The Dan Patrick Show / Covino & Rich: Daboll Out in NY, Taylor in MVP Form

Date: November 11, 2025
Podcast: The Dan Patrick Show (iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network)
Episode Title: C&R – Daboll Out in NY, Taylor in MVP Form

Episode Overview

This episode dives into two major stories from the sports weekend:

1. The New York Giants firing head coach Brian Daboll after another crushing loss, and the fallout/challenges facing the franchise.
2. Jonathan Taylor’s MVP-caliber performance for the Colts, shifting the narrative as he leads his team to a dramatic victory.

Covino and Rich—joined by producer Danny G. and contributor Dan Byer—intertwine sports insights with pop culture talk and humor, inviting callers and sharing personal anecdotes to underscore that sports fandom often mirrors life’s unpredictability.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Brian Daboll Fired as Giants Head Coach

(06:09–20:40, resumed at 27:11, 29:11)

• Covino and Rich’s Reaction:

  • The Giants have blown four road games with 10+ point leads—capping a disastrous slide since Daboll’s breakout first season.
  • Mixed feelings about the firing: While the performance demands accountability, there’s sympathy because the team only recently acquired key offensive pieces.
    • Rich: “Don’t you feel like he finally got Jackson Dart, he got Scatter Boo, Malik Neighbors finally had someone to throw the ball...and then it’s like, you’re out?” (07:06)
    • Covino: “He finally found the QB of a lifetime. And then what? Grand opening, grand closing. He’s gone, dude.” (27:26)

• Comparison to Other Sports Figures:

  • Covino compares the situation to his own personal life, moving cross-country for family just to have it fall apart after he finally got everything together.
    • “Six months later...we got a divorce. Six months later. That’s the truth.” (08:49)
  • Analogies to Buck Showalter and Gene “Stick” Michael—coaches/GMs who built teams but didn't see the championship rewards themselves. (09:45)

• Structural Challenges and Future Outlook:

  • Debate over whether this is the NFL’s “hottest” open job, given the presence of promising young talent (Jackson Dart, Scatter Boo, Malik Neighbors), cap space, and draft assets—but skepticism remains about GM Joe Schoen's job security.
    • Danny G: “If you’re a head coach and...a move is made with Shane, now you’re bringing in a new GM. I think it’s still a little bit early to see on how it all plays out.” (11:19)

• Why the Move Was Made:

  • “It’s not just that they’re losing, it’s how they’re losing.” (13:21, 27:23)
  • Repeated double-digit blown leads sap all optimism.
  • The injury to star QB Jackson Dart exacerbated problems; the locker room momentum and fan confidence evaporated as winnable games slipped away.

• Interim and Next Head Coach Speculation:

  • Mike Kafka steps in as interim HC.
  • Contenders for the full-time gig (per Danny G. with betting odds from BET Online, 29:11):
    • Lane Kiffin (4:1, connection to Dart at Ole Miss)
    • Cliff Kingsbury (5:1)
    • Jesse Minter (6:1)
    • Jon Gruden (10:1)
    • Bill Belichick (16:1)
    • Notable Quote:
      • “Chucky in New York.” (Rich, 29:44)
      • “I like the Kiffin story because...they’re gonna want someone to compliment [Dart] the best way possible.” (Covino, 29:46)
  • The Giants don’t feel far off—a string of close losses, not blowouts, and good young skill players suggest a potentially quick turnaround.

2. The Giants’ Recent Collapse & What’s Next

(14:38–20:40)

• Turning Point:

  • The big collapse started with the loss to the Broncos, which was “demoralizing” for players and fans, sparking a four-game losing streak.
    • “After that demoralizing loss in Denver, 33–32, then they got crushed by the Eagles. They look lifeless against the Niners. Then lose another close one to the Bears.” (14:38)

• Evaluating Dismissal:

  • Though Daboll deserved a longer leash—especially after bringing stability and a playoff berth in Year 1—a result of 11–33 over recent seasons simply isn’t defensible in NY.
  • “Jobs aren’t charity...you’re 11 and 33 for a reason.” (15:40)

• Schedule Watching & Future Prediction:

  • “It’s not like it’s going to get easier for the Giants...Packers, Lions, Patriots coming up. You could almost chalk up three more Ls.” (19:17)
  • Current turmoil is likely to continue; only a full organizational reset will cure the Giants.

