The Dan Patrick Show — Hour 1 Summary

Date: January 6, 2026
Episode Title: "Hoping the Phone Doesn’t Ring, Mike Tannenbaum"

Main Theme & Purpose

Hour 1 of this episode centers on the fallout from NFL “Black Monday”—the annual post-regular season period when head coaches and executives are fired. Dan and the Danettes dissect the latest firings, debate the attractiveness of current NFL head coaching vacancies, and explore the deeper issues of franchise stability, quarterback development, and the influence of ownership. The show also features an insightful segment with ESPN’s Mike Tannenbaum, who methodically ranks the open coaching jobs and analyzes the market for prospective candidates.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Black Monday Fallout & Coaching Uncertainty

• Opening musings: Dan jokes about coaches nervously eyeing their phones ("Boy, I hope that doesn’t ring. Boy, I hope I don't get a text from you know who." — Dan, 00:25), as the first round of firings sweeps the NFL.
• Timing of firings: Banter about whether Tuesday firings show indecision versus the tradition of "Black Monday."
• Survival vs. Dismissal:
  • Discussion on coaches/GM who unexpectedly survived, especially with the Miami Dolphins possibly opting for internal promotion.
  • The Cleveland Browns' firing of two-time Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski is noted as baffling:

    “He's not good enough for the Browns, but Kevin Stefanski could be good enough for the Giants or the Falcons or the Cardinals.” (Dan, 03:19)

2. Quarterback Play and Franchise Stability

• Central thesis: Most job openings correlate with a lack of a franchise quarterback.
• Team breakdowns:
  • Raiders: Iconic for instability, with 15 coaches since 2000 ("Since 2000, the Raiders have been defined by one word: instability." — Dan, 06:20).
  • Giants, Cardinals: Questions about current QBs and organization stability.
  • Dolphins: Looking like they may move on from Tua Tagovailoa.

3. The Importance of Ownership

• Theme: True stability starts with ownership, not with players or coaches.

  “Quarterbacks get blamed, coaches get blamed, GMs get blamed. The owners, they get to stand back, sit back. You’re the constant.” (Dan, 12:07)

• Bad ownership as the root: Examples include the Browns (Jimmy Haslam), Cardinals (Bidwell), Dolphins (Ross), Jets (Woody Johnson).

4. Ranking Coaching Vacancies

Detailed breakdown begins with poll question brainstorming (10:49) and continues with Tannenbaum's segment (19:47).

• Teams with vacancies: Cardinals, Raiders, Browns, Giants, Falcons, Titans.
• Last ten years’ records: Comparative playoff appearances and wins offered for each.
• Divisional context: Falcons viewed as the most attractive due to a weak NFC South and the potential for quick turnaround, Cardinals seen as worst for the challenging NFC West.

5. NFL Draft & Young QBs

• The annual trap: Organizations and fans build up college QBs as saviors, but going to bad franchises can ruin even top talent ("A lot of talented quarterbacks coming out of college have gone to bad situations." — Dan, 14:31).
• Cautionary tales and hope: Trevor Lawrence’s recent resurgence highlighted thanks to finally landing with a supportive offensive coach.
• **Ben Johnson (Lions) and Aaron Glenn (Jets) cited as examples of coaching journeys with contrasting fortunes.

6. Ownership & Front Office Realities

• On Jerry Jones (Cowboys owner):

  “It’s rare when an owner doesn’t feel like he’s the smartest guy in the building.” (Dan, 31:22)

• Billionaire mentality discussed humorously ("I got a billion. What do you got? I must be smarter than you." — Dan, 32:15).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On firing practices:

  “If someone is surprised when they're let go, that means you've done a bad job managing them.” — Mike Tannenbaum, 29:00

• On organizational decision-making:

  “You have to ask: who are we going to get and how much is it going to cost?” — Mike Tannenbaum, 28:00

• On the unique pain of the post-season:

  “Tuesday, you’re in the clear. Unless you’re the Dolphins.” — Paulie, 01:41

• On Raiders instability:

  “In just over a quarter of a century, you’ve had 15 head coaches. You don’t have a franchise quarterback. The best quarterback in the building is Tom Brady.” — Dan, 06:30

Noteworthy Guest Segment: Mike Tannenbaum

(Begins ~19:47)

Coaching Vacancies Ranked:

1. Worst: Arizona Cardinals
   • Too much uncertainty, despite some promising young players (Marvin Harrison, Trey McBride).
2. Vegas Raiders
   • If paired with a strong hire (suggests college coach Kurt Signetti), could turn around, but franchise history is against them.
3. Cleveland Browns
   • Good young talent, but offensive line and quarterback position are problematic:

     “With the Browns job, 1, 2, and 3 is to get that position [quarterback] solidified.” (22:33)

4. New York Giants
   • Jackson Dart shows promise, but needs to improve decision-making and self-preservation.
5. Atlanta Falcons
   • Young core (Bijan Robinson, Drake London, Kyle Pitts), “If healthy, Penix is a franchise QB. But I would keep Kirk Cousins…” (26:22)
6. Best: Tennessee Titans
   • Cam Ward as a strong young QB, appealing location (new stadium, Nashville as a draw): “That’s the best job available.” (26:20)

Additional Insights

• Believes data shows most college coaches flop in the NFL, but makes a case for outlier Kurt Signetti (Raiders).
• Asserts the importance of transparency when firing coaches; coaches should never be surprised.
• Warns against ‘change for change’s sake’.
• Good organizations focus on process and thorough information-gathering before making changes.

Fun & Engaging Off-Sports Bits

• FCS Championship call-out:
  • Praise for moving the FCS Championship to a TV slot with league visibility (08:51).
• Nicole from Texas call-in:
  • Touching listener story involving Dan’s previous advice on engagements, her own proposal, and multiple cervical spine surgeries (37:55).
  • Dan and the crew turn it into playful banter about story length and wedding longevity (40:34), but ultimately express real warmth and congratulations.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:25 — Dan on coaches dreading their phones on Black Monday
• 03:19 — On Kevin Stefanski’s firing in Cleveland
• 06:20 — Raiders’ instability: “Defined by one word: instability.”
• 10:49 — Poll question: Ranking openings by team record in last ten years
• 19:47 — Mike Tannenbaum joins to rank open coaching jobs
• 22:33 — Tannenbaum on Cleveland’s QB struggles
• 26:20 — Tannenbaum: Titans are the best coaching vacancy
• 28:00 — “Who are you going to get and how much does it cost?”
• 29:00 — How to fire a coach: “If someone is surprised… bad management.”
• 31:22 — Dan on owner involvement and stability
• 37:55 — Nicole from Texas’ heartfelt call and engagement story

Conclusion / Episode Character

This episode is classic Dan Patrick: unfiltered, reflective, and collaborative, blending sharp NFL analysis with candid storytelling and humor. Insightful commentary from both the regular crew and guest expert Mike Tannenbaum is balanced with quirky highlights and a listener’s emotional moment, making the hour informative and entertaining for listeners curious about the NFL’s most tumultuous week and the human side of the sports world.