The Herd with Colin Cowherd - THE HERD - Hour 3 - Super Bowl Champion Sam Darnold stops by The Herd

Episode Date: February 24, 2026

Colin talks to Ravens Linebacker Kyle Van Noy about the NFL Combine and how important it really is Super Bowl champion Sam Darnold joins the show! Colin talks to him about his career turnaround, winning a Super Bowl and playing with star WR Jaxson Smith-NjigbaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Hey, guys, it's us. The Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe. I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick. And guess what? We created our own podcast called, Hey, Jonas.

We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it. But, you know, tired and sick. Tired and sick.

Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you. you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the ice.

Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Winning on Clay is an art. The rallies are relentless. And at the French Open, only the toughest survive. I'd know. I competed there for decades. Join me, Renee Stubbs, on the Renee Stubbs' tennis podcast for no-nonsense breakdowns of the biggest matches, the toughest players, and the moments that define Roland Garris.

She can win. She's an outsider to win the French fame. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lina Rubakina is arguably the best player in the world right now. And I actually can win on any service. Listen to the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged.

It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days I'd put on 10 pounds, I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks for listening to The Heard Podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in noon to 3 Eastern, 9 a.m. to noon Pacific.

Find your local station for the herd at Fox SportsRadio.com, or stream us live every day on the IHeart Radio app by searching Fox SportsPathes. Sports Radio or FSR. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. And it is also NFL Combine Week. And somebody who turns 35 in a month, he was at that combine

about probably about 14, 15 years ago. He's a two-time Super Bowl champ, 12-year NFL veteran. Kyle Van Nuya is joining us. He is live in Los Angeles and we appreciate him stopping by. So let's start with us. Good to see you again.

Let's go to your combine experience. Now it's changed. Everybody now says, well, it's the underwear Olympics, but it is a chance to see guys in person. You know, the senior bowl, the Combine, you got to see guys in person. Go back to your experience. Was it valuable to go to the Combine?

I believe back in the day it was valuable to go to the Combine. It did feel a little bit of the meat market style. You go up, weigh in, all that's a joke. But in the in-person interviews, right? You're getting to know the team. the team is getting no you. You get to sell your talents. If a team ask you, are you the best linebacker in the NFL?

You get to say yes, XYZ. Here's why. Here's why I'm the best. Here's why I'm better than this player. I'm better than this player. I remember Chip Kelly, who didn't really recruit me in college or high school. He ended up recruiting my best friend at the time. And I walked in the meeting and I sat down and I said,

don't make the same mistake again before we even started the meeting. He started laughing. I was like, you made the mistake of picking a high school friend of mine, but you never picked me. Don't make the same mistake again. Well, he ended up picking a gentleman Smith out of Louisville, played rusher, ended up obviously Chip Kelly didn't, you know, work out, ended up seeing him when he was at practice with New England. I was like, you made the same mistake again. But it's just a way to get to know teams better, teams that get to know you. I also think it's really good for teams medically. You know, as a player, you can go in if you're very, if you've been a very, very healthy player in college, you're able to showcase that.

That is a bonus for players. For teams, they get to know a player medical. That's why you saw Caleb Williams like, nah, you ain't going to be able to poke and prod me and all that. So I understand it. But I do think it's a way for players to understand other teams, how they operate a little bit. teams get to know them i think out of everything that's the best that comes out of the combine so you've played 35 years old in a month you've played for five different organizations you have delivered in baltimore and new england uh the chargers uh miami detroit what would i didn't really deliver in detroit yeah we we can keep it real with that one but i did get drafted there can you if you were talking to 22-year-old you,

going to the combine, with all your vast experience, different owners, different GMs, different coaches, different coordinators, you've lived the NFL life, which, I mean, let's face it, at your position, guys don't last as long as you do. Yeah. What would be the advice?

