Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Episode: What's Wright – Patrick Mahomes TEARS ACL, Chiefs dynasty OVER? Broncos to Super Bowl? + Micah Parsons injury
Date: December 17, 2025
Host: Nick Wright (guest-hosting for Colin Cowherd) with co-host Damanze
Podcast Network: iHeartPodcasts & The Volume

Episode Overview

This episode takes a sobering look at the Kansas City Chiefs’ “season from hell,” the future of their dynasty after Patrick Mahomes’ devastating knee injury, and the ripple effects across the NFL. Nick Wright, a passionate Chiefs supporter, explores what Mahomes’ torn ACL and LCL mean for Kansas City’s immediate and long-term future, the potential end of an era, and how the NFL landscape changes—including significant injuries to stars like Micah Parsons. The conversation also branches out to playoff implications, organizational accountability, and other major storylines: the Broncos’ Super Bowl run, Joe Burrow’s uncertain future, Ravens/Steelers/AFC North intrigue, and quick takes on every remaining key result and question in the league.

Main Segments & Key Discussion Points

1. The Chiefs Dynasty: Did Mahomes’ Injury End an Era?

[03:17–28:54]

The “Season from Hell” in KC

• Chiefs eliminated from the playoffs after losing to the Chargers; Mahomes tears his ACL and LCL.
• Wright emphasizes the Chiefs never truly felt like themselves after October, except a brief “mirage” vs. Dallas.
• Reflects on the emotional magnitude: “This, yes, this is my hometown team... all of those things make this extra gutting in the short term.” (Nick Wright, 07:30)

Perspective on the Injury

• “This is pro football... it was the Chiefs’ turn to have the year from hell and it was, sadly, Patrick's turn to roll craps.” (Nick Wright, 07:49)
• Listing legendary QBs who suffered similar setbacks (Brady, Manning, Rodgers), Wright reminds listeners: This is the NFL.

Evaluating the Dynasty's Seven-Year Run

• “Seven years of conference championship games, five Super Bowl appearances, three Super Bowl victories. You can put it up against anything any team has done...” (Nick Wright, 11:57)
• Acknowledges this moment as a “line of demarcation” in Mahomes' career—before and after the injury.

What Went Wrong in 2025

• Chiefs “were not good enough this year.”
• Offensive line injuries, lack of running game, missed draft/free agency moves, and disappointing development at WR all cited as structural issues.
• Predicts more pain: “I think they are going to lose to the Tennessee Titans. I think they are going to get beat up by the Denver Broncos.” (Nick Wright, 18:03)

Accountability & Looking Ahead

• Urges “personal accountability by everyone involved in the team.”
• “There needs to be some real soul searching... how do we make sure the next time Patrick takes the field this team doesn't have as many glaring weaknesses?” (Nick Wright, 20:27)
• Optimistic Mahomes will return: “I would put all my money on him being back for week one next year... What will the team around him look like is the question.”

Roster Rebuild & Kelce’s Future

• Biggest need: improving pass rush (not just riding Chris Jones).
• Running game has to be retooled; may draft higher than usual.
• Preparing for potential life after Travis Kelce, but “I am not fully convinced [Kelce is retiring]... he still has football left in him.” (25:24)
• Andy Reid remains the man: “Andy will—he is one of the greatest coaches in NFL history... I believe Mahomes will come back and still be Mahomes.”

Quote:
“As long as you have Patrick Mahomes... I’m not worried at all that the Chiefs are not going to get back to being the scariest team in football. I am acknowledging that this year... is looked at as a failure.” (Nick Wright, 28:54)

2. NFL Injury Fallout: Micah Parsons, Burrow’s Future, and More

[28:54–46:29]

Micah Parsons’ Torn ACL—Grief for Packers Fans

• “In a weird way, I feel worse for Packer fans with the Micah injury than for Chiefs fans with the Mahomes injury...” (Nick Wright, 14:12)
• Parsons’ injury especially devastating to a Packers team that looked Super Bowl-caliber.

Injury Comparison: Mahomes vs. Parsons Recovery

• Wright suspects ACL recovery is tougher for Parsons (as an edge rusher relying on explosiveness) than for Mahomes (a quarterback), but expresses confidence in both coming back strong.
• “If you were to tell me one of those two guys is not quite the same player post injury, you'd have to think it's the guy with the fast twitch...” (Nick Wright, 45:20)

Joe Burrow’s Strange Quotes & Possible Future

[34:23–36:45]

• Burrow recently said, “No NFL team would have won with him playing at quarterback,” after a blowout loss.
• Wright speculates Burrow could force his way out of Cincinnati: “It would not be stunning to me if he is considering forcing his way out... That would not be stunning to me.” (Nick Wright, 36:45)

3. AFC North & Contenders: Ravens, Steelers, Patriots, Bills, Jaguars

[36:45–57:39]

Ravens’ Outlook & Steelers’ Surge

• Lamar’s play called “weird”—solid but game flow limited his impact.
• “I'm not sure the Ravens get there because... Patriots, Packers... then the Steelers win the division before week 18.” (Nick Wright, 38:21)
• Sees a potential “mutual parting of ways” for John Harbaugh and Ravens if collapse continues.

Packers’ Injury Crisis, Bo Nix’s Emergence for Denver

• Without weapons like Tucker Kraft and defensive star Parsons, Wright feels Packers’ Super Bowl hopes are “probably cooked.”
• Bo Nix’s transformation: “A month ago... unequivocally the weak link of that team. Now the last month he’s been excellent...” (Nick Wright, 46:37)
• Still skeptical if Denver can ride Nix to a Super Bowl, but “have a stranglehold... on the one seed.”

