The Dan Patrick Show (Covino & Rich Takeover)

Episode: "C&R - Bo Nix Needs to Be Missed?"
Date: January 24, 2026

Overview

This episode of The Dan Patrick Show, hosted by Steve Covino and Rich Davis (Covino & Rich), circles around the perennial sports debate: How does a starting quarterback (in this case, Bo Nix) feel and fare if their backup leads the team to glory in their absence? Does a sidelined star secretly hope their backup stumbles so their own value is affirmed, or do they selflessly root for the team's success? Using the Broncos’ Bo Nix and backup Jared Stidham as the central subject, Covino & Rich deep-dive into this murky emotional territory, sparking spirited debate, calls, and a cascade of sports and pop culture references.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Football Postseason Feelings: “How Do We Cope With the End?”

• The guys reflect on the sports calendar lull after the NFL finishes up, acknowledging regional differences in sports enthusiasm—East Coast vs. West Coast talking baseball, hoops, and more. (03:51–05:40)

2. Backup QBs and the Super Bowl: "It's Happened Before!"

• Covino & Rich outline legendary moments when a backup QB not only started but won the Super Bowl—Nick Foles, Jeff Hostetler, Doug Williams, Kurt Warner, etc. Stidham, thrust into the spotlight, joins these historic ranks. (06:16–07:19)

3. Can Stidham Pull Off a Miracle?

• Stidham's calm demeanor and social media abstention are praised. The importance of veteran advice (from Hostetler, for example) about “avoiding the noise” in a social media-fueled age gets a nod. (08:23–09:09)
• Notable Quote:
  • "He seems cool and collected about it. He's making statements that he's off social media...focused on the game. Seems pretty confident." — Steve Covino (08:23)

4. What About Bo Nix? Psychology of the Sideline Star

• The debate’s heart: Does Bo Nix, injured and replaced, really want Stidham to succeed? Or does he (perhaps subconsciously) hope to be missed?
• Rich Davis’s take: "There's a part of Bo Nix that wants him [Stidham] to fall just short and be like, man, we really need Bo." (12:48)
• Covino counters: "I disagree...I'm sure he's rooting for his team to win. It just sucks. He's in a really crappy situation." (13:36)

5. Team Loyalty vs. Personal Ego: Is It Really That Simple?

• They examine legends like Carson Wentz, Phil Simms, Alex Smith—starters replaced by playoff/super bowl surging backups, and the after-effects (“redheaded stepchild” syndrome). (09:55–11:16)
• Contemporary example: Braves win without Acuna Jr.; echoes in baseball, basketball, every team sport.

6. Psychological Layer: The Desire to Be Missed

• Dan Beyer (update anchor) and callers chime in, mostly agreeing: Most people want to be missed, but very few actively root for their team's failure. (30:42–31:56)

  • Notable Quote:
    • "I think everybody wants to be missed...But you don't want your team to fail." — Dan Beyer (31:12)

• The distinction is drawn between wanting to be needed and selfishly hoping for disaster.

7. Personal Anecdotes & Pop Culture Parallels

• Covino draws on youthful and career experiences where stepping in for the "star" led to unexpected success; Rich likens this to missing group trips and learning you weren’t “the key to the fun.” (18:04–21:22)

• Entertaining moments include pop culture backups:

  • Danny Zuko taking over for Kanicki in Grease (50:28), Jefferson for Steve in Married With Children, Jefferson for Aunt Viv in Fresh Prince, etc.

8. Fan and Caller Reactions

• Most callers agree the team’s win is what matters, but a sliver of self-interest is only human (Caller from Indiana: “I think that’s 2%—98% he wants to win.”) (34:35-34:39)
• Others rib Rich for his “selfish ex-boyfriend” take, blending humor and critique. (35:15–35:56)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “You want to feel like you were missed, but I don't know if I'd want my team to lose.” — Steve Covino (17:09)
• “FoWO—fear of winning out.” — Sam, in-studio producer, coining a term for the fear of being replaced during team success. (14:16)
• “I think that I'm also thinking this because remember earlier in the year, even really intelligent, reputable guys…are saying at times we're not quite sure Bo Nix is the answer.” — Rich Davis acknowledges the added insecurity for an unproven starter. (39:11)
• “If Bo Nix is the real deal, he'll be just fine. Regardless.” — Steve Covino, echoing the sports cliché about “the cream rising to the top.” (29:06)
• “No, Rich is one of these guys that breaks up with a girl and roots for her to get fat and ugly when he's done with her.” — Indiana caller, ribbing Rich’s ultra-competitive take. (35:15)

Key Timestamps

• 03:51–05:40: Regional sports interest discussion, transition from football season.
• 06:16–07:19: Backups who have gone Super Bowl distance.
• 08:23–09:09: Stidham’s approach, Hostetler advice, social media “noise.”
• 09:55–13:11: Heart of the Bo Nix debate—does he want to be missed, even at the cost of team success?
• 17:09–17:13: The deep desire to be missed vs. actively rooting against your own team.
• 18:04–21:22: Personal backup stories; stepping in and seizing opportunity.
• 30:42–31:56: Dan Beyer and the crew land on the real answer—wanting to be missed, but still rooting for team success.
• 34:35–34:39: Caller clearly weighs in: 98% team, 2% selfish.
• 39:11–39:47: The Bo Nix “unproven” angle and its psychological impact.

Tone & Style

• Good-natured, sparring banter filled with sports references, personal anecdotes, and a heavy dose of humor.
• Covino is the “voice of empathy,” believing most athletes (and people) want the team to succeed.
• Rich plays “devil’s advocate,” asserting that being replaced hurts and that even the most selfless athlete feels a twinge of hoping to be missed.
• Frequent asides, pop culture references, and ribbing among hosts, producers, and callers keep the tone light and lively.

Conclusion

Covino and Rich deftly explore the anxiety and ego at the heart of sports—what happens when the backup becomes the star, and what it means for the person originally cast in the lead role. Using Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos’ playoff saga as a springboard, the hosts invite listeners to contemplate the tension between self and team, drawing on sports history, personal experience, and the universal desire to feel important and irreplaceable. Rich might exaggerate the “selfish gene,” but as Covino (echoed by Dan Beyer and most callers) concludes, most of us ultimately root for the team—but yeah, we all hope we’re missed when we’re gone.