The Dan Patrick Show – Hour 1 Summary

Date: February 5, 2026
Theme: The Patriots' Super Bowl return and why Tom Brady isn’t rooting for New England; conversation with Gerald McCoy.

Episode Overview

Dan Patrick and the Danettes broadcast from San Francisco, blending sports insight with humor and behind-the-scenes banter. The hour focuses on the curious stance taken by Tom Brady—one of New England's most iconic sports figures—who claims he isn’t rooting for the Patriots in the Super Bowl. The team debates Brady’s comments, explores athlete loyalty, and welcomes former NFL star and current analyst Gerald McCoy to discuss ESPN topics such as the Pro Bowl’s decline and his own career.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Tom Brady's Curious Super Bowl Neutrality

• Context: On his “Let’s Go!” podcast, Tom Brady says he has “no dog in the fight” regarding the Patriots’ Super Bowl appearance.
• Quote (Tom Brady, 01:42):
  “Listen, I don’t have a dog in the fight in this one. May the best team win. And in terms of the Patriots, this is a new chapter in New England, and I’m glad everyone’s embraced the Mike Vrabel regime... The Patriots are back and it's a very exciting time for everyone in New England.”
• Dan and the Danettes React: Immediate disbelief and playful mockery.
  • Dan (02:09): “Is Tom all of a sudden morphing into a journalist? Can't Tom just say, ‘Hey, Mr. Kraft, it'd be great if he got another Super Bowl…’? What’s going on here?”
  • Seaton (03:16): “He looked at this matchup and was like, ‘I don’t know. I just want a good game. What the hell’s wrong with you?’”
  • Paulie (03:55): “That’s an easy one to just give one of those answers: ‘I’m always rooting for the best for the Patriots and look forward to a great matchup…’ That’s an easy one.”
  • Seaton (04:17): “Every single thing that he said about the Patriots right there, you could easily say Seahawks, and it would be exactly the same.”
• Speculation:
  • Is Brady protecting his legacy, not wanting the Patriots to succeed without him?
  • Is he balancing impartiality since he's a Raiders co-owner and possibly hiring Seattle’s OC Clint Kubiak?
  • Is he simply dodging controversy given his business/media entanglements?

2. Player (and Podcaster) Loyalty: The Devil's Advocate

• Dan and team compare:
  • What would LeBron say if the Cavs were in the Finals after he left?
    • Paulie (05:26): “My guess is LeBron would say, ‘I'll always root for the best for the Cavs.’ He would know to say that.”
  • McLovin and the Sports Emmys; Tiki Barber and the Giants—the panel notes that athletes often face awkward loyalty questions when their former teams prosper quickly.

3. Poll Question and Listener Engagement

• Poll Question (08:42): “Who should Tom Brady be rooting for in the Super Bowl?”
• Listener Callers:
  • Chris in Syracuse (18:04): Notes Brady’s comfort with his conflicting Raiders/TV roles yet reticence to back the Patriots.
  • Patrick in California (18:36): Suggests Brady wants Seattle to win to keep his personal ring total ahead of the Patriots’.

4. Interview: Gerald McCoy Segment

On the Decline of the Pro Bowl

• McCoy (19:55): “Thank you for saying that about the Pro Bowl. That is a definite fact. It was a little different back then. Mattered more back then.”
• Explains how being an original selection (not an alternate) used to mean more and that the designation has lost value with so many alternates now—players like Justin Fields and Tyler Huntley getting invited despite benchings or poor seasons.
  • Quote (McCoy, 22:19): “Justin Fields got benched and got offered to be a Pro Bowl.”
  • Suggestion: Only original selections should be considered “Pro Bowlers,” or turn it into a players’ trip/vacation without the formal tag.

On Fanatic Loyalty vs. Support

• McCoy describes his enduring “fan” status with the Bucs, illustrating the difference between mere supporters and true fans.
  • Quote (24:34): “Fan is short for fanatic, and you find out how much it means to them... Their week will not go well if their team doesn’t do well… That’s how I am about the Bucs.”
  • Relates a story (26:22) about sneaking out of church to watch the Bucs in the Super Bowl as a kid.

