The Dan Patrick Show — Hour 2

Episode: Dominique Foxworth Identifies the Most Super Bowl Ready Teams
Date: December 10, 2025
Podcast: The Dan Patrick Show (iHeartPodcasts & Dan Patrick Podcast Network)

Episode Overview

This episode centers around the Hall of Fame candidacy of NFL quarterbacks Philip Rivers and Matt Ryan, college football’s playoff controversy (with a special focus on Notre Dame), and a lively discussion with guest Dominique Foxworth about the current NFL Super Bowl contenders and the state of the league. The show features signature banter, humor, and debate from Dan and the Danettes, and includes the in-depth perspectives of ESPN’s Dominique Foxworth.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Hall of Fame Debate: Philip Rivers vs. Matt Ryan (04:26, 25:42)

• Philip Rivers’ Return & Hall Debate:

  • Dan questions if Rivers being added to the practice squad impacts his Hall of Fame eligibility clock.
  • The discussion pivots to examining Riverside and Matt Ryan’s Hall of Fame credentials.

• Dominique Foxworth's Take:

  • On choosing between Matt Ryan and Philip Rivers for Hall of Fame status:
    • “It’s so hard to get into the Pro Football Hall of Fame... I think of Philip Rivers as a better quarterback, but I also know the numbers don’t really support that there’s a huge difference between them... ultimately... I think we respect Philip Rivers’ career more.” (25:42)
  • On Matthew Stafford as a potential first-ballot Hall of Famer:
    • “Nah, I mean, not first ballot. I think he wins another [Super Bowl] this year, then we’re talking first ballot... with just one Super Bowl and the end of his career really defining his career, I don’t think he’s first ballot.” (26:38)

• Insight:

  • Consistent theme that Hall of Fame cases are complicated by context, team success, and playoff runs.
  • Rivers is respected for longevity and character, Matt Ryan for peak moments (MVP, Super Bowl run).
  • The physical and mental toll on aging QBs returning to play is discussed, with Foxworth noting:
    • “His [Rivers’] career ended because he was not producing... I’m not sure what some time off, some rest is going to do, but I don’t imagine it’s going to go all that well... it’s so fast and it’s so violent.” (27:26)

The Notre Dame Independence & CFB Playoff Access (04:27, 16:48)

• Dan and the Danettes examine Notre Dame’s unique position as a football independent and the media bias directed at the school:
  • “The College Football Playoff committee saying there is a provision now... if [Notre Dame’s] in the top 12, they’ll be in the playoffs next year... you have to be honest – if you take the names out and just look at the situation, you might have a different opinion.” (04:27)
• Historical Context (Caller Q&A):
  • Paulie: “Notre Dame started playing football in 1887... since the 1920s, they’ve been independent.” (17:16)
• Insight:
  • Growing ACC and Big 12 tension around playoff access.
  • Dan: “Put your school in that [Notre Dame] situation and see how you would react.” (18:45)

The NCAA’s Potential Expansion of March Madness (06:21)

• Dan reports:
  • NCAA President Charlie Baker is pushing for a decision to expand March Madness (from 68 to potentially 76 teams) by April.
  • Play-in games might be rebranded as the “first round.”
• Marvin: “If you win your conference, you should be able to play on Thursday and Friday [not in the ‘first four’].” (07:03)
• Dan: “You’re invited to the party, but you have to stay outside... you get to look in the window.” (07:19)

Baseball Hall of Fame: Jeff Kent, Bonds, Clemens, and A-Rod (07:49)

• Dan comments on the strictness and drama of Hall voters:
  • “Jeff Kent quietly going into the Baseball Hall of Fame... I have no problem with him being a Hall of Famer, okay? No problem. He benefited from Barry Bonds...” (07:49–08:26)
  • On A-Rod: “Alex Rodriguez shouldn’t be in the Hall of Fame... Given everything that he did to the sport.” (09:32)
• The Danettes debate the impact of the MVP on Hall eligibility versus other sports.

NFL Analysis: Super Bowl-Ready Teams with Dominique Foxworth (31:04)

• Who’s “Super Bowl Ready?”