Current Kyle Van Nuoy, who I'm talking to, would give rookie Kyle Van Nuoy on the journey of the NFL? Buckle. up, strap in, because you're in for a ride, right? I really believe that's the advice that I would say. But if I was at the Combine advice, I would tell that Kyle Van Noid 22 years old,

sell your talents when the film is on. When the film is playing and they're going over the plays that you made in big games, I remember sitting with Rex Ryan going over the coverages, going over my assignments, my teammates' assignments, and he's looking like, damn, he knows his ball. Being able to sell your talents at that elite level to then put that and showcase it on the film where it gets to showcase your talents,

I mean, there's nothing better than that. You want to always sell yourself in anything. Any business, any person you're dealing with, you want to sell your talents. And what better way to do that in person with a GM, with the head coach, you're able to sell how great you are of a leader, how great you are as a teammate,

and how great you are as a player. I mean, there's nothing better than that. And then in the NFL, once you get in, I think it's your ability to adapt or die. Not every situation is going to be perfect, but you're going to have to adapt. I mean, I've been in the show now for 12 years, and I've been able to adapt from the time

that I've been able to get in the show to where I'm at now. I'm still adapting. And I think that's why I've lasted so long and will continue to last if I want to continue to play. I would love to play one more. I still have enough juice. I think stats didn't go the way I wanted it last year.

But if you watch the tape and you get me in front of a GM and a coach right now, I can showcase a lot of talents that I can say, hey, I still got it here. I was still double-teamed at a higher rate than some of the premier pass rushers in the NFL. And so there's ways to be able to combat some of those stats. And I know everybody is stat-driven right now. So I know I'm confident in my skills. as a football player. I'm confident in my skills as a media person being on the show with you, Colin, we could go all day.

When you, Kyle Van Noid joining us for our radio audience, John Harbaugh, and I thought he was a great coach, and I said, be very careful when you let go of John Harbaugh, because you may not find somebody as good as John Harbaugh. We had 10 coaching openings. Kevin Stefansky, Cleveland gets rid of them, and I'm like, I think Kevin Stefansky, you're not going to find it. and equal on the market. In the end, were you shocked that John Harbaugh was let go? Or did you feel like, man, he's been there 18 years? It's the same voice.

Did you feel he lost the team? Like your takeaway, and the minute you heard, John Harbaugh was no longer a Raven's head coach, what was your immediate reaction? That's such a good question, because I feel like at first when it happened, I was a little shocked, but then when I processed it, I wasn't shocked.

And then when I was really shocked was when he signed a huge $100 million contract right away with the Giants. Not saying that I didn't think he was going to be one of the top coaches. I would have thought maybe he wanted to take a little time off. Maybe he wanted to take a year off. Like some coaches have been doing to revamp, hey, if there's a big coaching move that happens next year with one of the elite quarterbacks, he can jump into that. But I truly believe he picked the right spot for him and his family. New York, they're getting a CEO coach that's going to go in there and build that type of brand football,

what they were used to with Tom Coughlin. Hard-nose football team. They're going to run the ball. They're going to play defense. He has guys like Dexter Lawrence and Brian Burns in the trenches already. He has Cam Scadaboo. I want him to get healthy, so we'll see how he reacts to it. But you have Jackson Dart at the helm on a rookie.

contract that helps out bringing in veteran leadership, you know, guys in free agency that you can spend a little bit more on to build that type of chemistry, build that type of organization that you want from the players. You can get some guys to rally. I mean, Tyler Linderbaum, he's in a free agency, you know, coming up. I know the Ravens are working through that, but he's one of the best, I think he's the best center in the league. and he's going to have teams like the Chargers who they're, you know, the Raiders.

He's a top tier guy. So the Giants can bring in a guy like that who knows the Harbaugh system and can preach to the players what he's been preaching all these years in the Ravens. And he's been able to establish that organization and build, you know, from the ground up. I really believe that they could be successful this season in that division. When, you know, the number one pick is going to be Fernando Mendoza. You think it's locked? I think it's locked.

I think it's the most important position. I think he's a good kid. He's big. He's accurate. He went undefeated. I don't think he's John Elway or Marino, but I think he's Matt Ryan plus. He's a little bit thicker,

a little stronger arm, maybe moves a little better than Matt Ryan, but I think he's kind of Matt Ryan plus. People have said, you know, his personality, and I don't know how much you've seen. He's very awshucks. Very humble. And I asked the other day, I asked Matt Hasselbeck, like, how does that play in the locker

room? He's like super optimistic, kind of Mr. Rogers. And let me ask you, when a kid comes in like that, he's young, he's a college successful guy. And it's not corny to me. I think he's just a humble, grateful kid with great parents. How does that personality play to you project in the NFL? You know, I think he said it when he did an interview talking about drinking with the boys,

you know? I really do believe it starts with that. He's going to get after it with the linemen going out with them, drinking beers, getting to know them, establishing that relationship, that trust. I don't think it matters what religion, what you look like, whatever it is. As long as you can galvanize and it doesn't matter what angle you come from.

