is hard!" (50:44, 52:08)

• Damanza on top QBs:

  "I thought Matthew Stafford was... I thought he’d be a little bit higher up in your list." (72:39)

Important Timestamps

• 03:09: Nick on quality of the game and low-scoring intrigue
• 10:01: Seattle defense’s Super Bowl MVP-worthy performance
• 21:41: The dilemma of elite QB vs. elite defense in team building
• 33:42: The "seeing ghosts" incident and Darnold’s redemption
• 40:40: Drake Maye postseason criticisms; sacks and turnovers
• 48:46: Nick cautions about how rare it is for losing Super Bowl QBs to win one later
• 61:07: Stafford’s MVP, media voting logic, and career legacy
• 68:08: Odd Josh Allen MVP vote history analysis
• 71:14: Where Stafford fits in the all-time quarterback rankings

Episode Tone & Style

Nick Wright is opinionated, self-aware, and brings both humor and biting analysis. The banter with Damanza keeps things lively, with Nick providing historical depth and context for every topic. The episode is honest, occasionally irreverent, and packed with both stats and personal stories to keep sports fans informed and entertained.

This summary captures the main topics and spirited debates of the episode, serving as a comprehensive guide for those who missed it.