The Dan Patrick Show – “C&R - Rodgers Can't Go Out Like That”
Date: January 14, 2026
Podcast Host: Covino & Rich
Main Theme:
The episode focuses on Aaron Rodgers’ rough playoff exit, the phenomenon of sports legends ending their careers on low notes, and broader reflections on disappointing farewells in sports and entertainment. The hosts also touch on Mike Tomlin’s departure from the Steelers, preview upcoming playoff matchups, and invite listener participation on the topic of the “weakest farewells.”
Key Discussion Points and Insights
Aaron Rodgers’ Harsh Playoff Exit
- Main Sentiment: The hosts grapple with how tough it was to watch Aaron Rodgers’ recent playoff performance and wonder if this loss is a final chapter or if Rodgers will return.
- Covino: “How do you go out like that? ...that might be the weakest exit we’ve ever seen.” (10:31)
- The image of Rodgers being sacked, pressured, and ultimately throwing a pick-six is dissected as the possible end of a legendary career.
- Memorable Metaphor: Covino compares it to “a prizefight where the guy's just working the body... and by the fourth quarter, Steelers had nothing.” (09:04)
Patterns, Pressure, and Playoff “Stinkers”
- Rich’s ‘Vegas Roulette Theory’: Using an analogy about betting on black, Rich suggests that poor performances (a “stinker”) rarely happen twice in a row for good teams or players.
- “We saw CJ Stroud have his blunder of a game last night. That will not happen again.” (06:01)
- Predicts Texans will bounce back strong as an underdog in the next round and calls for listeners to "bet on black." (08:42)
The Big Man Moment & Texans’ Defense
- Highlight: The hosts and producer Danny G celebrate Texans’ defender Sheldon Rankins' memorable fumble return touchdown.
- “Anytime a big boy is chugging, you're rooting for it, right?” – Monty (03:05)
- Praising the Texans’ defense for its tenacity and ability to wear out their opponents, likening the process to a fighter gradually softening up an adversary’s body.
Discussion: How Legends Go Out (& Should They Return?)
- The hosts reflect on iconic athletes facing rough exits.
- Covino: “There’s honor in the fight and he fought with honor, but you can’t get shoved out of bounds like that. That might be...the biggest stinkeroo that ever was.” (11:36)
- Unanimous sentiment: Most legends don’t get the storybook ending.
- “Sometimes you just don’t have that choice of how you remember. That's just life. Sad.” – Covino (11:56)
- Caller Danny G: Raises the compounded cruelty of a home crowd booing Rodgers, chanting for him to retire after the loss. (22:04)
- Monty’s Prediction: “Guys, Aaron Rodgers is coming back next year. I don't know how or where… but it's gonna happen.” (34:55)
Comparing Farewells: Sports, Entertainment, and Life
- Examples analyzed:
- Dan Marino’s 62-7 playoff blowout loss (27:46–28:14)
- Bernard Hopkins being knocked out of the ring in his final fight (14:02–15:28)
- Mike Tyson’s vulnerable final interview: “I just don’t have the fighting guts.” (15:36)
- Tom Brady’s pick-six playoff exit with the Patriots vs. later redeeming his “last moment” with a Super Bowl win (17:29–17:48)
- Clayton Kershaw’s tense but redemptive moment for the Dodgers (19:04)
- Roseanne’s infamous sitcom ending and its parallels with sudden, unsatisfying farewells (34:26)
- Notable wrestling and pop culture “bad exits”: John Cena quitting, Robbie Cano in the minors on SpongeBob night.
Legacy and Memory in the Modern Era
- Social Media’s Role: Danny G astutely notes that in today’s digital age, lowlights and failures circulate and ‘stick’ more than in the past.
- “Back then with Marino, there was no social media, TikTok… Highlights didn’t live as prominent as they do now.” (18:42)
- The panel ultimately agrees that, over time, most fans remember the legend not for how they ended, but for their iconic moments.
Coaching Carousel & Tomlin Departure
- The hosts preview upcoming coaching changes, especially Mike Tomlin’s departure from the Steelers after 19 seasons, and discuss the challenges of moving on after such long tenures.
- Listener opinions suggest it’s not all on Rodgers or Tomlin—management and coaching staff also share blame for the “stinker” exit.
Interactive Segment: Weakest Farewells
- Prompt: “What is the weakest farewell you can remember in sports, movies, television, any?” (12:00)
- Numerous listener call-ins and examples, including Joe Namath, Muhammad Ali’s late-career losses, and more.