If you're able to get across what you're need to get across and the guys can respect you, I mean, Drew Brees had an amazing interview. you the other day where he talked about gaining the trust of a guard who had been there 12 years in the NFL where he told the the lineman coach to get the hell out of my huddle and then that guy was like I'll do anything for you and I'm sure they were two different human beings what you know whatever backgrounds they come at it's that type of leadership that you can see Mendoza have that would be able to separate himself going into a situation and getting the guys to really

believe that he's number one. And if you're getting picked number one, the organization believes in you. So you already have that little like, all right, this is our quarterback. We're going to do whatever we can to help the quarterback. I think it'll just add value if he's able to get his terminology and his way of life outside of football and combining that to his life in football and then figuring out as it goes, I think he could be really good. Now, I also think, Colin, that I actually kind of like him a little bit, too, but also at the beginning of this year, it didn't jump off me that he should go number one.

Right. Right. His resiliency, number one, for sure. The way he was able to go through the season, the way he's made some throws. But at the beginning, like, even when you go back and watch Sam Darnell, who's coming on, you know, coming on the show later, you saw when you saw him, you're like, this. This dude could be a number one draft pick. And, you know, forgive me, Sam. I can't remember if you were number one.

You are an amazing talent coming out of USC. But you could see the jump of his arm when he watched him. Mendoza, I don't know if they really jumps off the stage. So, like, for me, I don't know if he's a clear cut number one. I know the Raiders need a quarterback. They could go Malik Willis and free agency. You just never know. They might not be sold, you know, watching the film.

So that's a question mark for me still. All right. Kyle Van Nuoy, Sam Darnold's around the corner. Two-time Super Bowl champ. He's 35 in a month. Is there any lean if I told you, listen, you got one year left. Is there a system, a culture that you feel you fit perfectly in? Yeah, I'm always going to go with the Ravens over the last three years.

We've built something special there with the core players that they have. You know, Lamar Jackson, Derek Henry, they're hungry for us. Super Bowl. Roquan Smith, Kyle Hamilton on the opposite side. They just re-signed Travis Jones in the trenches. Those guys are their core unit. Ronnie Stanley can't forget about him.

Those guys are the core. Tyler Lindabom, he's in the core. I know they're going to do everything to try to get him back before free agency starts. Those guys are special. They have something special. I like mentor coming in. He's from that Mike McDonald tree of defense.

I feel like he's going to, really focus on that defense, get back to that split safety coverage that they've been playing in 23. We're going to go back. They're going to go back to that, excuse me, or we're going to go back if I'm back. I really like the Ravens. But if not, I'd like to come back to the West Coast. Rams, Chargers, Seattle, one of those teams come to mind. They're still running a three-four defense.

But all in all, I would love to be the Ravens. I'm big. I mean, I'm so close with the guys in the back of the bus, the guys in the equipment room. call it the hub. I'm ready to go back to the hub and hang out. I really enjoy Baltimore. It does have a charm to the city. And I really believe in Mr. Bouchotti's vision. The owner, he's really, really involved with the players. He's A1. And I do have enough juice to show that I can play at a high level. Even at 35, a lot of people were, like, shocked when I came in in 23 at 32 and played at a high level. Then they were shocked at 33 that I went to the Pro Bowl and had 12 and a half sack.

So I believe I can bounce back after a down statistical year, and I'm excited to do it with the teammates that they have there when I go back. Kyle, great senior, as always. Yeah, I do have to say one thing before we go to break. To the Lakers, you mentioned Luca. One thing that I got to say is Steph Curry plays defense. It's not how you want all the time, but Steph Curry, MVP, has done everything, superstar in the NFL,

But he has always progressed to try to play defense. Luca, I don't know if we could say the same. You also mentioned Boston. It's always Boston Celtics. Peyton Pritchard having a hell of a year. Derek White stepping up. And Jaylen Brown is hooping, Colin. So I'm sorry for the Lakers, but we need Luca to play more defense.

Thank you. Jay, Max, you hear that? Finally, another voice of reason. You've got to at least make a stab at playing defense. Sam Darnold's around the corner. Live in Chicago, it's the herd. to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon eastern 9 a.m. Pacific

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Hit that thumbs up icon and comment away. Hey, it's us to Jonas Brothers and guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, name? Huge news. We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it.

