The Dan Patrick Show — Hour 1: Philip Rivers' Murky Hall of Fame Candidacy

Date: December 10, 2025
Host: Dan Patrick (with Paulie, Seaton, Todd, and others)
Podcast Network: iHeartPodcasts / Dan Patrick Podcast Network

Episode Overview

This hour dives deep into the surprise NFL news of Philip Rivers being signed to the Colts’ practice squad, reevaluates Rivers’ Hall of Fame (HOF) credentials, and also unpacks major college football storylines, especially the ongoing Notre Dame–ACC controversy following playoff selection snubs. Dan and the Danettes debate the legacy of prominent NFL QBs, the volatility of coaching positions, and the shifting sands of sports opinion. The hour is lively, debate-rich, and full of trademark Dan Patrick humor and perspective.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Philip Rivers Returns & Hall of Fame Candidacy

• Colts Practice Squad Signing:

  • Dan Patrick expresses surprise at Rivers’ signing, calling into question both Rivers’ playing readiness and the Colts' QB situation.
    • *“The Colts signing Philip Rivers to the practice squad. Now everybody seems to be focusing on… he’s a semifinalist for the Hall of Fame this year. Now I don’t think he’s a first ballot Hall of Famer. In fact, I think he’s a borderline Hall of Famer.” (04:03)
  • Wonders about the implications of Rivers joining the roster for his HOF eligibility timeline.
    • “Once he gets on the roster, he doesn’t have to play in a game… then they start the clock again. He won’t be eligible until 2031…” (04:20)

• HOF Discussions:

  • The panel debates if Rivers is HOF-worthy.
    • Dan: “He has, you know, longevity, durability, put up some big numbers, never won anything. But I think he’s going to get lumped in with that sort of second grouping there.” (12:10)
    • Seaton: “I don’t know why, but I feel that way about Philip Rivers, too… he was clearly one of the best quarterbacks of his era.” (17:39)
  • Rivers’ lack of postseason and Super Bowl achievements comes up repeatedly.
    • Paulie: “This comes down to not appearing in a Super Bowl.” (18:20)

• Poll Question:

  • Should Rivers care more about playing a few more games or being eligible for HOF voting?
    • Seaton: “Which would be more important to you? Playing a couple more games or the Hall of Fame?” (11:40)
    • Panel largely agrees: playing again would be the dream, even though it likely delays HOF chances (45:06).

• Comparative Legacy:

  • Comparisons to other QBs (Eli Manning, Drew Brees, Matt Ryan, Dan Fouts).
    • Dan on Eli: “Those two seasons (Super Bowl runs) are going to get him into the Hall of Fame with his name.” (15:33)
    • Rivers’ stats: 6th all time in touchdown passes (16:46).
    • On “eye test” for HOF: “Sometimes when you say, hey, is such and such a Hall of Famer? And you go, yes. Or how quickly you say yes.” (16:59)
  • Rivers compared to Dan Fouts: “I could see Philip Rivers, similar to Dan Fouts… that offense was wonderful to watch.” (47:10)

2. The Rapid Downturns in NFL Legacy Discussions

• Dan Patrick addresses how quickly perceptions change in the NFL for coaches and players.

  • Example: Chiefs and Andy Reid (“Oh, does Andy Reid want to stay around for this? Would he retire, maybe, you know, get a front office job with the Chiefs. Like that happened quickly here.” 06:29)
  • Example: Mike Tomlin’s future with Steelers, depending on QB situation and success.
  • Example: Jaden Daniels’ meteoric rise and subsequent fall as a franchise QB candidate.

• Quote:

  • “We love to do this. We react quickly and we jump to conclusions.” (06:29)

3. Notre Dame vs. ACC & College Football Playoff Selection Drama

• Notre Dame’s “Permanent Damage” with the ACC:

  • Dan reports on Athletic Director Pete Babaqua’s comments about the ACC attacking Notre Dame publicly regarding playoff selection.

