The Dan Patrick Show – Hour 1 Summary

Episode Title: Hour 1 – Joe Burrow Should Play, Brady Quinn
Date: November 26, 2025
Host: Dan Patrick
Guests: Brady Quinn, Ross Tucker (remote commentary)

Episode Overview

This episode kicks off the Thanksgiving holiday with Dan and the crew discussing a packed sports weekend, controversial decisions in football (both NFL and college), and featuring guest Brady Quinn for deep dives into college football rivalries and coaching drama. The show blends humor, food talk, and sports analysis, staying true to Dan’s signature style.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Thanksgiving, Food, and Show Atmosphere

• The crew celebrates "Meat Wednesday," recreating what they humorously call the "1621 Thanksgiving Day Brunch in the Forest."
  • Food for the day: Cornish game hens, duck with cornbread stuffing, butternut squash, lobster, mussels, sea bass.
  • The fun tone is set early:

    “I think it’s lady pilgrim chic. I’m waiting until that catches on in Brooklyn.”
    —Dan Patrick (03:00)

2. NFL Topics: Joe Burrow & Quarterbacks

• Joe Burrow’s Return:

  • Debate over whether Burrow should return to play with Bengals out of playoff contention.
  • Dan leans towards playing Burrow for rhythm and momentum into next season:

    "You can’t bubble wrap him…there are inherent risks that come with playing the game and certainly that position. Would I play him? Yeah, I would."
    —Dan Patrick (06:30)

  • Touches on team injuries and impact on Burrow’s effectiveness.

• AFC North Influence:

  • Bengals still have a role in shaping the division outcome.
  • Dan ponders the implications for fans and franchise momentum.

3. NFL Matchups: Cowboys, Chiefs, and More

• Attention to key games: Packers-Lions and Chiefs-Cowboys.
• Discuss what’s best for NFL storylines: Are the Cowboys or Chiefs a better rooting interest for the league’s health/content?
  • “I think for content reasons, I would root for the Cowboys.”
    —Dan Patrick (11:10)
  • Ross Tucker shares a stat:

    “In the last 13 seasons, the Chiefs have missed the playoffs once. That’s nutty.”
    —Ross Tucker (12:14)

4. College Football: Coaching, NIL, Playoff Expansion

• Lane Kiffin & Coaching Drama:

  • Widespread speculation about Lane Kiffin’s future at Ole Miss.
  • Dan suspects if Kiffin were staying, he’d announce pre-game to stabilize his locker room:

    “Nothing is going to make that locker room explode like that if he says, ‘I’ve discussed this with my family. This is my home. I’m staying here.’”
    —Dan Patrick (09:55)

• NIL Chaos & High School Recruiting:

  • Dan relays insider conversations about the “wild west” nature of high school NIL bidding wars.

    “He’s in high school, senior year. He’s got a $2 million NIL package and one school just up the ante...this is happening all over.”
    —Dan Patrick (16:20)

  • Emphasizes that collectives—not schools or the NCAA—are driving the arms race.

• Why Nick Saban Stepped Away:

  • Oil and tech money outstrip traditional football boosters, changing program hierarchies.

• Playoff Expansion Delay:

  • No expansion apparent for 2026—earliest will be 2027.

5. Brady Quinn Interview (24:03–39:21)

Rivalry Analysis: Ohio State vs. Michigan

• Quinn distinguishes this rivalry from Notre Dame–USC:
  • “It’s you against us and that’s all that matters this one day every year…We’re never gonna forget it for 364 days.”
    —Brady Quinn (24:32)
• Highlights Michigan’s danger level this year:
  • “They’re more dangerous than last year…they’ve got a much better team and should have a better chance of imposing their will.”
    —Brady Quinn (25:49)

Coaching Carousel & Lane Kiffin’s Priorities

• Dan would ask Kiffin about his top priority in taking a job; Quinn:
  • “It’s hard for any human being to turn down what is generational wealth when you’re offered that sort of opportunity.” (27:24)
• LSU and recruiting are big factors, not just money.

Sign Stealing in College Football

• Sign stealing is embedded in the game; the Michigan/Connor Stallions episode is just the tip of the iceberg.
  • “It’s probably the secret to college football that not many people want to address.”
    —Brady Quinn (34:13)

Andrew Luck Rumors

• Discusses speculation about Andrew Luck as Stanford coach.
  • Cautions about emotional risks if it fails; mentions the challenges of hiring alumni.

Penn State Coaching Change

• Both feel timing was wrong and that boosters now control the sport—not presidents or ADs.

NFL: Chiefs vs. Cowboys, and Thanksgiving Games

• Quinn says it's better for the NFL if Dallas wins:
  • “It’s probably better for Dallas. You get two storylines…Dallas kind of getting back into that conversation… and also, it’s the Dallas Cowboys.” (37:55)
• Throws in holiday humor about Jerry Jones.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You can’t bubble wrap him. If you want him out there, you have a fan base that you have to placate as well…these are big games.”—Dan Patrick on Joe Burrow (06:30)
• “It feels like Lane Kiffin is out…if I’m staying, I’m announcing it prior to Friday’s game.”—Dan Patrick (09:55)
• “In the last 13 seasons, the Chiefs have missed the playoffs once. That’s nutty.”—Ross Tucker (12:14)
• “There is a bidding war between two major schools. And he has a $2 million [NIL] package and one school just upped the ante and…this is happening all over.”—Dan Patrick (16:20)
• “College football’s not run by presidents and ADs…it’s run by boosters.”—Brady Quinn (32:04)
• On sign-stealing: “It’s probably the secret to college football that not many people want to address.”—Brady Quinn (34:13)

Timestamps of Key Segments

• Thanksgiving/Crew Food Banter: 02:58–04:47
• Joe Burrow/Quarterback Play Debate: 04:55–08:20
• NFL Matchups & Poll Question: 10:59–12:56
• College Football Coaching/NIL/Expansion: 13:56–19:19
• Brady Quinn Interview Begins: 24:03
  • Ohio State–Michigan rivalry: 24:03–25:49
  • Lane Kiffin discussion: 27:09–29:15
  • Penn State coaching change: 30:49–32:33
  • College football sign-stealing: 33:05–34:43
  • Andrew Luck head coaching rumors: 34:54–36:11
  • Chiefs vs. Cowboys NFL stakes: 37:43–38:31

Tone & Style

The tone is conversational, humorous, and irreverent—a mix of locker room ribbing, genuine insider knowledge, and nostalgia. Dan pokes fun at the crew’s costumes, shares personal Thanksgiving food stories, and isn't afraid to take the “inside baseball” approach with his sports coverage.

For Listeners Who Missed The Episode

This episode balances lighthearted holiday banter with serious conversations about football’s biggest news. Dan and company deliver authentic, informed takes on hot-button topics, with Brady Quinn offering unique insider insight on both college and NFL coaching dynamics. The episode is a must-listen for fans eager to understand how college football’s power structures are shifting—and for those who enjoy behind-the-scenes radio banter on holidays.