Bills Take Over, Jaguars Surging

• Mahomes out, Wright’s new favorite to win the AFC is now Buffalo. “This is an opportunity that I do not imagine is going to present itself again anytime soon.” (Nick Wright, 52:47)
• Cites path for Bills: Wild Card game vs. AFC North winner, possible road games in NE or Denver.
• “Look out for the Jags now... average 32 points per game since their bye... Trevor [Lawrence] is playing his best.” (Nick Wright, 56:40)

4. NFC Storylines & Quick Hitters

[63:34–73:27]

Colts’ “Make-A-Wish” Game with Philip Rivers

• Rivers attempted a comeback start; Wright calls the story overblown: “The guy threw 27 passes for 120 yards and at the end of the game, threw the interception that ended the game...” (65:16)
• Entertaining segment: Would the Colts have won with other retired QBs (Big Ben, Brees, Eli, Peyton, Brady, Luck)? Consensus: Only Peyton, Brady, and Luck would have potentially made the difference.

Biggest Results: Rapid-Fire Reactions

• Falcons 29, Bucs 28: “Disastrous loss for Tampa... still believe they’re going to make the playoffs.”
• Rams keep rolling, Lions fading: “Rams look like the best team in football.”
• Eagles 31, Raiders 0: “Raiders... just the worst team in the NFL.”
• Vikings beat Cowboys, Texans thrash Cardinals: Vikings’ J.J. McCarthy shines; Texans and CJ Stroud “very scary” right now.
• Bears enter playoffs: “Now have 10 wins... it would now take a collapse for Chicago to miss the playoffs.”
• 49ers quiet contender: “Purdy playing his best ball, quietly a scary playoff team.”
• Commanders, Giants, other quick games: Briefly mentioned or skipped if irrelevant.

5. Listener Q&A & Final Thoughts

[73:54–76:37]

• Eric Bieniemy as future Chiefs coach? Wright doubts it. “For one reason or another, like there's a reason nobody's hired Bieniemy to be their head coach. I do think... coaching Mahomes for his 30s makes this one of the most attractive jobs in NFL history.”
• Mahomes’ recovery: Wright is skeptical of “always positive” injury recovery reports: “All reporting post Mahomes surgery... will be that he's ahead of schedule... that will tell us nothing.”
• Mahomes’ legacy after injury: Will it close the “GOAT” case? Wright: “I disagree... If he is back week one next year, then he is still ahead of pace...”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Chiefs’ Fall:

  • “This is pro sports and this sport, in particular... This has been as good of a seven-year run as any football fan base has ever gotten.” (Nick Wright, 11:57)

• On Mahomes’ Recovery & Chiefs’ Future:

  • “I am trying to balance how much it sucks that Patrick is going through this... while also not feeling like ‘woe is me’ is appropriate.” (Nick Wright, 07:30)
  • “I’m not worried about Patrick... I would put all my money on him being back for week one next year.” (Nick Wright, 22:19)

• On Packer Fans After Parsons’ Injury:

  • “I feel worse for Packer fans with the Micah injury than for Chiefs fans with the Mahomes injury...” (Nick Wright, 14:12)

• On Bo Nix's Transformation:

  • “If he just plays B football, Denver can win a Super Bowl. The defense is great, the offensive line is great... Sean Payton... has been excellent.” (Nick Wright, 46:37)

• On Joe Burrow’s Frustration:

  • “It would not be stunning to me if he is considering forcing his way out of Cincinnati.” (Nick Wright, 36:45)

• On Buffalo as Favorite:

  • “Right now, the Bills are my pick to win the [AFC]. My pick? The Chiefs got eliminated, so right now my pick would be Buffalo. There’s no question about it.” (Nick Wright, 52:47)

• On playoff volatility:

  • “It’s the NFL, man. Like, shit happened crazy.” (Nick Wright, 28:06)

Important Timestamps

• 03:17 – Show proper begins; Nick Wright addresses Mahomes injury and Chiefs collapse.
• 07:30 – Initial emotional response to Mahomes’ injury; historical comparisons.
• 11:57 – Seven-year Chiefs run put in historical context.
• 18:03 – Forecasts further immediate pain for the Chiefs.
• 23:13 – What roster fixes should happen? Advice if GM Brett Veach called.
• 25:24 – Uncertainty over Kelce’s future; personal reflections.
• 28:54 – “I am not worried at all…” Wright’s Chiefs long-term optimism.
• 36:45 – Joe Burrow’s possible exit from Cincinnati.
• 41:46 – Packers’ season, Parsons injury, Bo Nix on Broncos.
• 46:37 – Praising Bo Nix’s recent play, Denver’s one-seed prospects.
• 52:47 – Crowning Buffalo as current AFC favorite.
• 56:40 – Jaguars contention: “Look out for the Jags now...”
• 65:16 – Colts/Seahawks, Philip Rivers “comeback” breakdown.
• 66:39 – Comedy segment: Would Colts have won with various retired QBs?

Tone & Style Notes

• Wright is frank yet not overly dramatic; leavens disappointment with realism and humor.
• Keeps the original barbershop/debate feel: direct, passionate, sometimes self-deprecating, often referencing past predictions (and mistakes).
• Offers a fan’s emotional perspective but grounds it in broader NFL context and analysis.

Summary Value

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in:

• The end (or evolution) of the Chiefs’ Mahomes dynasty.
• NFL injury impact at the crossroads of legacy and roster-building.
• Hot takes and rapid reactions shaping playoff races across both conferences.
• Honest, sometimes vulnerable reflections from a fan-turned-analyst as he confronts the “end of an era”—and looks ahead to uncertain, exciting future chapters in the NFL.