The Dan Patrick Show – Hour 1 Summary

Episode Title: Hour 1 – TNF Reaction, Open Season on Russell Wilson
Date: September 26, 2025
Host: Dan Patrick (DP), with Todd Fritz (Fritzy), Seaton, Marvin, and Paulie
Podcast Network: iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network

Episode Overview

This hour features Dan Patrick and the Danettes breaking down Thursday Night Football, reacting to the Cardinals-Seahawks game, and opening what Dan calls “open season” on Russell Wilson’s Hall of Fame legacy, fueled by fiery takes from Tony Gonzalez and Richard Sherman. Discussion weaves in NFL and college weekend previews, the narrative around the Cardinals organization, and passionate debates on football legacies, spiced up with the show’s renowned wit.

Key Discussion Points

1. Thursday Night Football Recap: Seahawks vs. Cardinals

• Result: The Seattle Seahawks narrowly defeated the Arizona Cardinals, improving to 3-1, while questions linger around Arizona’s quarterback Kyler Murray and the organization’s trajectory.
• Player Spotlight: Marvin Harrison Jr. scored a late touchdown but divided opinion:
  • “Marvin Harrison Jr. had a big drop, a good touchdown, but he’s supposed to be great. Maybe it’s a standalone game, not a standalone season yet.” (Dan, 17:56)
  • Kyler Murray was sacked six times: “That’s on the quarterback as well, not just the offensive line. Sometimes that athleticism comes back to haunt you.” (Dan, 22:45)

Notable Segment

• [20:02] Analysis of shifting point spread for Ohio State vs. Washington: “Something’s going on here… but the game I find most interesting is Ohio State and Washington… that line’s dropped three points.”

2. NFL “Most Disappointing Franchise” Debate

Poll Question: Which NFL franchise feels least competitive year to year – Cardinals or Browns?

• Dan’s take: "They [the Cardinals] tend to find the banana peel... There’s always a little bit of, 'man, if they could just figure it out.' But they’re not the Browns.” (11:20)
• Todd’s unique angle: He’d rather be a Browns fan for the passionate atmosphere: "You don’t hear about crazy Arizona fans that much, but you do hear about the Dawg Pound." (12:15)
• Paulie’s stat: “The Cardinals have made the postseason six times in the past 40 years. That’s a horrible percentage. I’d rather be a Browns fan.” (13:45)
• Group consensus: Most would pick Browns for fan experience, though opinions vary on franchise versus fan base.

3. Cardinals’ Ongoing Struggles: Murray & Harrison Under the Microscope

• Team Dynamics: The discussion highlights Arizona’s lackluster competitiveness in a division with the undefeated 49ers, playoff-bound Rams, and surging Seahawks.
• Kyler Murray Critique: Multiple sacks blamed partly on his play style: “Trying to keep a play alive too long—sometimes that athleticism comes back to haunt you.” (Dan, 22:50)
• Marvin Harrison Jr. Expectations: High pre-draft hype not yet fully materialized: “Maybe because you’re at Ohio State, everything’s open... Here, it’s a standalone game.” (Dan, 18:18)

4. Vikings/Sam Darnold Poll Discussion

Poll Question: Did the Vikings make the right move letting Sam Darnold go?

• Dan’s verdict: It was the right move—he’s a bridge QB at best:
  • “When you need Sam Darnold to be great… didn’t go well. He’s a bridge QB… probably a one-year deal.” (Dan, 25:05)
  • “Vikings went all-in on J.J. McCarthy. Unless he gets hurt, they made the right decision.” (Dan, 26:00)

5. Open Season on Russell Wilson: Hall of Fame Debate

Main Theme: Has Russell Wilson “played himself out of the Hall of Fame” with his recent career decline?

• Catalyst: Harsh criticism from Tony Gonzalez and especially Richard Sherman (his former teammate).
• Dan’s framing: “The topic’s not leaving anytime soon, and that is Russell Wilson Jr. III. Is he a Hall of Famer playing himself out of the Hall of Fame?” (34:24)

Key Quotes:

• Tony Gonzalez ([57:01]):

  “If ever there was somebody who played himself out of the Hall of Fame, it's Russell Wilson. As soon as he left [Seattle], it just hasn’t gone well. I hope we’ve seen the last of him.”

