The Dan Le Batard Show w/ Stugotz: "FA! Black Friday Football Deal! Celebrity Chef Capon Ranks All the Meats..."

Date: November 28, 2025
Hosts: Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, Jeremy Taché (guest), Chef Josh Capon (guest), with contributions from Mike Fuentes and Ethan
Location: Elser Hotel, Downtown Miami

Overview

This lively Black Friday episode of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz captures the holiday spirit through debates about football’s most iconic position groups, Thanksgiving food traditions, and a full ranking of meats with expert input from celebrity chef Josh Capon. Between recaps of NFL Week 13, comedic asides, and deep dives into sports lore, the crew mixes sharp insights with their trademark humor and irreverence.

Main Themes

• Thanksgiving Reflections: Football traditions, pie rankings, and the importance of turkey.
• All-Time Great Sports Position Groups: Determining the best by franchise—Packers QBs, Cowboys WRs, Lakers centers, Dodgers starters, and more.
• NFL Week 13 Preview: Predictions for the week’s most consequential games.
• Food & Meats Debate: Chef Capon joins to rank the best meats and discuss Thanksgiving feasts and leftovers.
• Best Signature Foods by NFL City: Pizza, cheesesteaks, and more get debated.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Thanksgiving Traditions, Pies, and Turkey Talk (00:38–03:00)

• The panel shares Thanksgiving experiences, including the tradition of "turkey bowl" football and the essential pies (pumpkin, pecan, apple).
• Debunking the recent trend of dissing pumpkin pie—Dave suggests it’s just “bad marketing: should be called autumn pie.” (01:48)
• Chef Capon’s pro-stuffing and leftover strat: “If you don’t take that stuffing the next day… make some sausage, cornbread waffles with sliced turkey, cranberry sauce, and gravy. That’s a better meal than Thanksgiving, if you ask me.” (38:18)

Memorable Quote

“I live to love and I love to eat. That's me in a nutshell, baby.” – Chef Josh Capon (37:50)

2. Celebrating “Number 29” and Sports Numerology (03:00–04:39)

• The group honors legendary athletes who wore jersey #29, with Eric Dickerson, Rod Carew, and NHL greats like Ken Dryden and Nathan MacKinnon getting nods.

3. The All-Time Position Group Debate (06:32–28:31)

NFL Position Groups

• Packers QBs (Bart Starr, Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers, now Jordan Love): “The Packers have rarely, if ever in the Super Bowl era, really struggled at the most important position.” (15:01)
• Cowboys WRs: The aura of the “88s”—Drew Pearson, Michael Irvin, CeeDee Lamb, Dez Bryant—generates lively discussion and sidebars about “claim to fame” off the field (e.g., Miles Austin dating Kim Kardashian).
• Bears MLBs: A tradition—Butkus, Singletary, and Urlacher make linebackers the team's defining group. (27:07)

MLB Position Groups

• Dodgers Starting Pitchers: Koufax, Drysdale, Sutton, Valenzuela, Kershaw, etc. (now Yamamoto added). “That's my number one... The Dodgers moved up on the strength of Yamamoto.” (19:16–20:33)
• Yankees OFs: Right fielders like Babe Ruth, Reggie Jackson, Aaron Judge. Center fielders Mantle and DiMaggio also lauded.
• Braves Starters: Maddux, Glavine, Smoltz—development over free agency gives gravitas.
• Cardinals 1B: “Maguire, Pujols, Goldschmidt—one heck of a run of dominance at that first base position.” (24:11)

NHL & NBA Groups

• Penguins Centers: “Mario Lemieux and Sidney Crosby are two of the top three players to ever play hockey... Evgeni Malkin... Ronnie Francis…” (20:55 - 21:30)
• Oilers Centers: Gretzky, Messier, McDavid, Draisaitl—rival the Penguins in star power.
• Lakers Centers: Wilt, Kareem, Shaq, Pau Gasol, Dwight Howard, Anthony Davis. “Lakers centers stand out in basketball because it’s so far and away the best positional group in basketball history.” (25:25)

Notable Quotes

"Dodgers starting pitchers, number one. Just in more recent vintage, starting with Koufax... and Clayton Kershaw, who will be." – Dave (19:16)
"Lakers centers... dominate anybody else in basketball." – Jeremy Taché (26:58)

Timestamps:

• Packers QBs vs others: 13:05–15:22
• Dodgers starters, Yankees outfield: 15:22–19:16
• Penguins, Oilers, NHL: 20:33–23:15
• Basketball positional group uniqueness: 25:22–27:07

4. NFL Week 13 Most Consequential Games Countdown (29:34–36:39)

Top 5 Games

5. Rams vs Panthers: Double-digit favorites dilemma. Rams should win; Panthers defense could cover the spread. (29:34)
6. Niners vs Browns: Debate over Niners’ ceiling; predictions (Niners 23–20). (31:49)
7. Vikings vs Seahawks: “Put a wrap on the Vikes’ Super Bowl dreams” – Seahawks predicted to roll. (33:06)
8. Bills vs Steelers: Discussion about Mike Tomlin’s future; Bills seen as likely winners. (34:06)
9. Texans vs Colts: Tightly matched, but hosts pick the Texans in a low-scoring game. (34:51)

• Brief lookahead to Black Friday: Eagles favored over Bears, but Jeremy takes the Bears for the upset. (36:03)

Memorable Quote

“If you like a team to win, like them up to seven.” – Dave (on betting Eagles over Bears) (36:03)

5. Food and Meats Power Ranking with Chef Josh Capon (37:23–58:13)

Thanksgiving & Batting for Turkey

• Chef Capon: “Thanksgiving without turkey is not Thanksgiving... I actually think turkey is underrated, and I enjoy the meal so much, I'm surprised we really only eat it once a year.” (39:53)
• Pro-tip: Always supplement turkey with another meat (prime rib or carnitas).

