The Dan Patrick Show (Covino & Rich Edition)

Episode: Harbaugh, Warner, Hot Chocolate

Date: January 15, 2026
Podcast by: iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network

Episode Overview

This episode of The Dan Patrick Show features Covino & Rich (C&R) at the helm, as they dive into the week’s hottest sports stories. Their focus is the brewing drama around NFL coaching vacancies, with particular attention to Jim Harbaugh and the New York Giants. They also spotlight the high-stakes return of Fred Warner to the San Francisco 49ers, intense NFL and NBA rivalries, and the power of morale in sport—blending sports talk with their signature humor, pop culture references, and raucous studio banter.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. NFL Coaching Carousel: Harbaugh and the Giants

• Rumor Mill Heating Up
  • "The Harbaugh story is a big story. And if the Giants get them, then, hey, tough luck to Danny G’s Raiders” — Covino (07:18).
  • The guys discuss the aggressive courtship of Jim Harbaugh by the New York Giants, the potential domino effect on other teams (notably the Raiders), and Harbaugh’s demanding nature.
  • Raiders fan Danny G weighs in: "I never thought the Raiders were in the running for Harbaugh. I don't know that list of demands and how much control he wants" (07:26).

2. Fred Warner's Potential Return: A Morale Boost for the 49ers

• Modern-Day Willis Reed Moment?
  • Rich’s excitement centers around Fred Warner’s potential comeback from injury for the Niners-Seahawks playoff game.
  • Rich calls Warner "the modern day Willis Reed... the modern day Daniel LaRusso" (08:39). The group riff on inspirational sports comebacks, from real-life moments to movie magic.
• Morale vs. Impact
  • Covino: "Even if Warner's not a difference maker, I think it's a morale booster" (13:06). Rich insists "Why can't it be both? Why not both?" (13:54).
• Historic + Movie Parallels
  • The segment explodes into movie and sports nostalgia—Daniel LaRusso in Karate Kid, Kirk Gibson’s World Series home run, Michael Jordan’s flu (or “tummy ache”) game, Kerri Strug’s Olympic vault, and even fictional comebacks (e.g., The Waterboy, Mighty Ducks, The Best of Times).
  • Notable quote: “Daniel LaRusso’s gonna fight! Daniel LaRusso’s gonna fight! He comes out. Yeah. It's the best.” — Covino (14:47)

3. NFL Rivalries and the Power of Trash Talk

• 49ers vs. Seahawks: An Electric Playoff Showdown
  • “Rivalries. Yankees, Red Sox. The greatest rivalries in all of sports are what? Drive sports.” — Rich (09:48)
  • C&R hype the Saturday night Niners-Seahawks game, framing it within the tradition of legendary rivalries and emphasizing the entertainment of trash talk both online and on the field.
• Morale, Intensity, and Stakes
  • “Don’t we all want a battle on Saturday night?” — Rich (11:18)
  • Covino: “That’s what sports is about. Smack talking. I love it.” (10:11)

4. Fred Warner Injury Update

• Real-Time News and Analysis
  • Isaac Loincron provides a crucial update: “Just him returning to practice in any capacity on the Wednesday of a game week... could you have imagined that this would even be something we are discussing on the eve of the divisional playoff round?” (37:36)
  • Direct sound from Warner: “We're taking it day by day... the expectation is to continue to take it day by day and see where we’re at.” (36:27)
  • The crew deliberates the risk of rushing Warner back (citing examples like Kevin Durant and Yankees’ Nestor Cortes), recognizing that moments like these don’t always deliver a fairytale ending.

