Colin Cowherd just dropped his list of the NFL’s top 10 quarterback-head coach duos, and he kicked it off with a curveball that’s got everyone talking: Kyle Shanahan and Brock Purdy snagging the tenth spot. I mean, the regular season is right around the corner, and this list is already firing shots. Cowherd himself said they’ve averaged 28 points a game together, so seeing them so low? Yeah, that raises an eyebrow or two.
Shanahan and Purdy’s “System” Shock
Okay, so let’s get into why this Shanahan-Purdy ranking is already spicy. Cowherd put ’em at 10, right? And he admitted they’ve put up 28 points per game. But then he drops the hammer, saying Purdy is “largely driven by Shanahan’s play calling and McCaffrey’s greatness.” Ouch. While he gave Purdy credit for being “excellent” after his injury comeback and noted the team played without key skill talent sometimes, the subtext is clear: how much of that high-level offensive production is *Purdy* and how much is the *system*? Cowherd’s quote was a total mic drop: “I think Purdy is largely driven by Shanahan’s play calling and McCaffrey’s greatness, but he deserves credit. When he came back off his injury, Brock was excellent, so I would put them at 10.” That’s the question that’s going to stick with their #10 slot.
Josh Allen’s Insane Numbers vs. Joe Brady’s Unknown
Moving up to the ninth spot, we’ve got the Buffalo Bills combo of Joe Brady and Josh Allen. Now, this one’s fascinating. Brady got promoted from offensive coordinator, so he’s a first-time head coach. But Cowherd pointed out they’ve spent enough time together to count. The real story here is Allen. Six consecutive seasons with at least 35 total touchdowns? That’s just wild, folks. That kind of individual ability is rare. Cowherd was straight up about it, saying “Now I don’t know if Joe Brady’s going to be a great head coach.” Talk about putting the pressure on! Allen is a benchmark for elite play, but will Brady’s rookie HC status cap what they can achieve as a duo?
The Honorable Mentions Are Wild
Before even hitting the top ten, Cowherd threw out some honorable mentions that really show how tight things are getting across the league. Down at 13, you had Sean Payton and Bo Nix with the Broncos. Think about this: they trailed in 15 games last year and somehow won 14 of ’em. Cowherd said it himself, “That historically will never happen again.” That’s pure craziness! Then there’s Trevor Lawrence and Liam Coen at 11, and the really unique situation with Lamar Jackson at 12, who’s got a first-time play caller in Jesse Minter. Cowherd admitted, “I have Lamar Jackson at 12. But he’s got a first-time play caller, so I’m not sure about that.” That’s a huge question mark hanging over a talent like Lamar.
So yeah, Cowherd’s just lit the fuse on the QB-HC debate, and the regular season is literally “just around the corner.” These rankings aren’t just numbers, they’re the battle lines. Will Shanahan and Purdy prove the doubters wrong? Can Brady step up to match Allen’s incredible individual output? The stakes are sky-high, and we’re about to find out which of these duos is truly built for the grind. Get ready, because it’s going to be a wild ride.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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