We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts throughout there. But this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name, Jonas guys. I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it. We were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band before Jonas Brothers.

This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes. I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast, people could call in and say, hey, Jonas. And then I wrote down on my little notepad, Hey Jonas, and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it.

Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? do some retirement homes.

Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The French Open is one of the toughest tests in tennis. And I know firsthand because I competed there myself. I'm Renee Stubbs. And on the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast, I'm breaking down everything happening at Roland Garris. Every match, every upset, and what it really takes to win on clay. Jen Chinchin win.

I mean, she went down in three to Rabakina, but I'm delighted. She's an outsider to win the French for me. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lernerabakina is arguably the best player in the world right now. And I actually can win on any surface. Because if she's serving, well, good luck. Consider this your court side seat to the French Open. Listen to the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds.

I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Sam Darnold around the corner. 12, 15 minutes away. Super Bowl champion Sam Darnold. Good lesson in life, guys. Loyalty.

Backing your people really does pay out. That combine, Rams are like, no thanks. We don't want it to get in the way of our... You go to the combine, and everybody looks good, and everybody's trained specifically for the combine, and you get into this sort of paralysis by analysis,

you start overthinking things. And the Jaguars, like the Rams said, this is what our scouting department does. We don't want to get swayed by a 15-minute interview at the Combine in Indianapolis because people go down to Phoenix and they train just for the Combine. So you're getting the best of everybody. Instead of just watching the tape,

going to the Senior Bowl, now you get, you know, the Underwear Olympics. Everybody's in great shape. Everybody's the fastest they'll ever be. And it's like, yeah, in the NFL, by, week four, everybody's dinged up and nobody runs a 4-340. J-Mack with the news. No, no, no, no.

Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. All right, Colin, I'm floored by this Miami Dolphin stuff. So obviously their new GM comes from Green Bay, as does their new head coach. Yeah. But they also made a hire this week that Ian Rappaport talked about, and it just happens to be the gentleman who drafted Malik Willis in Tennessee. Yeah.

So there's a lot of connections. to Malik Willis. And now there are reports that Miami kind of wants to sign him to Malik Willis. But there's a concern they may not have enough money. What? Is this all planted by Malik Willis's agent? Because everybody's going to buy that. Oh, they all know Malik, they want to sign him.

But they can't afford him. So Cleveland Browns, Jets, whoever, you're going to have to pony up. The Malik Willis you get with Green Bay and Matt LaFleur may not be the Malik Willis your organization gets that doesn't have an infrastructure. structure as good as the Packers. It doesn't have an offensive coach like Matt LaFleur. The danger in Malik Willis is, do I get the Green Bay version of Malik Willis? Right?

You think Matt Stafford couldn't win a playoff game, went to the Rams, and now he's like, great playoff quarterback. Coaching Matt, that's what my concern with Malik Willis is, if I could get a really team-friendly two-year deal, like a Sam Darnold deal. I'd be like, oh, yeah, I don't prove something, Colin, over the course of a season in Minnesota. Well, I mean. Malikwis through 35 passes.

That's a Patrick Mahomes game right there. Well, that's what your scouts do. That's what your GM and scouts are paid to do. You go back to his college tape, his Tennessee tape, his Green Bay tape. But what always worries me is when you go get a Kyle Shanahan quarterback. Kyle Shanahan's made Brock Purdy and Garoppolo's Super Bowl-level guys. What Garoppolo do when he left Kyle? So I think Malik Willis is dynamic and quick, and he's a playmaker, and he's fun to watch.

But you may not get the exact replica you watch in Green Bay, where the coaching is excellent, and the infrastructure is fantastic, and the tight end receiver talent's great. So Baker Mayfield was a top five pick, flamed out, rejuvenated. Sam Darnel was a top five pick, flamed out rejuvenated. Daniel Jones, top 10 pick, bounced back. Malik Willis, what was this guy drafted? third round? Yeah.

The idea that all of a sudden, oh my gosh, he's got so much talent, he can't miss. I think this would be a big-time buyer beware tag on Malik Willis. Yes, I think that's fair. Is he the best backup in the league?

He might be. But as a starter, he's going to take you out of like a top five pick and you won't be able to get a quarterback high next year. So I don't know. I want the Jets nothing to do with this guy. All right. I mean, would you want him if you were on the Jets?

