The Dan Patrick Show — Hour 2: Aging NBA Superstars, Dysfunctional NFL Franchises, Ross Tucker

Episode date: October 22, 2025
Host: Dan Patrick
Major Guest: Ross Tucker (CBS Sports/Westwood One Analyst)

Episode Overview

This episode of The Dan Patrick Show features a lively, insightful discussion focused on the NBA’s aging superstars and how legendary players adjust to diminished roles. Dan and his crew offer humorous and pointed takes on the NBA season’s launch, changes in football franchises (with a focus on dysfunction, especially the NY Jets), and the often unpredictable business of NFL quarterbacking. NFL analyst Ross Tucker joins for a deep dive into team dynamics, quarterback drama, managerial decision-making, and how franchises deal with adversity and locker room culture.

Key Topics & Insights

1. America’s Baseball Loyalties: Dodgers vs. Blue Jays

[03:01–05:45]

• State-by-State Allegiances: Dan brings up a recent BET Online state-by-state map of rooting interests for the MLB postseason. Crew members guess how many states back the Blue Jays versus the Dodgers.
• Result: 46 states, excluding California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona, are rooting for the Blue Jays.
• Notable quote:
  • "If you’re not a Dodger fan, then you’ll be a Blue Jay fan. You’ll probably root against the Dodgers maybe more than you’re rooting for the Blue Jays." — Dan Patrick [03:20]

2. Nostalgia for TV & Sports Theme Songs

[05:45–08:05]

• Theme Song Collection: Todd reveals he has 20+ TV and sports theme songs on his phone, which sparks a discussion about the cultural power and nostalgia attached to theme music in sports.
• John Tesh & 'Round Ball Rock': Dan teases Friday’s show with John Tesh (composer of NBC’s iconic NBA theme), and the enduring love for that song.
• Memorable moment:
  • "I was fascinated by that. It was almost as fun as the actual games, the opening theme." — Todd [08:01]

3. The Challenge of Aging NBA Stars

[08:05–13:08]

• LeBron’s New Role with the Lakers: Dan discusses LeBron James’ adjustment to not being the top option for the Lakers, citing the emergence of Luka Dončić as the team’s leader.
• Comparing NBA Stars: Kevin Durant, Chris Bosh, and Kevin Love are named as examples of stars successfully adjusting to secondary roles. For LeBron, it’s framed as a huge adjustment for an all-time great.
• Postseason Focus: Dan emphasizes that the Lakers and Warriors must manage older stars’ playing time and roles with the postseason in mind, likening NBA "closers" to NFL quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes.
• The ‘Boring Brilliance’ of SGA: Dan explains how watching Shea Gilgeous-Alexander forces fans to appreciate consistent greatness over highlight-reel moments, contrasting him with "flashier" players.
• Notable quote:
  • "There’ll be nights where Luka will lean on [LeBron] and LeBron will have those big nights. I just wouldn’t expect that on a consistent basis." — Dan Patrick [08:50]
  • "It’s not fair to Shea, but boringly awesome—he is. It’s just repetitive." — Dan Patrick [12:53]

4. NFL Locker Room Culture: The Great ‘Toys’ Debate

[13:08–14:18] [36:01–38:48]

• Ravens Remove Locker Room Games: The Baltimore Ravens reportedly took away entertainment like ping pong tables after a losing skid, then may have returned them. Dan and the crew compare this to their own show’s office "toys" (golf simulator, beer tap), mocking the NFL’s attempts to solve problems through such gestures.
• Ross Tucker on Team Culture: Ross describes how narratives swing when new coaches either install or remove games. Sometimes, removing games signals "getting serious;" other times, they're praised for building camaraderie. Ross shares an anecdote about an unnamed ex-teammate, a top draft pick, who showed more passion playing video games than in real NFL games.
• Notable quote:
  • "It seems so petty and childish…like they’re 8 years old." — Todd [14:05]
  • "The most animated I ever saw him was playing video games in the player’s lounge—way more than in a real game." — Ross Tucker [37:18]

5. The Dysfunctional Franchises: Jets, Vikings, and Quarterback Chaos

[25:34–34:49]

• Vikings QB Woes: Ross details how the Vikings cycled through options, originally targeting Sam Darnold and offering Daniel Jones more guaranteed money than Indy. With JJ McCarthy healing, the Vikings play Carson Wentz—a story of missed opportunities and strategic uncertainty.
• Jets Owner vs. Justin Fields: A recent Woody Johnson press conference sees the Jets owner publicly criticize current QB Justin Fields, despite signing him to a lucrative contract, and throwing his GM under the bus. Ross blasts this approach, noting it damages trade value and team image.
• Bengals, Steelers, & Joe Flacco: Discussion of backup QBs, expectations versus results, and Flacco’s unique “doesn’t care, just slings it” mentality.
• Wide Receiver Value: Jamar Chase’s performance highlights why top WRs merit massive contracts; defenses’ efforts to contain him only open the field for others.
• Memorable moments & quotes:
  • "All he did was make his own GM look really bad." — Ross Tucker on Woody Johnson [29:43]
  • "Joe’s out there just slinging it. He’s made $200 million… The guys won a Super Bowl MVP." — Ross Tucker on Joe Flacco [32:13]