  • Foxworth: “I would say the Packers and the Rams are the teams that I would look at and say these are Super Bowl caliber teams... No one in the AFC do I look at and say, oh yeah, they're definitely, I’ll shoot them... everybody else is so flawed in important ways.” (32:12)

• Chiefs & Dolphins Parity:

  • On Chiefs and Dolphins’ identical records:
    • “They’ve been the same team for the past two or three years... It finally has caught up to them... beating teams that were better than them because of good fortune, good coaching and a great quarterback.” (31:13)

• NFL Field Goal & Rule Talk:

  • Whether NFL has a “long field goal problem”:
    • “I think right now we’re kind of in a sweet spot where guys are likely to go for it [on 4th down]... I love the suspense of a last-second field goal, but I like it at the last second.” (33:03)
  • Dan jokes about adding lasers to the uprights; Foxworth teases Dan’s “gray hair” but agrees a chip or laser might be a fun update (35:22–35:53).

College Football Playoff Structure & Fairness (36:28)

• Foxworth: “While we zero in on these micro issues, the macro issue is that college football is trying to build these new structures on top of a faulty foundation... as long as we have these conferences where the talent is so... disparate... there’s not a playoff bracket big enough to get an actual champ.” (36:28)

Listener Interactions and Fun Segments

• Poll question: Which retired athlete would you want to see return for a month in full health? (Bo Jackson, Michael Jordan, Dwight Gooden, Wayne Gretzky) (13:03)

• Running joke about Wayne Gretzky’s World Cup draw and mispronouncing “Curacao”, with Dan and Paulie creating gags about poor geography and “Great One” privilege (14:36, 49:32).

• Movie sidebar: Adam Sandler’s Oscar snubs discussed, with panel speculating about the dynamics of “serious” comedians and supporting actor categories (46:27).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On QBs and Hall of Fame Legacy

  • Dominic Foxworth: “His [Philip Rivers’] career ended because he was not producing... I’m not sure what some time off, some rest is going to do, but I don’t imagine that it’s going to go all that well.” (27:26)

• On NFL Rule Changes:

  • Foxworth: “[Lasers on the uprights]... you’re betraying the gray hair that you have... I thought you were a future guy. I'm the curmudgeon that's like, don't put lasers on my field.” (35:53)

• On the College Football Playoff System:

  • Foxworth: “We’re trying to build a professional league on top of these amateur structures... There’s not a playoff bracket big enough... to get an actual champ.” (36:28)

• On Notre Dame Disdain:

  • Dan Patrick: “So much for being unbiased or impartial with this. You can’t let that cloud your judgment here with this.” (04:27)

• On MVPs and the Baseball Hall:

  • Marvin: “Don Mattingly, Dale Murphy, Juan Gonzalez. I just named three MVP awards. Two of those guys have two MVP awards and they’re not even sniffing the Hall of Fame.” (11:56)

• On Wayne Gretzky’s World Cup Pronunciations:

  • Panel mockingly: “If Gretzky wants to say it’s Karako, it’s Karako!” (51:26)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Hall of Fame/Philip Rivers-Matt Ryan debate: 04:26, 25:42–27:26
• Notre Dame & College Football Playoff/Independence: 04:27, 16:48–18:45
• March Madness Expansion: 06:21–07:19
• Baseball Hall of Fame & MVP Conversation: 07:49–12:14
• NFL Super Bowl Teams Discussion (Foxworth): 31:04–32:59
• NFL Rule Talk (Field Goals, Lasers, Fourth Down): 33:03–35:53
• College Football Playoff Structure (Foxworth): 36:28
• Wayne Gretzky Pronunciation Segment: 49:32–51:36
• Movie & Oscar Talk (Sandler): 46:27–47:51

Tone & Style

• The tone is classic Dan Patrick Show—irreverent, insightful, and humorous, blending hard sports analysis with playful banter among the Danettes and with guests. Foxworth delivers analytic breakdowns with humility, often poking fun at himself, while Dan skillfully moderates and sustains the show’s pace and energy.

This episode is a strong example of The Dan Patrick Show’s mix of sports depth and light-hearted, personality-driven radio, featuring current NFL/CBF debates, Hall of Fame talk, lively listener input, and plenty of laughs for fans of all sports stripes.