If I was the Jets, I'd want a tank. So he would take you out of, I think Malik Willis. has the potential to be a very interesting quarterback in the league. Is he great? I don't think so. He's not as big as I'd like. He doesn't have as many starts as I'd like,

but there's something there. He is absolutely dynamic, and I think it's very difficult. One of the things I liked about him, they brought him to Green Bay late. He was there about an hour. He obviously can pick stuff up quickly because they brought him in to Green Bay,

and literally, like, three weeks later, he's on the field, and he's good. So it's like, Wow, that's hard to do at the hardest position in the sport is to learn the terminology, new staff, new coaching, new language, new teammates, a young group of players, and he walked right into Green Bay and was excellent three weeks later. I hope the dolphins go all in, take them out of the tank off with the jets so we can get Arch Manning. All right, let's move to the next row.

And speaking of backup, quarterback's, how about Mack Jones, Colin? The 49ers backup now, he has a sample size way more than Malik Willis. He was actually five and three last season with, you know, pretty solid numbers. So John Lynch said they did not plan on trading him, but there are reports, hello, reports saying the 49ers are going to get some big offers for Mack Jones. Now the danger again with Mac Jones. Do I get Mac Jones, Pro Bowler, New England, Mac Jones, good with Kyle Shanahan, or do I get the Mac Jones who didn't do anything at the end in New England and didn't do anything in Jacksonville?

So again, the danger is the head coach. coach makes every quarterback, virtually every quarterback work. So again, buyer beware on Malik Willis and Mack Jones. The difference is Malik is a much more dynamic athlete than Mac Jones. That's not even, I mean, Mac Jones is one of the least athletic guys. Malik Willis, turn the TV on, doesn't play the quarterback position. Not a lot of people can do what he can do. Yeah.

Now, Shane Steichen and Indy likes mobile quarterbacks. Yeah. I think Mac Jones is a bridge to Daniel Jones is pretty damn good. the Colts need to win, Colin. They've got to win next year. They went all in with those trades. I think I would not be shocked if Mac Jones was like Indy was looking at what the price tag is. They've given up some picks, so I don't know if they can get him.

But he's another great quarterback, great backup. I don't know about starter. Final story, let's go to Kurt Cousins in Atlanta. It sounds like his tenure is going to be done. According to new GM, Ian Cunningham, he went on the radio of all places in Atlanta and confirm the Falcons will release Cousins on the first day of the new league year here in about three weeks. Colin, do they not try to trade him? Is there no trade market? Can they not trade him? I don't think he's expensive and I don't think he has a huge market. And I think he kind of felt at different times a bit washed.

Love him. Great career. Forty-five thousand yards. Should be proud. Wonderful guy and a really good leader. But I'm not sure he has a market. So, like the McVeigh guys like him, Shanahan, they love this guy. So what about the new LaFleur in Arizona? Does Kirk Cousins make any sense? Warm weather cities, right? Arizona, San Fran. Seattle weather's not great, but whatever. I think he could thrive maybe there.

And again, they've got a good infrastructure with the receiver's tight end running back. You could talk me into it. Arizona's not a bad spot. J. Mack with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The herd line news. Sam Darnold is around the corner.

The Super Bowl star joining us. We had a great playoff run. The redemption story, the redemption arc from the Jets to the Vikings to the Seattle Seahawks. Sam Darnold is next. Let's talk about something we all want peace of mind, and that's where Simply Safe Home Security is valuable. They have AI-powered cameras and professional monitoring agents, and they work in unison to help prevent break-ins before they happen. Their AI-powered cameras backed by the monitoring agents, watch and monitor your property and detect suspicious activity. So if somebody's lurking around outside or acting weird, the agents see and talk to them in real time, activate sirens, spotlights, can even contact police.

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Search Herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like. Hey, it's us to Jonas Brothers. And guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, new? Huge news. We created our own podcast called Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast?

Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to a... We're the first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts throughout there. But this one's extra special. So how did we actually come up with a name Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it.

Well, we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band before Jonas Brothers This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes. I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast, people could call in and say, hey, Jonas. And then I wrote down on my little notepad,

Hey Jonas, and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, Not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and Friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier.

