The Dan Patrick Show: Hour 2 – Chase Daniel, Curt Cignetti Is a Bargain

Date: January 20, 2026
Podcast: The Dan Patrick Show
Host: Dan Patrick
Guests: Chase Daniel (ESPN Analyst, former NFL QB)

Episode Overview

This hour of "The Dan Patrick Show" revolves around major college football and NFL stories, including Indiana’s shocking national title win, quarterback prospect analysis (especially Fernando Mendoza), NFL coaching moves, quarterback contract quandaries, and a lively, humorous debate about the ever-evolving world of American sports. Former NFL quarterback Chase Daniel joins Dan to share detailed insights on the college football playoff QBs and the NFL quarterback landscape. The show’s signature banter, pop-culture touches, and witty interplay thread through the segment.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Indiana Hoosiers: National Champions (01:54–03:26)

• Dan celebrates Indiana’s improbable football national championship and compares it to other great sports upsets.
• Poll Question: Which is the closest comparison—1980 Miracle on Ice, 2016 Leicester City, Cubs’ 2016 Title, or 1983 NC State?
  • Listeners favored Leicester City (37%).
  • Dan and the team debate where the 2004 Red Sox fit in historic upsets.

2. NFL Draft: Chase Daniel’s Analysis of Fernando Mendoza (04:22–08:16)

• Chase Daniel, breaking down playoff QBs on YouTube, offers a scouting report on Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza.

  • Quote:
    "He just has something about him…He’s extremely smart…His eyes are never in the wrong spot, so he never gets confused." - Chase Daniel (05:11)
  • Dan questions Mendoza’s NFL comp: "Is he Kirk Cousins? Less athletic Andrew Luck? Joe Flacco? I’m just not sure." (05:53)
  • Chase notes Mendoza is highly polished but questions his ceiling: "He’s more athletic and has a stronger arm than you think." (06:47)
  • Big concern: Can Mendoza handle "muddy" NFL pockets? Raiders’ O-line may not help. (08:06)

3. C.J. Stroud Analysis, Quarterback Extensions, and NFL Business (08:16–11:28)

• Dan asks: "What has happened to C.J. Stroud?” (08:16)

• Chase Daniel notes Stroud regressed in the playoffs, struggling when not seeing his first read, making bad decisions under pressure:

  • Quote:
    "He was the liability...And I think, when you get in a point like that and you get in a point where you’re just pressing constantly, more bad plays are going to happen to you. ...If you aren’t sure that C.J. Stroud is your guy, you’ve got to start looking elsewhere." - Chase Daniel (09:43)

• Dan: Quarterback extensions require caution, referencing Tua and Kyler as cautionary tales (09:59).

• Chase emphasizes teams have leverage: fifth-year option and franchise tags give teams up to seven years of control. (10:47)

4. Should the Bills Have Fired Sean McDermott? (11:28–15:07)

• Dan: "Would you have moved on from Sean McDermott in Buffalo?" (11:28)
• Chase Daniel admires McDermott but questions if the coach's message has grown stale: "At some point, the message just gets...stale, you’ve got to move on." (15:07)
• Both agree the playoff loss fell on Josh Allen’s performance. The debate centers on how much is coach vs. QB, and whether a leadership change sparks progress.

5. NFL Coaches, Stale Messages, and Change (15:07–16:21)

• Discussion on whether franchises like Pittsburgh with Tomlin or Baltimore with Harbaugh have tuned out their long-term coaches, paralleling McDermott's situation.
• Sometimes both the coach and the team need change, with Andy Reid leaving Philly as the best example.

6. NFL QB Prospects: Cam Ward and Jared Stidham (16:21–19:26)

• Is Cam Ward a franchise QB? Chase Daniel thinks so, likening him to a better-armed Tua, especially if paired with an innovative, motion-heavy OC (like Mike McDaniel) (17:12).

• On Jared Stidham: Chase praises his rapport with teammates and believes Sean Payton will remain aggressive in Denver’s offense vs. New England (18:28).

