The Dan Patrick Show — Hour 1

Episode: Super Bowl Is Set, Fritzy Agrees with Everyone
Date: January 26, 2026
Host: Dan Patrick, with Fritzy, Seaton, Marvin, and Paulie
Special Guests (promoted for later hours): Mark Schlereth, Mike Golic

Overview

In this Super Bowl lead-up episode, Dan Patrick and the Danettes break down the dramatic NFL conference championship games, analyze the critical moments that propelled the Seahawks and Patriots to the big stage, and pepper the conversation with trademark wit and audience interaction. The episode features sharp football insights, friendly jabs at Fritzy (Todd Fritz), and a running gag where Fritzy must agree with every caller, no matter how negative, following a lost bet.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Super Bowl Matchup Set: Seahawks vs. Patriots

• Recap of NFC and AFC Championships

  • Seahawks defeat Rams (31-27)

    • A back-and-forth battle: Rams couldn't convert crucial third and fourth downs despite a record-setting game from Matthew Stafford.
    • Key stat: Stafford became the first QB in NFL history to lose a playoff game after throwing for 350+ yds, 3 TDs, and no turnovers.
      • Dan Patrick: "It's when you complete those passes... when you're over seven on third and fourth down... that came back to haunt the LA Rams." (08:12)
    • Rising star: Seahawks receiver Jackson Smith-Njigba, compared closely to standout Puka Nacua.
    • Sam Darnold's redemption: Led Seattle with over 300 yards, 3 TDs, no interceptions, and strong late-game drives despite limited practice.
      • Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald:

        "Can't talk about the game without talking about our quarterback. I mean he just shut a lot of people up tonight... He deserves it. Just been a rock for us the whole year, so just really happy for him." (13:55)

  • Patriots edge the Broncos in a snowy slugfest

    • Patriots' defense was key; both teams struggled on the ground.
    • Major debate: Denver's fourth-and-1 decision early—go for it or take the points?
      • Dan: "I thought, kick the field goal... It's 10 to nothing... Because the worst case scenario to me is you don’t get anything and that takes away the momentum." (20:00)
    • Broncos coach Sean Payton postgame:

      "Just felt like, man, we had momentum to get up 14. I felt like we had a good call... I think the feeling was, man, let's, let's be aggressive to get up 14." (21:45)

    • Weather as a factor: Visibly impacted visibility and footing; joked about CBS having to overlay yard-line graphics.

2. Critical Moments and Coaching Decisions

• Fourth Down Analytics vs. “Old School” Football

  • Dan’s stance: Skeptical of analytics in tough playoff conditions, especially when relying on backup quarterbacks.
    • "This is the postseason... In the regular season, you live for another day... not now." (24:25)
  • Seaton & Paulie echo: Felt “gut” not “data” drove some risky calls.

• Matthew Stafford’s Career and the Rams Future

  • Discussion about Sean McVay bristling at retirement questions postgame.
  • Dan's take: “Fair to ask”—Stafford had a "crazy year," but is age 37 sustainable? (09:50)
  • Seaton:

    "It feels like Matthew Stafford might be one of the most let-down quarterbacks in football history..." (56:51)

    • Supported by postseason stats (25 TDs, 7 INTs, higher postseason QB rating).

3. Running Gag: "Fritzy Agrees with Everyone" (Callers Always Right)

• Due to a lost bet, Fritzy must agree with every negative caller.
• Hilarious and cringeworthy moments as callers roast Fritzy about sports, music ('Hall & Oates suck'), bagel orders, and Broncos fandom.
  • Example:
    • Caller: "Everyone says that John Elway looks just like Mr. Ed, but don’t you think Mr. Ed is much better looking?" (38:27)
    • Fritzy: "I hate to admit that, but there is a thing there... Mr. Ed may be more handsome."
  • Ongoing: Multiple callers, bests and worsts of their weekends, and creative insults or gripes for Fritzy to affirm.
• Dan (jokingly):

  "Tough day today for Fritzel. Dressed for Cancun just like the Broncos are." (41:15)

4. Coaching Carousel and Mike McCarthy Hiring

• Steelers Hire Mike McCarthy; Fan Reaction Mixed
  • Jokes about how it’s like “crapping your pants and changing your shirt.”
    • Paulie: "Going from Mike Tomlin to Mike McCarthy is like crapping your pants and changing your shirt. And I really haven't been able to stop thinking about that." (47:53)
  • Dan supports the hire in the short-term, thinks McCarthy’s value is in developing quarterbacks.

