The Dan Patrick Show — Covino & Rich: "Ohtani & NFL... Make You Go Hmm"

Date: October 21, 2025
Podcast by: iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network
Hosts: Covino & Rich (with Rich Eisen, Dan Byer, Danny G, Spot, Iowa Sam)

Episode Overview

In this lively Monday episode, Covino & Rich break down the weekend’s standout sports moments, focusing on Shohei Ohtani’s historic MLB performance and an action-packed NFL week. The hosts roll through what made them "go hmm" in the world of sports, blend in pop culture riffs, and at every turn, bring their signature humor to the airwaves. Listener calls and relatable banter fill the show as they debate sports history, coaching impact, the mechanics of greatness, and what’s truly "must-see TV.”

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Shohei Ohtani Phenomenon (11:28–19:53)

• Witnessing History: The hosts emphasize how remarkable and rare Shohei Ohtani's performance was—hitting three home runs, pitching 10 strikeouts, and tallying the "longest home run at Dodger Stadium this year." Covino notes this is the kind of sports moment you’ll tell your grandchildren about.

  • Covino (11:30): “We need to embrace history as it unfolds. These are the stories your grandkids will ask you about.”
  • Rich Eisen (11:40): “‘Grandpa, did you see Shohei Ohtani?’—‘Bet your ass I did!’”

• Babe Ruth Comparison & The GOAT Debate:

  • Covino pushes for reverence of the present as much as the past:
    • Covino (12:14): “I still think there’s wiggle room for debate between the Babe and Shohei. But what we saw...”
  • They agree it's complicated to compare eras but recognize Ohtani is doing things never before seen.

• Ohtani’s Cultural Impact:

  • The show riffs on how Ohtani is impacting youth, especially in Japanese and Hispanic communities, drawing parallels to Fernando Valenzuela’s impact for Mexican fans.
    • Covino (16:32): “It gave people something to believe in... a new hero, a guy that didn’t look like everybody else.”

• Memes & Mythology:

  • Social media buzz: hundreds of kids in the future named Shohei Rodriguez, the sound of his bat, and how his stats seem mythical.

• Comparisons to Other Sports:

  • A meme tries to translate Ohtani’s feat into golf:
    • “A 63 at Oakmont playing 12 holes right-handed and six left-handed.”
  • Dan Byer (19:30): Joking about his own (much higher) Oakmont score.

2. NFL Week 7: Questions, Surprises, “Things That Make You Go Hmm” (20:34–24:55; 32:43–36:27; 47:59–54:24)

• Game 7s and NFL Drama:

  • They riff on whether the two best words in sports are “Game 7”; plenty of football moments compete for attention.

• 49ers & Kyle Shanahan’s Coaching:

  • Rich and the team discuss the Niners’ resilience despite injuries, led by Shanahan, and how Christian McCaffrey’s presence is a true game-changer.
    • Rich Eisen (22:25): “Christian McCaffrey, when healthy, could carry a team. He really could.”
    • The importance of George Kittle’s presence—even when stats aren’t flashy.
  • Covino (23:54): Jokes about how standing next to giants on the team skews players’ perceived size.

• Team Inconsistency & Surprises:

  • Falcons described as the most inconsistent team—one week beating the Bills, another suffering puzzling losses.

• Patriots Rebound:

  • Patriots suddenly look like top contenders in the AFC East, a turnaround that stuns both hosts and fans.
    • Rich Eisen (49:24): “You could say at the moment, yes, because they beat the Bills in Buffalo and they are turnaround. Right.”
  • They lament how quickly good teams can “rebuild,” making it frustrating for fans of long-struggling teams.

• System Quarterbacks & Coaching Debate:

  • Are guys like Mac Jones and Brock Purdy just “system quarterbacks,” or is it their individual talent?
    • Rich Eisen (51:28): “Is it really just Kyle Shanahan has such a user-friendly program or is that taking away credit from a first round draft pick?”

3. Pop Culture, Streaming, and Modern Viewing Habits (06:09–11:09)

• Chad Powers Show Recommendation:

  • Rich assigns “homework”: watch Eli Manning’s “Chad Powers,” a dumb comedy about football.
    • Rich Eisen (06:27): “I don’t know how more of my bonehead buddies aren't talking about this.”

• The “Co-watching” Phenomenon:

  • The team points out how distracted streaming (watching with phone in hand) weights against good content.
    • Covino (10:32): “They’re trying to create such brainless shows with brainless content that you could do both at the same time. You won’t miss anything.”

4. Listener Interaction & Fun Moments

• Birthday Salute to Iowa Sam (04:39)

• Danny G’s Football at the Party (32:43):

  • Danny G’s habit of bringing a football is lauded as a “clutch move” for any get-together.

• Caller Q&A:

  • Discussion with callers about the Mariners’ season (“a great season, not a wash” for Seattle), MVP moments, and the likelihood of lesser-known QBs getting rings before more hyped ones.

• Jalen Name Origin Story (17:17):

  • Rich dives into how Jalen Rose’s mother invented the name “Jalen”—now common in sports.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Ohtani’s Historic Game:

• Covino (11:30): “We need to embrace history as it unfolds. These are the stories, I guarantee you, your grandkids are going to ask you about.”
• Rich Eisen (13:27): “When someone does something so extraordinary, I sometimes think we lose how extraordinary it really is.”
• Covino (14:33): “Even the sound off his bat really does sound different. Like you could close your eyes and know that's a Shohei Ohtani home run.”

On NFL Surprises:

• Covino (21:02): “[Shanahan’s] making lemonade out of dilemmas.”
• Rich Eisen (22:28): “There's just so much [McCaffrey] brings to the game. Even if the ball's not to him, just him being in the backfield creates a million thoughts for a defensive coordinator.”

On Sports Culture & Influence:

• Covino (16:32): “It’s like what Fernando Valenzuela did for the Mexican community. It gave people something to believe in... a new hero, a guy that didn’t look like everybody else.”
• Rich Eisen (17:01): “Kids will be named Shohei for sure. There might even be some little American kids with Shohei as a middle name…”

On System Quarterbacks:

• Rich Eisen (51:28): “So is [Mac Jones] a system quarterback which makes Brock Purdy…? Your thoughts on Mac Jones?”
• Covino (51:34): “He was a solid quarterback to begin with and he's getting an opportunity to play in a good system and it works for him.”

Important Segment Timestamps

• Ohtani Deep Dive, Greatest Game Analysis: 11:28–19:53
• NFL Team/Coach Talk & Inconsistencies: 20:34–24:55
• Pop Culture Picks, Co-watching & Streaming: 06:09–11:09
• Listener Calls & Name Origin Story: 34:14–18:01, 17:17
• Danny G Football Party Bit: 32:43
• Patriots Turnaround & System QBs: 47:59–54:24

Summary & Tone

The episode is a fast-paced, authentic blend of sports analysis, nostalgia, and playful trash talk—peppered with genuinely insightful moments on sports culture and fandom. It’s for both sports nerds and casual fans looking to feel in-the-know, and for anyone who wants to laugh while remembering that sometimes you really are in the presence of greatness.

If you only take away one thing: Don’t sleep on witnessing history as it happens, whether it’s Shohei Ohtani rewriting baseball’s limits—or the unpredictable, wonderfully messy world that is the NFL.