  • Quote:
    "Sometimes as a backup, when you don't overthink it, you just go out there and play…and just let your pure progression passing take over." - Chase Daniel (19:13)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Fernando Mendoza:

• Chase Daniel:
  “His eyes are never in the wrong spot, so he never gets confused. He’s extremely smart.” (05:11)
• Dan Patrick:
  “Is he Kirk Cousins, less athletic Andrew Luck, or Joe Flacco? I’d take any of those for the Raiders.” (05:53)

On C.J. Stroud & Contract Uncertainty:

• Chase Daniel:
  “He was the liability [in the playoffs]...you’ve got to start looking elsewhere.” (09:43)
• Dan Patrick:
  “This is big boy business here…I might be hurting your feelings, but you’ve got to show me one more year.” (09:59)

On Sean McDermott & Coaching Cycles:

• Chase Daniel:
  “At some point, the message just gets stale, you’ve got to move on.” (15:05)
• Dan Patrick:
  “Is Sean McDermott a better coach if Josh Allen doesn’t throw interceptions?” (13:32)

On Sideline Coaching Interviews:

• Seaton:
  “They think we’re going to throw—we’re going to run the ball constantly…Just a little tidbit for you here.” (37:15, joking about the lack of value in mid-game coaching interviews)

On Officiating and Replay Transparency:

• Dan Patrick:
  “I want to have the people in New York or an overhead judge who can help us get the call right. If the goal is to get the job done correctly…I don’t want to hear, we got to speed up the game.” (45:11)

Important Timestamps

| Time | Segment | |----------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:54 | Dan recaps Indiana’s national title, sets poll questions | | 04:22 | Chase Daniel joins; breaks down Fernando Mendoza as a QB prospect | | 08:16 | Analysis shifts to CJ Stroud’s struggles and NFL QB contract strategy | | 11:28 | Debate: Did Buffalo act too quickly on Sean McDermott? | | 15:07 | Broader discussion: When do teams need to change coaches? | | 16:21 | Is Cam Ward a franchise QB? | | 17:59 | Preview of what Sean Payton can do with Jared Stidham in Denver | | 23:30 | Dan notes Zach Charbonnet injury’s impact on the Seahawks | | 27:52 | Listener reenacts crowd roar during punt block in Indiana vs Miami | | 29:22 | Raiders fan weighs in on Mendoza, praises his poise under pressure | | 32:19 | Side conversation about the film “Nebraska” and casting the Kurt Cignetti movie | | 41:13 | Discussion about replay review transparency in officiating |

Additional Observations & Pop Culture Segments

• The crew’s recurring gag: casting the “Kurt Cignetti movie” (Greg Kinnear, J.K. Simmons, Stephen Root, and Jonah Hill as suggested leads) with playful debate (31:48–36:15).
• Dan offers movie recommendations ("Nebraska," “The Rip” with Affleck & Damon).
• Listener calls are peppered throughout, offering fresh perspectives, humor, and additional questions, notably about the Mendoza draft pick and lingering reactions to coach firings.
• The show lampoons sideline interviews for their lack of substantive value.
• Dan expresses his ongoing call for more transparency in how officials use video review, referencing soccer’s VAR system and college football.

Summary

This episode of The Dan Patrick Show delivers a sports nerd’s feast—a breakdown of Indiana’s miracle football run, deep quarterback analysis (both college prospects and NFL dilemmas), coaching carousel insights, and policy talk about officiating/replay. Chase Daniel brings sharp, practical football intelligence, while the DP Show’s cast enlivens things with quick poll questions, fan interaction, and pop-culture sidebars.
Recommended for: Sports fans who enjoy fast-moving, smart, and funny radio that bridges football, pop culture, and sports business realities.

Key Quote:
“This is big boy business here…I might be hurting your feelings, but you’ve got to show me one more year.”
— Dan Patrick on quarterbacks and contract extensions (09:59)