The Dan Patrick Show – Hour 1

Episode: Early Heisman Candidates, The NFL Kicks Tom Brady Can Down the Road
Date: September 17, 2025

Episode Overview

Dan Patrick and the Danettes gather for a lively first hour focusing on early Heisman Trophy candidates, MVP races in Major League Baseball, and a deep dive into the controversy surrounding Tom Brady’s involvement as a broadcaster and minority owner in the Raiders’ coaches’ booth. The episode is colored by classic Dan Patrick humor, playful banter, interactive games, and informed commentary on recent sports news.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Baseball Pennant Races & MVP Update (02:46–09:17)

• Significant Achievements:

  • Cal Raleigh hits his 55th and 56th home runs.
  • Shohei Ohtani smacks his 50th, pitching five no-hit innings.
  • Dodgers bullpen woes, losing to the Phillies.

• MVP Odds:

  • Shohei Ohtani: Overwhelming favorite for AL MVP.
  • Cal Raleigh and Kyle Schwarber are contenders, but Ohtani’s two-way dominance makes him almost untouchable.
  • Discussion about the value of home run milestones (see next section).

  “Shohei Ohtani, overwhelming favorite to win the MVP. He’s minus 10,000.”
  —Dan Patrick (08:02)

2. Home Run Milestones: 50, 60, or 500? (09:17–14:41)

• Historical Perspective:

  • The panel debates the prestige of 60 home runs in a season versus 500 in a career.
  • 60 HR in a year is rare (“only six people have done it”)—Bonds, McGwire, Sosa, Judge, Maris, Ruth.
  • 500+ HRs in a career almost guarantees Hall of Fame status.

• Value Judgment:

  • Most would rather have the longevity and consistency implied by 500 HRs over the flash of a single monster season.

  “Six, 60 in a year is more special.”
  —Fritzi Seaton (11:51)

  “But I would rather have—if I’m hitting 500 home runs, I’m going to be a Hall of Famer.”
  —Dan Patrick (11:48)

  • Discussion of “random” big homer hitters and steroid-era suspicions—or lack thereof for this year’s leaders.

3. 3,000 Hits and Baseball Longevity (14:00–15:11)

• 3,000 Hits as a Milestone:

  • Less flashy than home run records, but still revered for demonstrating career longevity and consistency.
  • It’s becoming increasingly rare in the modern game, as is the 300-win pitcher.

  “But we’re not going to have very many of those guys anymore. We’re going to have guys who hit 60 home runs. But if you look at the number of guys in recent memory who have eclipsed 3,000 hits…very, very few.”
  —Dan Patrick (14:18)

4. Game: Closest to 3,000 MLB Hits (Active Players) (15:11–17:01)

• The Danettes play “Guess the Active Player Closest to 3,000 Hits.”
  • Clues and guesses lead to Freddie Freeman (currently at 2,420).
  • Discussion of other top hitters: Jose Altuve, Paul Goldschmidt, Manny Machado.

5. NFL & Tom Brady Conflict of Interest Debate (22:53–27:44)

• Background:

  • Tom Brady, now a minority Raiders owner and future broadcaster, was spotted in the coaches’ booth with a headset during a loss to the Chargers.

• Dan’s Concern:

  • Is there a real or perceived conflict of interest when a broadcasting figure with team ownership is given access to coaching operations and potentially privileged information?
  • The NFL’s response to an inquiry from the show sidestepped the “broadcaster” aspect, focusing on his role as an owner.

  “There are no policies that prohibit an owner from sitting in the coaches booth. Now, once again we ask about a broadcaster, not a coach, or not an owner, and nothing that prohibits him from wearing a headset during the game.”
  —Dan Patrick (24:04)

  “If I’m the Bears… the last thing I’m doing is sharing. I’m not currying favor here.”
  —Dan Patrick (26:07)

  • Media and fan skepticism persists, while the NFL hopes the story fades.

6. Week’s Big NFL Betting Line: Dolphins vs. Bills (28:38–30:41)

• An interactive segment "Guess the spread" for the coming Dolphins–Bills game.