This week, my guest, S&L's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The French Open is one of the toughest tests in.

tennis. And I know firsthand because I competed there myself. I'm Renee Stubbs and on the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast, I'm breaking down everything happening at Roland Garris. Every match, every upset and what it really takes to win on Clay. Jen Chinchen went. I mean, she went down to three to Rabakina, but I'm delighted. She's an outsider to win the French for me. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lina Rabakina is arguably the best player in the world right now and I actually can win on any surface. Because if she's serving, well, good luck. Consider this your court-side seat to the French Open. Listen to the Renee Stubbs Tennis podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever

you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all. embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year.

Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Well, you know, listen, I remember the first time I heard about Sam Darnold, I went to a USC practice, and they had signed this five-star quarterback. I forget his name, and I'm sitting talking to Sark. And I said, what do you make of that? that five-star guy. And he says, he says, see that kid over there? His name is Sam Darnold.

And he's a couple miles, couple hours down the road. He said, that guy's going to play on Sundays. That guy's going to be great. And of course, Darnold explodes at USC. But the NFL is a tricky business. And Sam is now a Super Bowl champion. And not a lot of people believe that was going to happen. Sam did. And he is now joining a slight. Let's go back to USC. I remember. your freshman year, and Sark probably didn't tell you this. I remember him telling me this. He said, that kid is like a linebacker that plays quarterback. He's tough. He doesn't care. He doesn't, he's not caught up in all the wrong stuff. What do you remember? Let's go to the beginning of your journey at USC. You were not the five-star guy. You were not the guy that everybody on campus was

talking about. Do you remember that first, you know, that indoctrination into college football at USC? Yeah, I do. And I remember, you know, a lot of people kind of questioning, you know, why I was staying. And I, because I know I wanted to play basketball, my senior year. And I know a lot of people were questioning me that way. And then the other kid that I was going to be coming in with, you know, as a freshman, you know, I knew that he was going in in the spring. So everyone was like, oh, he's going to have a leg up on you and whatnot. But I knew that we also had Cody Kessler, who was starting for us as a redshirt senior. and I knew that I would have time to learn the system and learn how to play quarterback in that system

and under Sark and under Coach Helton as well. So, yeah, I just, I think just wanting to play other sports and then coming in, understanding and being confident in myself to be able to get the job done, I think, has always been something I've always had even when I was in high school going into college. I remember when you were struggling with the Jets and I talked to a GM who also believed in you and he said, listen, he's 20 years old. The Jets don't have a great infrastructure. Like this is a, this is hard.

And, you know, I remember this GM saying, you know, Peyton Manning's rare. Number one pick goes to a team, get support. And it's like, but even Peyton Manning year four, like led the league in picks. So he said, you know, you media guys, he goes, you just think it's easy. It's really hard when you're young and it's New York City. Let's go back to the early New York days. You're having fun.

It's new. West Coast kid, your 3,3,500 miles from home. Was there a moment in the first two years that you ever said, man, I don't know if, I don't know if I can play on Sundays. I'm good on Saturdays. Can I be a Sunday guy? You know, I'd be lying to you if I said that there wasn't any doubt in my mind. You know, there was a little bit of doubt, you know, throughout those tough times in

New York. But, you know, I had great teammates. I had great coaches that believed in me in New York. You know, that's what really kept me upright there. And again, I always talk about it, but my friends and my family that I have kind of built at home also were able to keep me upright. And even, you know, there were some times where, you know, we won a few games in a row being in New York. And, you know, I had great teammates and great coaches that were along that journey as well. You know, and perfect example is I was texting a former teammate of mine that I was in New York with today even.

and just talking about, you know, some things, just personal things. So, you know, it's those relationships that you kind of build along the way that keep you going, you know, throughout those times in New York. And, you know, I love, you know, all the people, all the relationships that I built there because if it weren't for those relationships, you know, I don't know if I'd be the person or the player that I am today. I've said this before on the air. If you go back to Carolina, your last six starts, you come, you get to start again.

you were sitting and watching for, you know, benched. They brought you back last six games. You go four and two. First time you'd ever kind of been benched, that's really where the journey starts. If you go back to the November 27th with Carolina from that moment until today, you're the winningest quarterback in the league. So at the end of Carolina, they say, okay, Sam, we're giving you the starting job again. And you played pretty darn well. Do you look at that and say to yourself, okay, confidence back, I'm ready to go.