    • Pete Babaqua: “What we were really surprised by and disappointed was how the ACC conference really went on a social media campaign, in my opinion, attacking our football program...” (26:30)

  • Dan’s Summary: “Don’t let your hatred for Notre Dame cloud your judgment of actually looking at this story… If your school was ranked higher than another school for five weeks and then all of a sudden nothing changed until it changed with the selection committee and you got jumped by that other school, you would have a problem with that.” (28:10)

• ND’s Unique Place in College Football:

  • The team discusses how Notre Dame controls its schedule, money flow, playoff access, and why joining a conference seems unlikely.

    • “There’s nothing in professional or college sports like Notre Dame... They're an island. They don’t answer to anybody.” (36:52)

  • Notre Dame’s playoff access (top 12 provision), debate about fairness and favoritism.

    • “You can’t say it’s a push or a nudge to join a conference and then give the top 12 provision to Notre Dame.” (36:52)

  • On Marcus Freeman’s Job Security:

    • Pete Babaqua reassures fans about keeping Freeman, even as NFL interest (Bears, Giants) allegedly grows.
    • “I make sure that he knows that he will be where he deserves to be. And that is at the top, top, top tier of college football coaches when it comes to compensation.” (33:25)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Dan Patrick, on Rivers’ odds in Seattle:

  • “If you’re going to make your debut after a five-year drought of not playing and you’re going to come in and play in Seattle against that Seattle defense, yikes.” (04:03)

• On NFL career value:

  • Paulie: “This is the dream.” — Talking about getting to play a few more games, even late in a career. (14:37)
  • Dan: “I don’t think he can take away from his resume... if he comes back, he doesn’t play well, I don’t think anybody’s expecting that.” (12:10)

• On Notre Dame’s uniqueness:

  • Paulie: “They don’t have to answer to a conference commissioner. They don’t have to share playoff shares. They’ll take the hit.” (36:52)
  • Dan (about ND): “They have the greatest luxury in college football.” (37:53)
  • Seaton: “They probably are (bigger than everyone else).” (39:21)

Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment/Event | |-----------|---------------------------------------------------------| | 04:03 | Dan on Rivers’ practice squad signing, HOF implications | | 06:29 | NFL legacies and how fast perceptions change | | 11:40 | Poll question: play more games or prioritize HOF? | | 12:10 | Debate: Rivers vs. other QBs for HOF eligibility | | 13:58 | Panel agrees: few more games is the dream | | 16:46 | Rivers’ top passing stats discussed | | 17:39 | Seaton/Panel: “Was Rivers ever the best of his era?” | | 18:20 | Rivers’ postseason struggles, no Super Bowl appearance | | 26:30 | ND AD Pete Babaqua criticizes ACC publicly | | 33:25 | Babaqua on Marcus Freeman contract and NFL rumors | | 36:52 | ND’s scheduling and independent status debated | | 39:21 | Is ND actually “bigger than everyone else”? | | 47:10 | Rivers compared to Dan Fouts, legacy trajectories |

Flow & Tone

Conversational, lively, with a mixture of playful jabs and sharp insights. Dan and the Danettes blend nostalgia, stats, and “barstool” debate with real industry knowledge. There’s open skepticism of selection committees and sports media narratives, plus ongoing affection for the quirks of college football.

For Listeners

• If you care about NFL or college football legacies, this hour is both accessible and opinionated, giving you a strong sense of why certain athletes and institutions matter (and frustrate).
• Notable segment for debate-lovers: The Rivers vs. Ryan vs. Fouts vs. Eli/Brees/Camparisons (15:11–18:20, 47:10), including the “Whose Career Would You Want?” game (48:24).
• Insider value: Rare candor on the inner workings of playoff selection, conference politics, and how legacy is constructed/dismantled in real time.

Final Word

This hour sets up the central dilemma of sports legacy: what matters most—stats, championships, “eye test,” or lasting storylines? Whether it’s Philip Rivers fighting to stay relevant or Notre Dame’s battle to be treated as an equal (or exception), the Dan Patrick Show, as usual, gives sports fans their food for thought (and plenty to argue over).