  • The spread opens at a surprising 12.5 points in favor of Buffalo, far higher than typical divisional games.
  • The hosts discuss when a spread this big is warranted and how rare such large lines are in the NFL.

  “12 and a half against Miami, divisional rival. Surprised at that.”
  —Dan Patrick (31:08)

7. Callers and Interactive Moments (31:28–52:24)

• Fan Questions:
  • Ryder Cup advice (arrive early for the first tee, says Dan—32:07).
  • Ken Griffey Jr.’s legacy in the “juicing era” and the impact of injuries (33:05–34:38).
• Scenic Baseball Commentary:
  • Discussion about why left-handed swings and shooters are aesthetically more pleasing.
  • Appreciation for Ken Griffey Jr., Darryl Strawberry, Paul Molitor, Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, and others legendary for their style at the plate.

8. College Football Coaching Under Scrutiny (35:52–41:50)

• Brian Kelly’s Press Conference Blow-Up and Apology:

  • Kelly bristles at questions about his offense after a win—deflects, then apologizes (37:07).
  • Dan’s critique: Coaches demand composure from players but lose theirs in the media room.

• Dabo Swinney’s Defense of His Record:

  • Swinney defends his legacy at Clemson amid mounting pressure and fan unrest (39:40).

  “If they tired of winning, they can send me on the way, because that’s all we’ve done is win.”
  —Dabo Swinney (39:40)

  “I got a long way to go. Y’all gonna have to deal with me for a while.”
  —Dabo Swinney (40:16)

• Dan’s Advice:

  • “Be careful what you ask for. …You may not like his approach, but he would get a job by later today.” —Dan Patrick (41:50)

9. Baseball’s Future: Will the Game Re-Emphasize Hits Over HRs? (50:25–52:24)

• A caller wonders if baseball, like the NBA’s potential three-point correction, will see a return to valuing contact and average over exit velocity and home runs.
• Dan predicts someone will exploit market inefficiency with speed and contact hitting, likening it to Whitey Herzog’s 1980s Cardinals.
• Marvin cites the Oklahoma City Thunder and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as NBA parallels for a shift in offensive focus.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Dan on Heisman Race:

  “You can’t win it in September, you can lose it in September, but somebody’s going to stand out.” (04:45)

• Fritzi Seaton on Milestones:

  “3,000 hits is still—a hell of a milestone, longevity wise. But it’s not flashy at all.” (14:00)

• On Tom Brady’s NFL Role:

  “If Tom was there, but he wasn’t in the coaching booth, I don’t know if we would be, you know, have a problem with it. …It’s the perceived conflict of interest here. But the NFL is just trying to kick this down the can, down the road.” (25:11)

• Brian Kelly’s Press Conference (audio replay): (37:07)
  “We played the game to win the game.” —Brian Kelly

• Dabo Swinney, defending his career: (39:40)
  “If they tired of winning, they can send me on the way, because that’s all we’ve done is win.”

• Dan on Coaching Hires:

  “Be careful what you ask. …You want to run him out of town, who you bringing in?” (41:57)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 02:46: Baseball highlights, Cal Raleigh/Ohtani, MVP odds
• 09:22: Value of 50 vs. 60 vs. 500 home runs
• 15:11: Game: Closest active player to 3,000 hits
• 22:53: Tom Brady booth controversy and NFL non-answer
• 28:38: Guess the Dolphins vs. Bills betting line
• 31:28–34:38: Callers on Ryder Cup, Ken Griffey Jr., left-handed swings
• 35:52: Brian Kelly’s postgame meltdown & media handling
• 39:40: Dabo Swinney’s passionate defense of his time at Clemson
• 50:25: Will baseball ever shift back toward valuing hits/contact?

Tone and Style

The conversation is lively, irreverent, smart, and always includes good-natured teasing and inside jokes among the Danettes. Even while discussing serious subjects (like conflicts of interest in the NFL or criticism of college coaches), Dan keeps the tone engaging and relatable, directly involving the audience with games, trivia, and phone calls.

For a deep-dive into sports’ biggest storylines and insider commentary delivered with a blend of wisdom and wit, Hour 1 of this Dan Patrick Show episode is essential listening.