The Dan Patrick Show – Hour 1

Episode: No Faith in Anybody, USC Punts on Notre Dame
Date: December 23, 2025
Podcast: The Dan Patrick Show (iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network)

Overview

In the pre-holiday episode, Dan Patrick and the Danettes dive into the unpredictable 2025 NFL season and the uncertainty surrounding playoff hopefuls, coaching changes at Michigan, and the end of the historic Notre Dame–USC rivalry. The crew mixes in its usual humor and polls about holiday traditions, all while previewing upcoming guests Jason Garrett and Reggie Miller.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. NFL Parity & Playoff Uncertainty

• Main Discussion: Dan opens by reflecting on how few NFL teams inspire confidence this year, with many potential playoff teams looking vulnerable or inconsistent.

  • "I really don't know how good [the 49ers] are, but let's count the number of teams you could say that about." (03:03)

• Standouts:

  • 49ers clinch a playoff berth, Brock Purdy throws five touchdowns, but Dan notes he wouldn’t be shocked if they lost their first playoff game (03:09).
  • The Colts' collapse, Steelers’ unpredictability, the Bills’ wild card potential, and questions about teams like the Bears, Patriots, Chargers, Seattle, etc.
  • The AFC appears wide open without a dominant Kansas City presence.

• Notable Stats:

  • "The Niners scored points in 23 consecutive quarters. The punter hasn’t punted in the last two games." (07:33)

2. Holiday Spirit & Poll Questions

• Segment: Crew banter about hosting vs. traveling for holiday gatherings, and Todd shares a series of “grinchy” poll questions relating to holiday stress and traditions (10:08–13:03).

  • "The holiday season makes me feel very cheerful, depressed, anxious, peaceful." (10:30, Todd)
  • "What do you do with those photos? Display them, throw them in the trash, wonder if they're remotely as happy as they look." (10:48, Todd)

• Humor: Discussion about the burden of hosting family events and the dubious merits of the cookies people bring (11:51).

  • “I could go without the cookies if it meant going without hosting the party.” (12:14, Dan)

3. Michigan Football Head Coach Rumors

• Main Topic: Dan floats an “educated suggestion” for Michigan’s coaching vacancy — Brian Griese, former Michigan QB and ex-49ers assistant (19:47).

  • "Would Brian Griese be somebody that you could bring in? He’s one of your own... Maybe he could help ease in transition." (19:57, Dan)
  • Emphasizes the “mess” in Michigan’s athletic department and cautions top coaches to "wait until they clean up" before considering the job (16:40, 20:31).

• Analogue: Paulie compares taking Michigan’s job now to "taking a table at a restaurant that hasn’t been cleaned yet." (21:29)

• Other Names: Jeff Brohm of Louisville, Kenny Dillingham of Arizona State — but Dan sees most big names waiting for Michigan to stabilize.

4. End of USC–Notre Dame Rivalry

• News: USC is dropping the annual Notre Dame matchup due to Big Ten scheduling demands, with BYU filling in as ND’s opponent (22:43).
• Keyshawn Johnson’s Reaction:
  • "We got people in there that… are not Trojans... We’re running from teams now. We’re running from Notre Dame, Alabama, Auburn. Why would we cancel our biggest rivalry? Because we can’t beat them?" (24:00, Keyshawn Johnson audio, paraphrased)
• Dan's Take: Sees it as a scheduling necessity but understands alumni outrage.

5. NFL Player Awards: Debates & Odds

• OPOY/Comeback Player:

  • Dan reviews mid-season picks: "I mentioned at the start of the year that Christian McCaffrey would be my guy for Offensive Player of the Year… for NFL Comeback Player, he’s number one at -700." (25:34)
  • Paulie lists other contenders: Jaxon Smith-Njigba (“JSN”), Jameer Gibbs, Puka Nacua, Jonathan Taylor (25:46).
  • Reflection on 49ers’ offensive success and roster patchwork — despite missing stars like Bosa and Warner, they’ve clinched the playoffs (26:06).