3. Russell Wilson & Declining Stars

(16:16–17:55, 49:20)

• Rich poses: Has there ever been a star player whose late-career play forces a re-evaluation of how good they ever really were? Russell Wilson is emblematic—flashes of his old self, but questions about how much his success was team-based.
  • “Every time I see Russell Wilson...Has there ever been another guy that you could think of that really made you second guess—was he ever really that good?” (16:57)
• Dan Byer’s take: Wilson was carried more by his defense than people wanted to admit, wasn’t a surefire Hall of Famer after all.
  • “I always feel that...we were slightly off in looking at what Russell Wilson actually was as a quarterback. Maybe not giving them as much appreciation or at times hyping him up too much.” (17:25)
• Covino: “He gets in his own way...he rubs people the wrong way...something that feels a little phony and off about Russell Wilson...” (49:38)

4. Jonathan Taylor Leads Colts to Wild Victory in Berlin

(35:40–37:03, 47:22–48:39)

• Game Recap & Performance:

  • Taylor ran for 244 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winner in overtime, delighting a rowdy Berlin crowd in the NFL’s first-ever game in the city.
    • “Jonathan Taylor...if there’s ever been an argument...can a running back be MVP? Jonathan Taylor...top of my list.” (35:59)
    • “244 yards yesterday, three tutties...” (36:25)
  • Colts now 8–2 and entering contenders’ conversation.

• Noteworthy Moment:

  • Colts’ celebration included a Drew Hill “Tell Me What You Want” dance—a highlight of the weekend for Danny G.
    • “That was one of the highlights for sure of the weekend.” (48:47)

• Cultural Observation:

  • The German fans in Berlin were more excited by field goals than touchdowns—Covino and Danny G riff on the difference in reactions.
    • Covino: “They’re so into the kicks when it comes to football...They all wanted that to end on a field goal kick, not the actual touchdown.” (48:24)

5. AFC Contenders: Patriots & Other Notes

(32:15–34:33)

• Patriots Are “Back”

  • At 8–2 after beating the Bucs, the Patriots' resurgence is a major story. Drake May is getting props, and there’s talk New England could finish as a 1 or 2 seed.
    • “It’s wild to think the Patriots could very well be back in the AFC. But not just back, like, oh, Covino, they snuck in the playoffs—like, yo, they’re like a one or two seed.” (34:33)
  • Fans grumble the Pats’ “rebuild” was way too short!

• Buffalo Bills Slide:

  • Turnovers and uninspired play are sinking Buffalo’s Super Bowl odds.
    • “You know who’s the happiest about Daboll getting fired? The Bills. ‘Cause we’re not really even talking about how bad they are.” (31:55)

• Running Back Decline:

  • Derrick Henry’s production is called out—he’s having a quietly poor year, far from his peak, and looks to be on the downside.
    • “Derrick Henry, big step backwards this year, huh?” (37:54)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Rich (on Daboll):
  “Don’t you feel like he finally got Jackson Dart...and then it’s like, you’re out?” (07:06)
• Covino (on life parallels):
  “I finally had all the pieces together...and then six months later, it was all over.” (27:23)
• Danny G (on the Giants’ job):
  “You have a GM that seems to be on thin ice, at least with the fanbase.” (11:25)
• Covino (on Wilson):
  “He gets in his own way...something that feels a little phony and off about Russell Wilson.” (49:38)
• Danny G (on Berlin crowd):
  “They don’t understand our sport all the way. There’s like a noticeable crowd reaction when a field goal is kicked and winner because they like that side of the game more in Germany…” (48:21)
• Rich (on Patriots’ rapid bounce-back):
  “Shouldn’t the Patriots have sucked a little more before they were good again?” (32:54)

Important Timestamps

• [06:09-20:40]: Giants’ Daboll firing, ramifications, and analogies to real life and historic coach firings
• [27:11–34:33]: Giants’ future, candidate odds, Patriots’ resurgence, and Bills’ slide
• [35:40–37:03]: Colts-Falcons recap, Taylor’s performance, and RB MVP debate
• [47:22-48:39]: Colts’ Berlin celebration, German fan reactions
• [16:16–17:55, 49:20]: Russell Wilson’s legacy, late-career disappointment
• [14:38]: Turning point in Giants’ season
• [37:54]: Derrick Henry’s decline

Tone & Style

The hosts maintain a conversational, humorous, fan-first tone, blending sports analysis with pop culture references and personal stories.

For New Listeners

This summary covers the main storylines, key quotes, and the episode’s flow, capturing both in-depth football analysis and the life-and-sports parallels that make the Covino and Rich show stand out. If you missed the episode, you’re now up to speed on the major NFL narratives—especially the Giants’ collapse, coaching carousel, and Jonathan Taylor’s MVP quest.

Next up after this segment: More listener interaction, stories, and a transition to lighter entertainment talk.