5. Weather Watch for Divisional Round

• Potential Play Factors
  • Rich provides a “weather boy” breakdown for key playoff locations, particularly highlighting:
    • Mild forecasts for Denver, Seattle, and New England (sunny or only light rain).
    • Chicago is potentially dicey, with “18 degrees... 20% chance of rain.”
  • They riff on how cold affects player performance—with lots of laughs at Rich's over-caffeinated, morning-person energy.
  • “No quarterback likes to play in the cold, wind or conditions. It’s just some are maybe more adaptable.” — Rich (49:01)

6. Listener Engagement and Pop Culture Banter

• Saved by the Bell References
  • Early back-and-forth about Jesse Spano’s band (“Hot Sundae” not Hot Chocolate!) showcases their signature humor and nostalgia.
    • Rich: “Hot Chocolate did Everyone’s a Winner.”
    • Covino: “Not to be confused with Rich’s favorite band, Hot Sundae from Saved By the Bell.” (30:00)
• F-Bomb Hilarity
  • Memorable moment as Rich is so hyped about Warner’s return he accidentally swears on air, leading to a joke about catching “what Rich said” on the podcast (31:07).
• Interactive Sports Trivia
  • Danny G quizzes the crew on Willis Reed’s famous game-winning return: “Do you guys know how many points Willis Reed scored in that game?... Two field goals.” (14:14–14:21)

7. Additional Standout Segments

• Harbaugh’s Plane Watch
  • Isaac Loincron tracks a private plane flight from New Jersey to Baltimore “owned by Giants co-owner Steve Tisch” for updates on Harbaugh’s coaching interview—a novel, tongue-in-cheek moment reflecting modern sports reporting (38:37).
• Impact of Inspirational Comebacks
  • Callers and listeners contribute stories: Kerri Strug’s Olympics vault, Curt Schilling’s "bloody sock," Terrell Owens’ Super Bowl return after injury, and Cubs’ Schwarber in the World Series are all mentioned as real-life comebacks paralleling Warner’s possible return.

Notable Quotes

“The Harbaugh story is a big story. And if the Giants get them, then, hey, tough luck to Danny G’s Raiders. You got to pivot and get somebody else.”
— Covino (07:18)

“Fred Warner, there is so much trash talking going on with the Seattle Seahawks. And I love it. It’s great for football.”
— Rich (09:31)

“Even if Warner’s not a difference maker, I think it’s a morale booster, and I think that can only help the team when they need it most.”
— Covino (13:06)

“Daniel LaRusso’s gonna fight! Daniel LaRusso’s gonna fight! He comes out. Yeah, it’s the best.”
— Covino (14:47)

“Not everything is terrible. We repeat, not everything is terrible. The Ripple Effect is proof that the Internet hasn’t ruined humanity entirely.”
— Covino (27:07)

Important Timestamps

• 03:10 – The guys riff on the show’s energy and announce focus on the NFL.
• 06:24 – Covino & Rich, Danny G, Isaac, and Spot introduce themselves on-air.
• 06:47–08:27 – Harbaugh-to-Giants rumors, team fit, and personnel implications.
• 09:31–10:11 – Trash talking and rivalry hype for 49ers vs. Seahawks.
• 13:06–14:47 – The Warner morale factor and the “Daniel LaRusso is gonna fight” analogy.
• 36:27 – Isaac plays Fred Warner’s “day by day” return soundbite.
• 37:36 – Discussion of Warner’s rapid recovery and its significance.
• 46:32–47:17 – NBA Play: Lakers blow out Hawks; referenced in Tirrack’s Play of the Day.
• 48:45–51:09 – Divisional playoff weather preview & debate about player adaptation to cold.
• 32:44–35:39 – Listener calls in with Kerri Strug example; crew runs down more real and fictional comeback stories.

Tone and Style

The tone is lively and bantering, mixing analytical sports talk with quick-witted pop culture references and plenty of fan-centric enthusiasm. The crew handles serious sports topics (injuries, coaching moves) while injecting irreverence and nostalgia—especially through movie allusions and running gags. The show feels communal, often looping in listeners and fellow crew members for trivia and shared memories.

Conclusion

This episode is a perfect blend of up-to-the-minute NFL intrigue (Harbaugh’s coaching destiny, Fred Warner’s surprise practice appearance), reflections on the intangible power of sports morale, and the crew’s dynamic, comedic rapport. Anyone tuning in is brought up to speed on the week’s big storylines—plus gets to relive legendary “comeback” moments in both sports and cinematic history.

For listeners looking for more than just box scores and rumors, this episode captures the heart and camaraderie of sports culture—on the field, in fiction, and among fans.