• Richard Sherman ([58:04]):

  “When the Legion of Boom was there, [Wilson] had legendary success. Since then—not so much. You get to go prove you’re dominant and it just hasn’t worked out that way.”

Dan’s Counterpoint:

• Pushes back on the revisionist narrative, noting the Legion of Boom left relatively early in Wilson’s career and that Russ maintained high production for several years after.
• “Let’s be fair to what Russ did in Seattle. His last five years there, the defense wasn’t top 10, but he still put up top-tier numbers.” ([1:08:00])
• Compares Wilson’s critics to those who ignore fellow QBs’ team contexts (e.g., Montana’s supporting cast, Roethlisberger’s defenses).

Notable Statistical Defense:

• Paulie ([1:11:10]): “Russ’s last five years in Seattle: 34-11, 35-7, 31-5, 40-13, 25-6 TD to INT. Only Aaron Rodgers had a better ratio in that stretch.”

6. Broader Hall of Fame & Legacy Context

• Dan and the Danettes compare Wilson’s situation to Eli Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, and Philip Rivers, noting how changing narratives and team context affect legacy debates.
• Dan ([1:14:00]): “If Russ started his career the way he’s ending it, and then flipped it around—like Matthew Stafford—he’d be a lock. But looking backward, people forget what he did.”

7. Show banter: Merch, Meat Friday, and Listener Calls

• The crew riffs on T-shirt ideas for Todd’s notorious left-lane driving (“Passhole”), Meat Friday’s menu (“Grilled ribeyes, strip steaks, filet mignon, barbecue pork chops, bacon, Brussels sprouts, and polenta”—[05:00]), and takes fun calls from listeners lobbying for Todd and discussing Yankees celebrations.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• Dan on Marvin Harrison Jr.:

  “He stopped on a route that led to an interception… But you’re supposed to be great.” (18:10)

• Dan on the Cardinals’ perennial disappointment:

  “They tend to find the banana peel…” (11:20)

• Panel on passionate Browns fans:

  “There’s passion there. As a franchise… They feel more into football.” (13:30)

• Dan on Kyler Murray’s sacks:

  “That’s on the quarterback as well… Sometimes that athleticism comes back to haunt you.” (22:45)

• Tony Gonzalez on Wilson’s legacy ([57:01]):

  “If ever there was somebody who played himself out of the Hall of Fame, it’s Russell Wilson… I hope we’ve seen the last of him.”

• Richard Sherman on Wilson ([58:04]):

  “He had a legendary defense [in Seattle]… since then, not so much. It just hasn’t worked out that way.”

• Dan defending Wilson:

  “Let’s be fair to him, and I don’t think people are… His last five years in Seattle, only Aaron Rodgers was better at touchdown-to-interception ratio.” (1:11:24)

Key Segment Timestamps

• [05:00] – Meat Friday menu & T-shirt banter
• [10:30] – “Least competitive” NFL franchise poll
• [20:02] – Dan on fascinating Ohio State vs. Washington point spread
• [22:45] – Kyler Murray & sack discussion
• [25:05] – Sam Darnold/Vikings poll question
• [34:24] – Introduction of Russell Wilson Hall of Fame debate
• [57:01] – Tony Gonzalez’s harsh take on Wilson
• [58:04] – Richard Sherman’s critique
• [1:08:00] – Dan’s detailed defense of Wilson’s Seattle “second half”
• [1:11:10] – Paulie’s stats on Russ’s production post-Legion of Boom
• [1:14:00] – Show wraps Wilson legacy with context to other HOF QBs

Episode Tone

Conversational, passionate, and humorous—Dan Patrick mixes sharp observations, sports nostalgia, and witty banter with earnest debates on player legacies and fan experience, inviting listeners to weigh in while keeping the tone light and engaging.

Summary for Listeners Who Missed the Show:

This hour delivers a deep dive into the fallout from Thursday Night Football, the perennial futility of the Cardinals, and a particularly spirited debate about whether Russell Wilson has damaged (or should damage) his Hall of Fame prospects after his fall from elite status. The panel contrasts Wilson’s critics and defenders, brings data to the legacy discussion, and offers plenty of laughs and insight for NFL fans seeking takes beyond the obvious.