THE HERD - Hour 3 - Albert Breer joins The Herd, the NFL playoffs

Alright, let’s get rolling. College Football Playoff starts tomorrow, but first, Albert Breer joins us on a wild NFL day. The John Harbaugh firing shakes the room, and here’s my read: Lamar’s beloved, but the cap, injuries, and a long horizon force hard questions. Did that meeting tilt when Harbaugh pushed back on making it all Lamar for the next seven years?

This wasn’t just about Lamar. Their relationship was solid, but the building’s dynamics shifted. John’s a demanding, player‑centric coach, and the alignment that defined the past didn’t hold the last couple years, which showed in an eight and nine finish with what many thought was their best roster in decades. Lamar will have a voice in the hire, but ownership felt the Harbaugh‑building connection wasn’t the same, and replacing him will be hard.

Baltimore’s culture is strong. They need the offense dialed in, while a team like the Giants needs a culture builder. Would Kevin Stefanski get a call in Baltimore?

Yes. They’ll cast a wide net, like their last search that stretched from McDaniels to Garrett before landing on Harbaugh. Stefanski fits the developer mold, Clint Kubiak has connective tissue to that building, and Brian Flores looks and feels like a Ravens coach. The goal is to carry forward what being a Raven means, which is why this will be the market’s most coveted job.

If the Falcons, Raiders, and Giants come after John Harbaugh, I think New York fits best. You?

I agree. The Giants need a strong presence, and Harbaugh or Stefanski both fit that city. But the real hinge is quarterback evaluation, because a good rookie deal supercharges a rebuild and the wrong QB traps you. How a coach grades the current options and the top pick—names like Mendoza or Dante Moore—will drive which job is most attractive.

One more contender storyline. I don’t think Buffalo can lose at Jacksonville without big consequences. They trail good teams at half, they’ve struggled away in January, and the Jags can run it. If they go down, does the band come back, or is the GM hot? Should Harbaugh wait for that job?

They won’t blow it up, but there’s pressure to win right now. Buffalo would appeal to Harbaugh because there’s a superstar quarterback and ownership urgency, similar to the final Dungy years in Tampa when the window was closing. Josh Allen turns thirty and plays a high‑mileage style, so a bad loss would spark hard questions in that building.

Green Bay time. Nick Wright noted the seventh seed safety net, and I think Matt LaFleur is good, but not McVay‑or‑Shanahan level. Is he safe even if they get whacked?

Not automatic. His deal didn’t get redone last year, there’s a new team president, and big decisions are looming on a talented young core. One wild card: if Matt Ryan runs Atlanta’s football ops, he knows LaFleur well and could explore a trade if Green Bay hesitates. With a thin candidate pool, expect creative moves.

That’s a spicy nugget, and it tracks with how this league really works. Relationships drive hires, and if LaFleur wants more say or an owner behind him, Atlanta gets interesting fast.

Jerry Jones says his life goal is to retire with the most Super Bowls. Great quote, but it’s been decades since an NFC title game. Less sound bites, more winning roster and the right coach.

He thrived with strong coaches like Jimmy and Parcells but later chose comfort over pushback. He’s become more predictable at the top and won’t chase elite coaching talent like the best owners do.

On Baltimore fallout, Lamar’s lone post was “year 8” with emojis and no public thanks for Harbaugh. Feels odd. There’s also that report about missed meetings and practices. Smoke somewhere.

Which makes you ask who leaked that and why. As for Harbaugh’s next stop, I still lean Giants. Rookie‑deal quarterback, solid defensive front, and a quick reboot is possible if they nail the pick. On the prospects, Bo Nix looked more year‑one ready, but Jackson Dart’s upside is real. I’d still bet Harbaugh to New York.

Rams at Panthers. The earlier upset had fluky swings, but Carolina is a massive home dog for a reason. I like the Rams to roll.

Carolina has pieces and a competent infrastructure, but the top‑end talent leans heavily Rams. The Panthers’ margins are razor thin; the Rams can survive a mistake and still score in bunches.

Looking ahead to Bears‑Packers. LaFleur’s still working on that extension and injuries matter, but with impatient, deep‑pocket owners all over the league, don’t be shocked by surprise moves; good coaches are hitting the market. For the game, I lean Chicago. Wind, run game, quarterback legs. I could see them throwing sparingly and pounding it all night.