Upcoming Playoff Matchups
- Quick analysis of remaining playoff teams, Super Bowl odds, and the unpredictable nature of this NFL postseason.
- Covino: “Bills, Broncos, Niners, Seahawks, Texans, Pats, Rams, Bears. All great. That’s better than Ryan Garcia–Mario Marios. These are great matchups.” (13:18)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On Rodgers’ final play:
- “On 4th and 5, Rodgers looks it over...and picked off...Bullock maintains his balance and runs for pay dirt.” (Tire Rack Play of the Day – 39:59)
- On sports heartbreak:
- “You want to remember someone at their best, you know, not at their worst.” – Covino (16:46)
- On sports farewells:
- “It's just life. …You don't get to choose how you go out sometimes.” – Rich (19:05)
- On talk radio legends fading:
- “Sometimes I look at a Howard Stern type, and...he watched the world of podcasting swoop in and sort of replace his…” – Rich (23:04)
- On legacy ultimately prevailing:
- “No, it doesn't [hurt his legacy]...his legacy stands before him and...he’s a Super Bowl champ and that’s really what’s going to be remembered.” – Covino (41:49)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 02:47 – Sheldon Rankins’ fumble return discussed
- 04:16–05:04 – Steelers’ offensive struggles dissected
- 06:01–08:42 – Rich’s “Vegas roulette theory” and Texans’ playoff outlook
- 10:31 – Rodgers’ age and inability to escape pocket, legacy discussion begins
- 12:00 – Open call: Worst farewells in sports/entertainment
- 14:02–15:28 – Bernard Hopkins’ infamous ring exit
- 17:25–17:48 – Tom Brady’s initial exit
- 19:04–19:48 – Clayton Kershaw’s near-miss and “good” farewell vs. Rodgers
- 22:04 – Rodgers booed at home by fans, the pain of a rough ending
- 27:46–28:14 – Comparison: Dan Marino’s playoff swan song
- 34:26–34:48 – Parallels with TV show endings (Roseanne)
- 39:59–40:17 – Rodgers’ final play aired
- 41:49–42:05 – Affirmation: bad ending doesn’t erase legacy
Summary Table: Episode Flow
| Time | Topic/Segment | Speaker(s) | Notable Quote/Insight | |-------------|----------------------------------------|------------------|----------------------------------------| | 02:47 | Texans’ defense, Rankins’ moment | Covino/ Monty | “Anytime a big boy is chugging…” | | 06:01–08:42 | Vegas ‘Roulette Theory’, playoff makeups| Rich/ Covino | “Bet on black… Patterns, patterns.” | | 10:31 | Rodgers’ legacy, going out on low note | Covino | “How do you go out like that?” | | 12:00 | Listener call-in prompt, farewells | Rich/ Covino | “What is the weakest farewell…” | | 14:02–15:28 | Bernard Hopkins, Tyson, bad exits | Covino/ Rich | “He goes flying through the ropes…” | | 17:25 | Tom Brady’s haunted memories | Rich | “A pick six in the postseason…” | | 19:04 | Kershaw’s redemption vs. Rodgers | Rich | “That was a moment that you pray for…” | | 22:04 | Home fans turning on Rodgers | Danny G/ Covino | “They were booing him, telling him to retire.”| | 27:46–28:14 | Dan Marino, context for legend exits | Rich/ Covino | “I remember Dan Marino losing 60-7…” | | 34:26 | TV/Pop culture bad ending parallels | Covino/ Rich | “First series ended—all a dream.” | | 39:59 | Rodgers’ final play featured | Covino | “Will this play be the last time…” | | 41:49 | Ultimate legacy/legend reflection | Covino | “No, it won't be [the lasting image]…” |
Takeaway for Listeners
Even the greatest can end their story on a rough note—just ask Aaron Rodgers, Bernard Hopkins, or Mike Tyson. But true legacies outlast one “stinkeroo.” The show skillfully weaves together game analysis, sports history, pop culture, and humor, engaging listeners in a cathartic group discussion about how we remember legends (and ourselves), and how ultimately, it’s about the totality of the journey, not just the final moment.
Listener Prompt:
Share your own “weakest farewell” in sports, TV, or life.
Call-in: 877-99-ON-FOX
YouTube Chat: Covino and Rich FSR
Next up: Coaching carousel talk, Mike Tomlin's legacy, and why sometimes a “wife swap” is the only way to appreciate what you have.