3 and Out with John Middlekauff

On this episode of 3 & Out, John Middlekauff dives into whether NFL coaches really have favorite players and how those relationships can influence playing time, roster decisions, and the development of young talent.
John also breaks down the latest quarterback situation in Minnesota. With Kyler Murray expected to be the starter, what does that mean for J.J. McCarthy?
Plus, John discusses Lamar Jackson's evolution under center, examining how Baltimore continues to expand its offense and why Lamar's development as a traditional pocket passer has become one of the most underrated parts of his game.
The conversation also explores the unique relationship between quarterbacks and their head coaches, why the best partnerships consistently produce winning football, and what separates successful QB-coach duos from the rest of the league.
John also checks in on the 49ers' injury situation, discussing whether San Francisco can overcome another wave of health concerns, before reacting to reports that Deshaun Watson is seeking a new contract from the Browns and what that could mean for Cleveland's future.
To wrap things up, John shares another edition of Dad Diaries, offering a funny look at life away from football, before opening up the Middlekauff Mailbag to answer your questions from around the NFL.
From quarterback battles and contract drama to coaching dynamics and front-office insight, it's all covered on this episode of 3 & Out.
Follow John on Twitter, and Instagram for the latest.
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It's a loaded Middlekauff Mailbag on this episode of 3 & Out as John answers your questions on everything happening across the NFL and college football.
John kicks things off by discussing the latest 49ers injuries and what they could mean for one of the NFC's perennial contenders. He also tackles bigger-picture questions about San Francisco's roster, long-term outlook, and whether the team has what it takes to make another Super Bowl run.
The mailbag also dives into the Minnesota Vikings, the Dallas Cowboys, the Seattle Seahawks, and the Kansas City Chiefs, as John shares his perspective on some of the league's biggest storylines heading into the season.
Plus, drawing from his experience as a former NFL front office executive, John explains how teams think behind the scenes when evaluating players, managing injuries, and building championship-caliber rosters.
The conversation also covers Jalen Hurts, Tony Romo, why NFL injuries seem to be more prevalent than ever, and what separates successful franchises from the league's bad teams.
To wrap things up, John answers several college football questions, including advice for players preparing for life after college football and how to navigate the transition to the next stage of their careers.
From front-office insight and quarterback debates to team-building philosophy and fan questions, it's all covered in this Massive Middlekauff Mailbag on 3 & Out.
Follow John on Twitter, and Instagram for the latest.
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Colin is joined by John Middlekauff, host of “3 and Out” to talk all things football.
They start with 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan being in a serious car accident and the controversy surrounding why he wasn’t checked for a DUI (4:30), and then discuss the outlook for the 49ers 2026 season (11:00).
They move to Shedeur Sanders heading into his second season and Colin argues that Deion is getting in the way of Shedeur’s success, but they both believe Shedeur will see significant playing time this year (15:00).
They head to the NFC East and preview the Cowboys and John believes Caleb Downs could transform the defense and picks them to win the division, and they react to Jerry Jones saying he’d be willing to make a splash trade midseason (25:00).
They pivot to Bill Belichick’s “friends and family” staff at North Carolina and Colin argues he’s not even trying to hire the best of the best (36:45).
Finally, they debate the expectations for Indiana football after the departure of #1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza and whether head coach Curt Cignetti can keep the success rolling (49:00).
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On this episode of 3 & Out, John Middlekauff reacts to Baker Mayfield's latest comments about his contract, breaking down where negotiations stand, what the Buccaneers quarterback had to say, and what it could mean for both sides as the season approaches.
John also shares his biggest takeaways from College Football Media Days, discussing the top storylines, coaching comments, and how the sport continues to evolve in the era of NIL, the transfer portal, and expanded expectations.
Plus, it's that time of year when viral NFL training camp clips take over social media. John separates the highlights that actually matter from the ones that generate unnecessary hype, explaining what fans should—and shouldn't—read into during camp.
To close out the week, Fugazi Friday returns as John calls out what's real and what's not from around the football world, before wrapping things up with another edition of the Middlekauff Mailbag, answering your questions on the biggest stories across the NFL and college football.
From quarterback contracts and training camp buzz to college football and fan questions, it's all covered on this episode of 3 & Out.
Follow John on Twitter, and Instagram for the latest.
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On this episode of 3 & Out, John Middlekauff reacts to Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs choosing to hold in as contract discussions continue. John breaks down the growing trend of players reporting to camp while avoiding on-field work, what it means for negotiations, and why teams and players are taking a different approach than the traditional holdout.
With NFL training camps in full swing, John dives into the biggest storylines from around the league, highlighting the teams and players already making headlines as the new season draws closer.
Plus, John shares his good and bad takeaways from training camp, discussing which teams are generating legitimate optimism, which early concerns are worth paying attention to, and which headlines should be taken with a grain of salt.
To wrap things up, it's another edition of the Middlekauff Mailbag, where John answers listener questions on the NFL's hottest topics, from roster battles and contract situations to coaching decisions and preseason expectations.
From contract negotiations and training camp buzz to fan questions and league-wide analysis, it's all covered on this episode of 3 & Out.
Follow John on Twitter, and Instagram for the latest.
All lines provided by Hard Rock Bet
#Volume
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.