The Dan Patrick Show – Hour 2: Declan Doyle Bonding & Kevin Durant Burners

Date: February 19, 2026
Hosts: Jonas Knox & LaVar Arrington (in for Dan Patrick)
Podcast Network: iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network

Overview

This episode mixes NFL and NBA hot topics with personal anecdotes and sharp humor. Jonas Knox and LaVar Arrington open with a discussion of the NFL's shifting leadership culture through the lens of Baltimore Ravens’ new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, who is unusually young for the job. They then dive into the latest Kevin Durant burner account fiasco, riffing on athlete social media in today's climate. Along the way, the hosts inject stories about parenting, locker room life, and the challenges of building trust between coaches and players in modern sports.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Declan Doyle’s Youth and Challenges as Ravens OC

[03:07 - 23:14]

• Background: Declan Doyle, aged 29, is now the youngest coordinator in the NFL, recently hired by the Baltimore Ravens after previously working under Ben Johnson with the Bears.

• Doyle’s Press Conference: Doyle expressed that he expects Lamar Jackson and other players to attend voluntary workouts, emphasizing the need for teamwork and early bonding for championship aspirations.

  Quote:

  "We would expect them to be here... if you want to say that you're going to win a championship... that's going to take work, that's going to take collaboration, that's going to take the beginning of building the relationship..."
  — Declan Doyle, [04:28]

• Skepticism About Lamar Jackson’s Involvement:

  • Jonas jokes about Lamar’s unique approach:

    "I'm not sure if anybody filled him in on the fact that Lamar kind of moves at his own pace, moves at his own speed... you may or may not see him outside a lunch truck in Baltimore."
    — Jonas Knox, [05:13]

• Peer-to-Peer Challenge:

  • LaVar highlights the unique dynamic when a coach is the same age as his star player (both 29):

    "Do you treat your cousin the same way you treat your uncle?... You gotta build that bond."
    — LaVar Arrington, [08:14]

• Modern Athlete Mentality:

  • The hosts agree that iron-fist tactics no longer work. Today’s athletes crave bonds, respect, and authenticity over authority.

    "The whole iron fist… that's cringe. You gotta be creative... you gotta build the bond."
    — LaVar Arrington, [12:47]

• Building Trust – Advice for Doyle:

  • LaVar: meet players "on their grounds," like joining Lamar for food or cigars, but warns against being inauthentic.

    "The biggest mistake coaches make is being something and someone they're not."
    — LaVar Arrington, [14:51]

• Changing Notions of Authority and Mental Health:

  • The conversation shifts to generational shifts in discipline and mental health, with LaVar contrasting old-school physical discipline to today’s emphasis on player empowerment.

    "Mental health used to be you're weak. You know what they are now? It's power. It's empowerment."
    — LaVar Arrington, [16:34]

• Connecting with Veterans:

  • The challenge for Doyle is respecting Lamar Jackson’s status and finding authentic ways to connect, not just mimicking the approach used with rookies like Caleb Williams.

2. Personal Anecdotes: Parenting, Childhood & Sports Nostalgia

[27:54 - 29:55]

• Jonas and LaVar swap stories about playing sports with their kids and recapture childhood memories with old-school football gear.

  "I used to have those moments, man. Front yard with my plastic helmet on."
  — LaVar Arrington, [28:56]

• Humorous exchange about enduring “painful” play:

  "He's four. He's got to grow up sometime."
  — Jonas Knox, [28:51]

3. Kevin Durant & Social Media Burner Scandal

[30:48 - 42:18]

• Allegations:

  • Rumor swirls that KD is behind another troll/burner account (“get off my Dickerson”), which sent direct messages trashing teammates.

• Breakdown of Alleged DMs:

  • Jonas reads out the DMs, which include crude and critical comments about teammates and leadership, some using offensive terms.