• Philip Rivers’ Recent Performance:

  • Despite being well past his prime, Philip Rivers is a “godsend” emergency QB for the Colts:

    • "There were moments where he was the best player on his team last night." (06:51)
    • Rivers’ humility and perspective: "You get to play an NFL football game again. So… job is to go, stick, and do the work. What we’ve been asked to do is give our best effort." (27:27, Rivers quote)

  • Dan firmly dismisses the idea of Rivers returning as the full-time starter next year: "No, no, this is an emergency.” (28:13, Dan)

6. Other NFL Hot Topics

• DK Metcalf Suspension:

  • Dan discusses DK Metcalf’s two-game suspension for a fan confrontation, noting the significant financial ramifications and voiding of future guarantees (34:15).
  • "It just is the line you do not cross. I have no problem with the two-game suspension." (36:28, Caller)

• Steelers/Baltimore Drama:

  • Discussion of Pittsburgh’s resilience under Mike Tomlin and uncertainty around the Ravens and Derek Henry’s odd benching.

7. Banter & Listener Interaction

• Most and Least Valuable Danette Votes:

  • Ongoing friendly rivalry; listeners chime in with votes and criticisms.
    • Notable: “Least valuable Fritzi, I love you, buddy, but we haven’t had that explosion of content like we have in past years.” (44:11, Caller)
    • “Back to Santa's Workshop for me.” (44:28, Todd/Fritzi)

• Light-hearted Christmas card analysis:

  • “Their Christmas card, nobody smiles. Just the kids. No one else. And there’s always a lyric out of some famous song.” (32:08, Dan)

• Boxing Nostalgia:

  • A caller reminisces with Dan about classic boxing eras and the lost spectacle in today’s sport (45:31).

• College Football Playoff Length:

  • Listener challenges Dan about concern for expanded playoff schedules, comparing D3 to D1 (47:02).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On NFL Parity:

  • "Your opinion in October... doesn't mean anything. It’s fun in the moment... but then all of a sudden, he’s not around." (06:02, Dan)

• On Michigan’s Coaching Vacancy:

  • "I would stay interim head coach, play your bowl game, clean up whatever you need to clean up, and then... be open for business the entire next season." (17:31, Dan)
  • “Michigan is a table that hasn’t been cleaned yet. And I’m going to wait before I sit down and take that job.” (21:43, Dan paraphrasing Paulie)

• Keyshawn Johnson on USC–Notre Dame:

  • "...we’re running from teams now. We’re running from Notre Dame... Why would we cancel our biggest rivalry? Because we can’t beat them?" (24:00, Keyshawn Johnson)

• On holiday hosting:

  • "I could go without the cookies if it meant going without hosting the party." (12:14, Dan)

• On Philip Rivers:

  • "No, no, this is an emergency… break glass in case of emergency, that’s it." (28:13, Dan)

• On DK Metcalf’s Suspension:

  • "You can’t involve [yourself] with the fan. It just is the line you do not cross." (36:28, Caller)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:03 — NFL Playoff Uncertainty & Team Analysis
• 10:08–13:03 — Holiday Poll Questions & Banter
• 16:40, 19:47–22:40 — Michigan Coaching Search Rumors
• 22:43–25:45 — End of Notre Dame–USC Rivalry, Keyshawn Johnson’s Remarks
• 25:34–28:13 — NFL Player Awards and Philip Rivers’ Situation
• 34:15–37:03 — DK Metcalf Suspension and Financial Impacts
• 44:00–45:33 — Danette Voting & Year-End Listener Banter
• 45:31–47:02 — Boxing Nostalgia Call
• 47:02–48:37 — College Football Playoff Length & D3 Comparison

Tone & Style

The episode maintains a conversational, humorous, and candid atmosphere, blending serious sports analysis with playful team ribbing, relatable holiday talk, and unfiltered listener engagement.

Note:
Upcoming guests include Jason Garrett and Reggie Miller in later hours. Todd’s “holiday sports names” segment is teased for hour two. Voting for Most and Least Valuable Danette is open until 11am EST on danpatrick.com.

This summary skips ads, promos, and focuses purely on the substantive content of the episode.