On Tom Brady’s Comments & Media Life

• McCoy’s Perspective (23:01):
  • Maybe Brady’s avoiding controversy due to “so much scrutiny for being a partial owner… and calling games.”
  • McCoy embraces open bias as a former player, always picking the Bucs and owning it on NFL Network.
  • Ultimately, McCoy thinks Brady is just being tactical, but “nobody is buying that he is not rooting for somebody.” (27:03)

On Sacking Tom Brady

• McCoy: Vividly recalls sacking Brady—one of his proud moments.
  • Quote (28:19): “When I sacked Tom, I ran the sideline… I was just sitting there and Levante was like, ‘Gee, you got him.’”

On Hall of Fame Candidacy

• McCoy gives a detailed self-assessment—proud of being in the conversation, even if he doesn’t make it.
  • Quote (32:39): “The fact that I’m in the conversation, man… I did enough.”
  • Cites his record: six straight Pro Bowl nods, among rare company with players like Aaron Donald and Warren Sapp.

On Facing Young QBs (Drake May vs. Sam Darnold)

• McCoy would prefer to play against Drake May, who’s more mobile but less adept at “picking you apart with their mind.”
  • Would test May’s injured shoulder aggressively.

Notable Quotes and Moments

• Dan (02:09): “He's got a statue outside the stadium... What's going on here?”
• Seaton (03:43): “You can’t look and be like, ‘Hell yeah, I have a statue outside of Gillette. Of course I’m rooting for the Patriots.’ What kind of question is that?”
• Gerald McCoy (24:34): “A fan is short for fanatic, and you find out how much it means to them… That’s how I am about the Bucs.”
• Patrick (Caller) (18:59): “Tom Brady's got seven Super Bowls. The Patriots and the Steelers have six. He wants the Seahawks to win... He wants to stay ahead at seven.”
• Seaton’s Tom Brady impression (03:24): “What I root for is hard work and dedication, because that's what made my career so successful…”
• Asante Samuel social media reaction (quoted by Seaton, 39:23): “Tom Brady, you have 23 hours to respond or it’s up… Tom Brady’s new name is Flaw Ass Brady. He’s going crazy.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:42] – Tom Brady’s “no dog in the fight” quote
• [02:09-06:29] – Dan and Danettes debate/dissect Brady’s comments and athlete loyalties
• [08:42–13:12] – Poll question: Should Brady be rooting for NE, Seattle, or nobody?
• [19:55–35:13] – Gerald McCoy interview: Pro Bowl, NFL fandom, sacking Brady, Hall of Fame case
• [37:16] – Deion Sanders' story about playing against Bo Jackson in college
• [39:23] – Asante Samuel’s angry Twitter reaction to Brady’s neutrality

Flow & Tone

The tone is conversational, humor-laced, with Dan and his team mixing serious sports commentary, good-natured ribbing, and playful impersonations (especially of Tom Brady). McCoy’s appearance infuses player perspective and candor—he’s engaging and self-reflective, not shying from fandom or professional pride.

Takeaways

• Tom Brady’s refusal to publicly root for the Patriots in the Super Bowl is viewed as strange and inauthentic by most of the panel and callers.
• Brady’s balancing act as broadcaster, partial owner, and NFL legend might be shaping his answers, but the consensus is he should be (and probably is) rooting for the Pats.
• Gerald McCoy provides enlightening NFL insider views, especially on declining Pro Bowl prestige and the meaning of true fandom.
• The “no dog in the fight” theme becomes both a springboard for sports analysis and a running comedic bit, with the Danettes hammering the point with impressions and analogies.
• Social media, especially from ex-Patriots like Asante Samuel, amplifies the expectation for alumni to publicly support their teams.

For those who missed the episode:
Expect a lively, thoughtful debate on sports loyalty, a candid ex-player interview, fan interactions, and signature Dan Patrick Show humor as the Super Bowl hype hits its peak.