    Notable sample:

    "Your franchise player can't shoot or defend. That's a way bigger issue than my turnovers. Remember, these guys are your future."
    — Jonas Knox (reading the DM), [32:34]

• KD’s Response:

  • Durant didn’t offer a clear denial, only stating:

    "I'm not here to get into Twitter nonsense. I'm just here to focus on the season, keep it pushing..."
    — (reading KD quote), [34:51]

• LaVar’s Theory:

  • LaVar thinks KD’s lack of denial is suspect:

    "When somebody does not deny it... Translation, I'm Mr. Get off these Dickers."
    — LaVar Arrington, [35:58]

  • He offers unique context: KD’s a known jokester, trash-talker, and highly interactive in DC pickup games, making it plausible:

    "If you know KD, he's a jokester... and a serious trash talker. His trash talk is great."
    — LaVar Arrington, [38:00]

• Modern Athlete Oddities:

  • LaVar chalks up the behavior to the broader context of changing social norms and the evolving digital landscape for athletes.

    "Most of these dudes these days—well, you are a weirdo. Damn. But these new school cats are weirdos because... their algorithm is way different than ours."
    — LaVar Arrington, [41:01]

4. Kansas City Chiefs’ “End of an Era?”

[47:41 - 51:06]

• Chiefs have restructured Mahomes’ contract to create more cap space, sparking a debate on whether their dynasty is fading.

• Both hosts agree:

  "I thought it was slowly coming to an end. And then the injury to Patrick Mahomes... I think it's a wrap.”
  — LaVar Arrington, [50:58]

• Jonas draws parallels to the Patriots' decade-long Super Bowl drought and suggests the Chiefs could stay relevant, but likely aren’t winning it all again soon.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• [05:13] Jonas Knox:
  "I'm not sure if anybody filled him in on the fact that Lamar kind of moves at his own pace ... he's been walking the Green wolf for about 48 hours straight."
• [09:16] Jonas Knox:
  “Declan Doyle's brought in to be the one closest to Lamar Jackson... That relationship is paramount with the Ravens organization."
• [14:51] LaVar Arrington:
  "The biggest mistake coaches make is being something and someone they're not."
• [16:34] LaVar Arrington:
  "Mental health used to be you're weak. You know what they are now? It's power. It's empowerment."
• [35:58] LaVar Arrington:
  "Translation, I'm Mr. Get off these Dickers."
• [41:01] LaVar Arrington:
  "These new school cats are weirdos because... their algorithm is way different than ours. I get it. So I don't put too much into it. I just think it's funny."

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|------------------------------------------------------| | 03:07 | Declan Doyle: Youngest NFL OC & Lamar Jackson | | 04:28 | Declan Doyle's press conference audio | | 09:16 | Coaching–Player Bonding in Modern NFL | | 14:51 | Dangers of coaching inauthentically | | 16:34 | Discipline then vs. now and “mental health breaks” | | 20:12 | Contrasts: Ben Johnson/Caleb Williams vs. Doyle/Lamar| | 30:48 | Kevin Durant “burner” saga introduction | | 32:34 | Detailed reading of “get off my Dickerson” DMs | | 34:51 | Durant’s media response to burner allegations | | 38:00 | KD’s real-life trash talk reputation | | 41:01 | Summary: Social media & athlete “weirdo” behavior | | 47:41 | Mahomes contract restructuring & Chiefs dynasty debate| | 50:58 | Hosts agree “the run” is over for the Chiefs |

Tone and Style

• The episode maintains a casual, witty, and candid style.
• Both hosts are quick with personal stories and cultural references, creating an easygoing but insightful atmosphere.
• Banter is sharp, sometimes self-deprecating, but always anchored in deep sports knowledge and experience. The tone matches that of the athletes and coaches they discuss: authentic, irreverent, and occasionally raw.

For New Listeners

This episode will appeal to fans intrigued by the changing culture in pro sports locker rooms, fans who enjoy athlete social media drama (especially involving KD), or anyone who likes their sports talk laced with humor and real-world wisdom. It provides valuable perspective on what it actually takes for young coaches to earn respect in today's NFL—and why old-school approaches just don’t cut it anymore.

Skip to [03:07] for Declan Doyle/Lamar Jackson talk, or [30:48] for the Kevin Durant burner saga.