5. Early Super Bowl Talk and Odds

• Point spread: Seahawks favored by 4.5; O/U 45.5.
• Early Super Bowl MVP odds: Darnold (favorite), May, Smith-Njigba, Kenneth Walker III.
• Look-ahead for 2027: Seattle and LA Rams listed as co-favorites, then Bills, Patriots, Eagles, Lions, Ravens.

6. Other Standout Segments & Quotes

• Weather Coverage: Commented on how snow made yardage and player identification impossible.
• Patriots’ Defensive Stats: Averaging only 18 points per game in the playoffs; lowest since the 1979 Rams to reach the Super Bowl.
• Jets and Giants Jokes:

  "It takes a while to remove the Jets stink from you when you leave the Jets, certainly as a quarterback and [Sam Darnold] is going to be America's darling on Super Bowl Sunday..." (1:23:40)

• Caller Humor:
  • Multiple call-ins poking fun at Fritzy’s quirks, Broncos disappointments, and even Hall & Oates.
  • A running bit about Fritzy's bagel order, following women in their cars (“creepy”), and his jokes not getting funnier upon repetition.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• Dan Patrick on critical late-game decisions:

  "I think that was the surprising part of it is it feels like it's a failure if you don't go for it on fourth down..." (20:06)

• Coach Mike Macdonald on Sam Darnold:

  "He just shut a lot of people up tonight. So I'm really happy for him... been a rock for us the whole year." (13:55)

• Sean Payton on 4th-down gamble:

  "Just felt like, man, we had momentum to get up 14. I was just watching the way our defense was playing. I understand it. I don't know if it was analytics. It may have been just gut feeling. It may have just been Sean Payton bravado." (21:45)

• Seaton on Matthew Stafford's legacy:

  "It feels like Matthew Stafford might be one of the most let down quarterbacks in football history, where he plays awesome... and his defense gives up 45 points or something like that." (56:51)

• Paulie on coaching change:

  "Going from Mike Tomlin to Mike McCarthy is like crapping your pants and changing your shirt." (47:53)

• Fritzy on Broncos and Hall & Oates:

  "They're both equally, equally horribly underrated—we're actually overrated because that's Hall and Oates not getting it done..." (1:09:30)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Recap of Rams-Seahawks & Stafford’s Day: 07:50–12:15
• Seahawks Postgame & Sam Darnold Discussion: 13:40–15:40
• Broncos-Patriots Fourth Down Debate: 20:00–27:00
• Fritzy Agrees with All Callers (First Callers): 38:00–44:30
• Mike McCarthy Steelers Hire Reaction: 47:00–49:20
• Matthew Stafford as Most “Let Down” QB Commentary: 56:40–58:20
• More Fritzy Humor/Callers (Bagel Order, Jokes, Hall & Oates): 1:03:00–1:12:00
• Super Bowl Early Odds and Storylines: 1:18:00–1:23:40

Overall Tone & Style

Upbeat, playful, and rich with banter—classic Dan Patrick balance of deep football knowledge, smart debate on analytics vs. “gut,” and the signature “Danettes” comedic chemistry. Listener participation and affectionate ribbing (especially at Fritzy’s expense) create a highly engaging and entertaining recap for sports fans eager for Super Bowl storylines and inside-the-moment reactions.

For listeners who missed it:
You’ll be up to date on how both Super Bowl teams punched their tickets, why Sam Darnold is suddenly a folk hero, see why analytic decisions are under the microscope, and get in on the running jokes that make the Dan Patrick Show a sports radio institution.