The Dan Patrick Show: C&R – A New Action Star from Sports World?
Podcast: The Dan Patrick Show (Covino & Rich on Fox Sports Radio)
Date: February 24, 2026
Hosts: Steve Covino, Rich Davis, Danny G, Dan Beyer, Sam
Main Theme:
Exploring whether sports personalities can successfully transition into action stars—anchored by rumors of Pat McAfee making the leap—plus lively conversations about aging athletes, coaching attire, and classic sports trivia.
Episode Overview
The episode centers around the hot rumor that former NFL punter and sports media star Pat McAfee is pursuing an action movie career, reportedly signing with Hollywood agent Ari Emanuel. Covino, Rich, and the crew debate the legitimacy of sports-to-Hollywood moves, compare current and former action stars, and discuss what makes someone believable in such a role. Classic side discussions include the latest in boxing matchmaking spectacle (Mayweather vs. Pacquiao II), sports wardrobe traditions, and a fun round of "Last One Standing" trivia.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Mayweather vs. Pacquiao Rematch & Boxing "Spectacle"
Timestamps: 03:47 – 10:15
- Surprise Announcement: News breaks of Mayweather vs. Pacquiao II, set for September 19 at The Sphere in Las Vegas, broadcast on Netflix.
- Generational Concerns: Hosts question the relevance, given their advanced ages (Floyd is 48, Manny 47), referencing the lackluster "grudge match" trend in old boxers.
- Legacy Stakes: Discussion on whether Mayweather is risking his 50–0 undefeated record just for a payday.
- Modern Relevancy: Comparison with young stars (Ryan Garcia, Tank Davis) and questioning why older legends continue instead of letting the new generation shine.
Notable Quote:
“I think a guy like Ryan Garcia would light up a Manny Pacquiao. Would you? ...He's just a 47-year-old legend, that's all.” – Steve Covino (09:01)
2. “Ties or No Ties?”: Dress Codes in the Sports World
Timestamps: 10:16 – 13:03
- Pat Riley’s Statue: Prompted by discussion of Pat Riley’s dress-code era, hosts question whether the tie is necessary for modern sharp-dressing.
- Trends and Traditions: References to Philip Rivers’ bolo ties and fading suit-and-tie conventions among coaches and players.
- Caller Input: Andrew from Texas opines, “Walmart – if you've hit puberty, don't come in your jammies. I'm sorry. Also, if it's a suit, it's a tie. If it's a sport jacket… ties optional.” (11:57)
Notable Moment:
“You could look sharp, you could look slick without the tie. ...But too many people just abandon the compromise and just show up looking like slobs.” – Steve Covino (10:51)
3. Pat McAfee: From Punter to Action Star?
Timestamps: 13:10 – 21:41
- The Rumor: Pat McAfee, after conquering sports media, hires Ari Emanuel to break into acting with a focus on action roles.
- Can He Pull It Off?:
- Discussion compares McAfee to unexpected action leads (Liam Neeson, Bob Odenkirk, Bruce Willis).
- Skepticism: Is acting just a matter of physicality, or are real acting chops essential?
- Nostalgic “You Never Know” Angle:
- Bruce Willis wasn’t taken seriously as an action star until after "Die Hard."
- Bob Odenkirk shocked audiences with his action role in “Nobody.”
Notable Quotes:
“But if you could convince me that Bob Odenkirk and Liam Neeson are action badasses, then you don't think Pat McAfee can be one, too?” – Rich Davis (14:57)
“Pat McAfee is a man of many talents. But is he able to convince you that he’s an action star… Maybe he can. I don’t know that, because we’ve never seen it.” – Steve Covino (17:59)
“Hey, if we all sat through Steven Seagal in the 80s, maybe we could buy into Pat McAfee. But then again, Steven Seagal was a legitimate martial artist.” – Steve Covino (18:54)
- Listener Calls:
- Brian in Vegas: "No way I can buy [McAfee] as being an action star… Maybe rom coms, but not action." (48:33)
4. Classic Sports Trivia: “Last One Standing”
Timestamps: 27:24 – 37:26
- Format: Rapid-fire trivia rounds hosted by Danny G, pitting Covino, Rich, Dan Beyer, and a listener against one another.
- Categories:
- MLB Teams with .500+ All-time Records (Yankees, Braves, etc.)
- NBA Players with the Most Instagram Followers (LeBron, Curry, Giannis, etc.)
- Super Bowl Running Backs with 100+ Rushing Yards (Emmitt Smith, Terrell Davis, etc.)
- Studio Banter: Lively, competitive, full of groans, celebrations, and trivia banter.
- Winners: Dan Beyer dominates with 39th career win.
Notable Moment:
“If you all sat through Steven Seagal...maybe we could buy into Pat McAfee.” – Steve Covino (18:54)
5. Callbacks & Side Conversations
- Sports Highlights: Covino laments the lack of Roberto Clemente footage despite his legendary status (46:10).
- Wardrobe Discussions with Callers: Italian Serie A coaches set the style bar (49:46); debate over coaches' trend from suits to tracksuits.
- Historical Nuggets: Marking the anniversary of Bobby Knight’s famous chair throw (47:56).
Notable Quotes & Moments (with timestamps)
-
On Boxing Spectacles:
“So money, Mayweather has an unsanctioned fight in April and then he has a legit on-the-books fight in September…Busy year for him.”
— Rich Davis (06:45) -
On Boxers’ Legacy Fights:
“I think a guy like Ryan Garcia would light up a Manny Pacquiao…he’s just a 47-year-old legend, that’s all.”
— Steve Covino (09:01) -
On Acting & Authenticity:
“Pat McAfee is a man of many talents. But is he able to convince you that he’s an action star? Maybe…But I would never say he can’t.”
— Steve Covino (17:59) -
On the History of Action Stars:
“Bruce Willis was considered like a TV…comedic, romcom type of guy. Moonlighting. Do you know they left Bruce Willis off the original Die Hard movie poster?”
— Rich Davis (20:09) -
On Sports Attire:
“If you've hit puberty, don't come in your jammies…If it's a suit, it's a tie. If it's a sport jacket…ties optional.”
— Andrew (caller, 11:57) -
On Classic Highlights:
“You never see any Roberto Clemente highlights…for his impact in baseball and for Latino players, you would think there's more...”
— Steve Covino (46:10)
Listener Engagement
- Callers Weigh In: On action heroes (Brian in Vegas, 48:33) and sports attire standards (Thomas in Colorado, 49:43).
- Trivia Participation: Listener Mark from Iowa joins “Last One Standing.”
Takeaway & Tone
Lighthearted, quick-witted, and full of nostalgic sports and pop culture references, the episode skillfully weaves together major sports stories, cultural trends, and raucous debate. The playful but insightful tone makes it both fun and engaging—just as likely to leave you laughing as pondering whether you could see Pat McAfee as the next action hero.
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Mayweather–Pacquiao rematch & legacy debate: 03:47–10:15
- Pat Riley & sports attire conversation: 10:16–13:03
- Pat McAfee’s action star aspirations: 13:10–21:41
- Classic sports trivia (Last One Standing): 27:24–37:26
- Listener calls—action heroes & dress code: 48:28–50:17
If you missed it, this episode is a whirlwind of smart sports talk, plenty of laughs, and a serious question: Can a sports world star become Hollywood’s next big action lead?