Did that matter to you? 100% yeah and I think you know a lot of it had to do again it's I feel like it's going to be a theme here for this interview but like the coaches and players that I was with when I was there ben macadu being one of those great coaches that I was with in Carolina you know just feeling like you know it was it was that same kind of west coast system where it was like I could no matter what if I was taking seven in a hitch I never felt like I had to throw it to a guy just because he was one in the progression and you know if few trips and falls, I feel like I can get to two and three and even my outlet to my running back really quickly. And, you know, it was just that system. That's where I kind of fell in love with that West Coast, kind of listen to your feet, listen to your progression kind of system. And, you know, I really fell in love with, I fell in love with it there. And it just made sense, especially, you know, playing a coach like Todd Bowles in Tampa Bay. And that's because he's hiding shell.

He's hiding, you know, where guys are coming from, different pressures, bringing four to his side. trying to test your protections that way. It just, it allowed me to play so much faster. And, you know, that's where I really fell in love with that offense. And again, I have great coaches and great players that I played with in Carolina to, to thank for, you know, not only my time in Carolina and the great times that we had, but also winning a few games there at the end and putting us in a chance to, you know, potentially make the playoffs in a division that was kind of struggling that year.

So then you go, it's well chronicled. then you go to San Francisco, you learn and sit back a purdy, you go to Minnesota, you absolutely crush, that's well chronicled, and they decide their decision is we like you, but boy,

do we want a better deal for us, and then you go to Seattle, and we'll get to Seattle in a second. But when you left Minnesota, was there even a tinge of like, but you don't believe in me? I won 14 games. Like, I would have understood

if you got on a flight to Seattle and thought, oh, I'm going to show those guys. how did you view Minnesota saying we love you here's the price good luck in Seattle how did that land for you yeah I think you know being in you know that being the end of my seventh season I felt like I definitely haven't seen it all but I've seen a lot in the NFL and I understand kind of the process and what it takes to you know I don't understand necessarily what it takes to run an entire organization and run a team, but I understand how difficult it can be. And, you know, you have a lot of decisions that you have to make as a GM as a head coach.

And so for me personally, like, I, you know, obviously I believe in myself and I understand in my abilities. But at the same time, I, you know, I understand, you know, their thought process of, you know, going with the younger kid and maybe, you know, especially JJ, like, I, like, I I think JJ is very talented. He's super smart. And there's a lot of potential there. And I think JJ is going to be a really, really good player in this league. And, you know, that allowed them to kind of, you know,

not sign me to maybe a bigger deal and bring some veteran guys in. So, you know, yeah, I think when I sat back and really, you know, digested, I guess, the information that they didn't want me back. You know, that was, you know, a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of a little bit of, a tough pull to swallow, but when I really stood back and looked at it from afar, I really understood the decision. And I really did. And I'm thankful that I, that I landed in Seattle. So let's go to Seattle now. Next seven minutes, let's talk Seattle. First practice or two with JSN. Nobody knew he was a number one. He's talented. We all watched him. He had about 60 catches his first year. And all of a

sudden, it's a second year. And all of a sudden now, Sam Darnold, you got the second youngest team in the league to Green Bay. You play JSN, your first moment you realized, oh wow, he is something else. How long did it take you? Oh, man. Yeah, it was

so OTAs, he was always special running around doing this thing. But, you know, that early on in the process, you know, as a receiver especially, you don't want to, you're going about 80, 85% most of time. And I remember we came out to L.A. and did some throwing

in the off season with the guys right before training camp. And, you know, I've kind of seen him move around for the last couple months. And then, you know, I had one of my other buddies that just came in through with us because I needed an extra arm. And he was like, dude, this guy is different. Like, the way that he moves around and the way that he gets in and out of cuts, like he doesn't, he doesn't cut the way that I feel like you're, you know, you normally teach a receiver. he's very kind of rounded off, but he doesn't lose speed in and out of cuts.

Yeah. And I think that's one of his specialties, and that's something as well that I kind of got to witness firsthand with Justin Jefferson. Like there's a lot of similarities there with kind of the way that they run routes. But JSN, I think another superpower that he has, he's a lot stronger than people think. Yeah.

He's got a really strong lower body. And once he gets the ball in his hands, he can do a lot. with the ball in his hands, making, you know, guys miss and being more physical than DBs. Sam, people said, well, Sam Darnold didn't do a ton in the Super Bowl. And I said, folks, Sam Darnold did what Brady did. Two of Brady Super Bowls, he threw for under 200 yards. I said, Sam didn't have a turnover in the playoffs in the Superior NFC.