All-Meats Power Rankings

• Swine (pork): Top dog for flavor, value, and versatility—bacon, ribs, pulled pork get Chef's first-choice nod.
• Beef: Beloved, but edged out by pork due to rising prices and pork's diversity.
• Duck: Called “completely underrated...fabulous.”
• Turkey: Only makes Chef's Top 5, not Top 3.
• Chicken, lamb, buffalo, venison: Mentioned but less beloved. Chef has never eaten bear, but knows it's a delicacy in some places.
• Pro kitchen hack: “If you're cooking a whole bird, I think you're doing it wrong... deconstruct the turkey, stuff, and roast pieces individually to keep it moist and juicy.” (47:46)

Food Culture by NFL City

• New York: Pizza is #1 signature food; for the Jets, Katz's Deli pastrami sandwiches get the nod.
• Philadelphia: Cheesesteaks—emerging shift toward better bread, real cheese (provolone or Cooper sharp), and away from cheese whiz.
• Pittsburgh: Primanti Bros. fries-and-slaw sandwich—loved, but Chef prefers crispy fries on the side.
• Miami, Buffalo, more: To be debated in the future.

Chef Capon’s Fry Fest:

“I started Fry Fest in my backyard... frying off my famous chicken lollipops... I want it to become a national holiday.” (51:58)

Notable Quotes

“Who wants to live a life without ribs? I’m talking barbecue. I’m talking Asian. I mean ribs, you can’t not eat ribs and not be happy.” – Chef Josh Capon (45:49)
“Thanksgiving is the best holiday. No religious boundaries. Everybody celebrates Thanksgiving.” – Chef Josh Capon (51:41)

Timestamps:

• Chef Capon joins and stuffing love: 37:23–38:01
• Meats ranking begins: 43:20
• Fry Fest tradition: 51:41–53:39

Notable Quotes

• (On pumpkin pie) “Bad marketing—should be called autumn pie.” – Stugotz (01:48)
• “Turkey’s a mid meat, so do away with the turkey.” – Mike Fuentes (39:25)
• “I don’t think you can ever replace turkey. Because let's be honest, Thanksgiving without turkey is not Thanksgiving.” – Chef Capon (39:53)
• (On Lakers centers) “It's when you go to the specifics, it is mind-boggling how far and away Lakers center and the tradition of that position... just dominates anybody else in basketball.” – Jeremy Taché (26:58)
• “Phil Simms didn’t go undefeated... Well, he did win a Super Bowl.” – Dave (42:53)
• “I'm hedging my bet that two of them are going to be clunkers. And I want to make sure that I have a couple extras.” – Chef Capon (42:41)

Memorable Moments by Timestamp

• Pie/Thanksgiving food hot takes: 00:38–03:00
• Packers QB & position group intro: 13:05–15:22
• Dodgers/Yankees/Braves debate: 15:22–19:16
• Penguins vs Oilers centers argument: 20:33–23:15
• Basketball’s unique position group (Lakers centers): 25:22–27:07
• NFL Week 13 consequential games begin: 29:34
• Chef Capon joins (stuffing leftover hack): 38:18
• The Great Meat Debate: 43:20–47:46
• Fry Fest fantasy: 51:41–53:39

Tone & Style

• The vibe is loose, funny, self-deprecating, and steeped in friendly argument. Panelists blend passion for food and football with wisecracks and nostalgia.

Conclusion

This Black Friday special blends sports obsession with culinary passion: determining which teams own the greatest legacy at a single position, previewing pivotal NFL matchups, and reveling in the pleasures of meat and Thanksgiving leftovers. Chef Josh Capon gives practical meat wisdom and exalts the feast-day spirit, while the regulars keep the banter rolling. Football, food, and fun—this episode delivers a feast of both sports insight and holiday warmth.

For more food rankings, NFL debates, or Chef Capon’s Fry Fest details, find the podcast on your favorite app or connect on social media @Damoshek.

HIGHLIGHT REEL:

• [00:38] – Pie rankings & Thanksgiving essentials
• [13:05] – Packers QBs as the gold standard
• [19:16] – Dodgers starters & Yankees outfielders
• [25:22] – Lakers centers’ dominance
• [38:18] – Chef Capon on stuffing waffles
• [43:20] – All-meats power ranking
• [51:41] – "Fry Fest" tradition
• [55:13] – Philly cheesesteak revolution

“Everybody should celebrate Thanksgiving and we should all be thankful for everything that we have... What's better than Thanksgiving?” – Chef Josh Capon (51:57)