6. NFL Coaching Carousel & Job Security

[34:49–36:01; 39:00–41:36]

• Interim Coach Effect: Ross explains why some NFL owners hesitate to fire coaches midseason—if an interim coach wins, they're often pressured to keep him (e.g., Antonio Pierce with the Raiders in 2023).
• Sean Payton vs. Russell Wilson: A spat erupts after Payton takes a veiled shot at Wilson. Wilson fires back with a "classless" tweet, referencing Payton’s BountyGate suspension, showcasing how grudges and egos still drive headlines.
• Notable quote:
  • "You can take a shot at me—I’m gonna come back twice as hard and bring up your lowest, worst moment." — Ross Tucker on Russell Wilson’s clapback [39:47]

7. Notre Dame & College Football Scheduling

[17:13–19:29; 46:32–48:59]

• Notre Dame’s Independence: Caller Nick shares family history with the Four Horsemen-era Notre Dame, and Dan weighs in on the advantages of the school remaining independent, emphasizing TV value, playoff expansion prospects, and classic rivalries like USC and Michigan.
• Scheduling Dilemmas: With more conference games, marquee cross-conference matchups may dwindle, prompting worries about future schedules.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments With Timestamps

• Dan Patrick on less flashy greatness:

  • "Sometimes you have to go out of your way to see greatness. And Shea Gilgeous is one of those players…boringly awesome—he is. It’s just repetitive." [12:53]

• Todd on team “toys”:

  • "It seems so petty and childish. Did they think that was not going to get out?...like they’re 8 years old." [14:05]

• Ross Tucker on Vikings QB saga:

  • "It’s a crazy dynamic that the Vikings thought Daniel Jones could play pretty well…and he didn’t want to have that hanging over his shoulder." [26:36]

• Ross Tucker on Jets dysfunction:

  • "All he did was make his own GM look really really bad. And by the way, Woody—the team is 0 and 7." [29:43]

• Caller Steve on broadcaster value (humorous):

  • "Ross Tucker can make a Texans game entertaining. Tom Brady can’t do that. I’m telling you guys, Fox wrote the check to the wrong dude." [15:59]

• Ross Tucker on coaching changes:

  • "Owners became hesitant to fire coaches in-season because if the interim goes on a run, there’s pressure to hire him." [34:49]

• Ross Tucker on Wilson vs. Payton:

  • "You can take a shot at me; I’m gonna come back twice as hard and bring up your lowest, worst moment." [39:47]

Fun and Engaging Moments

• Theme Song Nostalgia: Todd’s encyclopedic collection of TV and sports themes elicits laughter and a collective nod to the power of sports soundtracks. [07:14–08:05]
• "Mystery of the Animated Video Game Player": Ross hints at an ex-teammate (top-5 pick) who was far more passionate about video games than football, leaving Dan and the crew to play detective. [37:18–42:21]
• Branding Miss: Paul critiques NBC for naming their Michael Jordan segment “MJ Insights to Excellence,” calling for a better title (“Airtime with MJ”). [44:04–44:26]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Dodgers vs. Blue Jays fan map: 03:01–05:45
• Theme song nostalgia: 05:45–08:05
• Aging NBA superstars and changing roles: 08:05–13:08
• Ravens locker room toys debate: 13:08–14:18, 36:01–38:48
• Vikings, Jets, and NFL QB discussions (Ross Tucker): 25:34–34:49
• Coaching carousel and job insecurity: 34:49–36:01
• Wilson vs. Payton drama: 39:00–41:36
• Notre Dame & college football scheduling: 17:13–19:29, 46:32–48:59
• Fun: Video game-obsessed ex-player mystery: 37:18–42:21
• Branding of MJ segment: 44:04–44:26

Tone & Style

• The show balances irreverent humor, curiosity, and sharp sports insight.
• Dan Patrick’s conversational, slightly sardonic tone makes deep sports analysis approachable.
• Regular tangents, pop-culture references, and frequent play among the crew add levity and keep the energy high, even in technical football talk.

Conclusion

This episode is a deep dive into what makes teams (and stars) age well or poorly, how executives shape narrative for damage control, and how culture—in the locker room or the front office—can spell success or disaster. Dan and his crew, supported by Ross Tucker’s NFL acumen, keep the show brisk and entertaining, making the chaos of the sports world feel a little more understandable—and always a lot of fun.