Only Breeze, Aikman, you, and one other quarterback. I think Steve Young's ever done that. when you got to the Super Bowl, did Mike McDonald those two weeks of practice, that he just tell you, Sam, listen, we're going to win this game. We just got to make smart decisions.

Did you have a different feel coming into the Super Bowl, or did the game work the way you thought it would? It's just one of those things that you know. I mean, the head coach doesn't have to say anything to me about taking care of the football. You know, that's very obvious. And I'm well aware of the defense that we have,

how special that group is. but I think the higher the stakes, the more prevalent and the more important the ball is. And that's not to say it's not important during the regular season. But, you know, I think, and at the same time,

like there were a lot of throws I'd like to have back in that Super Bowl. I missed a touchdown to Jacks right before the halftime. I missed Cooper on a couple throws. Cooper made some incredible catches in that game. Just, you know, having my back that way. Like, you know, there was a deep ball. or I guess early on I was scrambling out to my left and Jacks was,

he would have been wide open for a touchdown and I just kind of overthrew it a little bit. But so there are a few throws that I'd like to have back in that game. But I think going into that game and just going into, you know, the late, you know, latter half of the season, I knew that it would be very important to just take care of the football. I remember a game when you were at USC. You went up to Washington and beat the Huskies and you were really good. You were, I remember that game well. Tell people what a game.

it's like now you're back in the west coast you're in seattle they were the biggest u sc rival it was the ducks and the huskies about playing in seattle what is it like oh man yeah i remember that game very vividly um i think they were they were two or three in the country maybe four um you know had had studs all around dante pess john ross you know jake browning had a ton of dudes on defense um buda baker um all those guys list goes on and on but um yeah just the list goes on and on but um yeah just going into that stadium, it was electric, man. You know, you had that purple, that purple cloud of dust, you know, welcoming you as, as, you know, the Huskies jogged onto the field.

And, you know, it was that typical Seattle weather kind of later in the season. It was gray, a little, little chilly. But, man, it was, it was just fun to be able to play in an atmosphere like that. Like, that's what you dream of, of playing in games like that. And then to finally be in Seattle with the Hawks and just see the electric atmosphere. that our crowd creates not only, you know, throughout the last half of the season, but even early on, like when we had one o'clock games later or earlier in the season, it was the same intensity that we had, you know, in the playoffs. And so I just, you know, those fans are incredible.

And it is a little different in Seattle, the fandom that they have for their sports up here. Yeah, they kind of, they kind of feel forgotten. They feel geographically isolated. So they kind of, they got a chip on their shoulder. They get lubricic. in the pregame and they let you hear it for the next five hours listen we got a run i'm so happy for you i've been lucky enough to follow all this stuff and know you for years congratulations you have a remarkable family and i appreciate you giving me 15 minutes of time you didn't have to and i appreciate it of course colin i appreciate you man sam darnald uh super bowl champion sam darnald yeah his journey is fascinating you go to the end of carolina november 27th when he got

a start. He got bench for the first time ever. He got the starting job, went four and two, Niners, 14 wins, Minnesota, Super Bowl. And, you know, that's why I say, when you're young, your support system is so important. And he just didn't have it initially. He now does. And I've told the story where John Snyder, the GM, at one point,

said, now, what is it about fans and the media and Sam Darnel? Like, the guy is good. We watch them every day at practice. Like, we can win a super. bowl with Sam Darnoldy's good. And John Snyder, who's usually right at the combine this week, was right again. Congrats to Sam Joel

Klaq, Kyle Banoy's stopped by today. Tomorrow, revolutionary, futuristic. I don't know what to make of it. Be sitting down when we introduce it. See you that. Hey guys, it's us the Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe. I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick. And guess what? We created

our own podcast called Hey, Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to a... We're the first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it, but, you know... Tired and sick.

Tired and sick. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smigel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest. S&L's Mikey Day and headwriter Streeter Seidel

help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Winning on Clay is an art. The rallies are relentless.

And at the French Open, only the toughest survive. I'd know. I competed there for decades. Join me, Renee Stubbs, on the Renee Stubbs' tennis podcast for no nonsense breakdowns of the biggest matches, the toughest players, and the moments that define Roland Garris. She's an outsider to win the French for me. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lennar Rabakina is arguably the best player in the world right now

and I actually can win on any surface. Listen to the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential.

Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.

Thank you.