The Dan Patrick Show – Hour 2

Date: September 23, 2025
Guests: Jim Harbaugh (Los Angeles Chargers Head Coach), Ryan Fitzpatrick (NFL Analyst, ex-NFL QB)
Host: Dan Patrick
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts / Dan Patrick Podcast Network

Overview

Hour 2 of The Dan Patrick Show focuses on the NFL: Dan’s trademark conversational interviews bring on LA Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh and NFL on Prime Video analyst/former QB Ryan Fitzpatrick. The episode covers postgame reaction to Monday Night Football, the philosophy of forcing turnovers, quarterback play evolution, Lions and Ravens analysis, Hall of Fame debates, and football family legacy. The discussion is seasoned with signature DP humor, coach and quarterback insights, and a nod to listener interaction.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Recapping Monday Night Football & Troy Aikman's Analyst Moment

00:00 – 04:00

• Dan opens with commentary on the Detroit Lions' 38-30 victory over the Ravens.

• He highlights analyst Troy Aikman’s reaction to Derrick Henry’s post-fumble frustration: Aikman offered the mindset of a quarterback rallying a teammate to stay mentally engaged:

  "If that's my running back, if that was Emmett and he's acting like that, I'd say, 'Hey, we gotta get back out there. The game is not lost yet.' But give credit to the Lions." (03:10)

• Poll question: Who’s in better shape right now – Ravens or Chiefs? Audience picks Ravens (03:57).

2. Interview: Jim Harbaugh, LA Chargers Head Coach

04:22 – 18:10

Championship Mindset & Team Culture

• Harbaugh’s pride in his team's “never give up, never give in” personality:

  “There’s a never give up, never give in personality, and that bodes well. That’s the kind of hearts champions are made of.” (04:51)

On Forcing Fumbles and Defensive Philosophy

• Dan asks if Harbaugh teaches the “punch out” technique for turnovers—citing Charles “Peanut” Tillman’s DB legacy.
  Harbaugh:

  “Yeah, punch it out, rip it out. I mean, lawnmower that ball… Everybody’s going for that ball.” (05:48)

  “Once somebody sees somebody do something that hasn’t been done, then see if I can do it that way. That’s the mentality… across sports.” (06:14)

  “You show [players] every single week, for the sake of the ball carrier and for those trying to get it out… Turnovers, tips and overthrows are still the leading cause of turnovers in America.” (06:38)

Evaluating Wins: Division Games Matter

• On which of the Chargers’ divisional wins is most satisfying:

  “The division wins. Definitely the division wins… You’re right, there’s some that are better and those are the division wins.” (07:47)

Game Planning and QB Preparation

• Preparing for the Giants and (rookie) Jackson Dart vs. Russell Wilson:

  “We’ll prepare for the Giants and both quarterbacks… Some of the [prep] is different, Jackson Dart, the quarterback-driven kind of game would be more in play.” (08:20)

Justin Herbert Praise – Athleticism, Skill, “Impossible” Plays

• Harbaugh on Herbert’s cross-body throw:

  “Impossible. It was an impossible throw and it was an impossible catch by Keenan Allen.” (08:52)
  “Justin’s throws… they never die at the receiver... When I catch his ball pregame, it's like none I've ever caught before… At the end, it speeds up.” (09:52)

• On Herbert as a “hand-off” artist:

  “I think of it as a handoff… with the way he can put the ball right on the bullseye.” (10:58)

Herbert’s Running Ability – An Offseason Focus

• Harbaugh notes Herbert now clocks 21.6 mph (up from 20.7):

  “He did get a mile an hour faster this offseason… His training is elite… It’s showing up in games.” (12:17)

• “God doesn’t give anybody a monopoly, maybe except Justin Herbert.” (12:22)

Unfinished NFL Business

• On returning to the NFL after Super Bowl loss:

  “When I walked off the field at the Super Bowl 2013… felt like there’d be another day. For a long time, there wasn’t… Now with the Chargers… I’m feeling there’s going to be another day.” (13:40)

The Harbaugh Coaching Legacy & “Trifecta”

• Proud dad – son Jay (Seahawks ST coordinator) had a historic special teams day:

  “95-yard punt return, 65-yard kickoff return, blocked field goal… That’s the trifecta.” (15:46)

• Family boxing stories: His grandfather (“Little Thunder”) and dad could hold their own.

  “My great grandfather Harbaugh was an amateur boxer… My dad can handle himself.” (17:32)

• On his children surpassing him:

  “That’s what we want with our kids, right? We want them to be better than us.” (15:54)

Memorable Quotes

• On making enemies:

  “Why would you want to fight? Let’s be friends. Don’t make an enemy when you can make a friend.” (16:53)

3. Interview: Ryan Fitzpatrick, NFL Analyst / Ex-QB

25:20 – 35:54

Jared Goff and Hall of Fame Debate

• Dan floats: If Goff wins a Super Bowl with the Lions, is he a Hall of Famer?
• Fitzpatrick:

  “Wow. We’re starting with the tough questions early. I think so because, because it’s Detroit as well...If a quarterback could bring a Super Bowl to [Buffalo or Detroit], I think they’ll end up in the Hall of Fame.” (25:36)

Takeaways: Ravens vs. Lions

• High praise for Dan Campbell and Detroit’s culture change:

  “I come out of that game so impressed with Detroit and what Dan Campbell has done there… right now, Detroit’s my favorite team in the NFC.” (26:17)

Ravens vs Chiefs: Defensive Concerns & Comparison

• Fitzpatrick is more worried about the Chiefs struggling offensively than the Ravens’ defensive slump:

  “I’ve been concerned with the Chiefs for the last few years and I’ve been very wrong… It just seems like things are difficult for the Chiefs right now on offense… I just think the Ravens are a much better football team.” (27:27)

Quarterback’s Perspective on Facing Bad Defenses

• Dan: "What's it like to go against a defense you know is bad?"
  Fitzpatrick:

  "It's wonderful." (28:07)
  Elaborates on the simplicity and satisfaction when everything works as planned and the luxury of relaxing games.

Evolution of the NFL QB Position

• Quarterback protection & passing strategies have changed:

  “Part of it is protecting the quarterbacks. Less big hits… Completion percentage [has] jumped way up… quick passes, short passes, a lot of this is an extension of the run game… I don’t know that it’s necessarily changing for the better.” (30:08)

Why More QBs Don’t Start Under Center

• College schemes and teaching priorities:

  “You have guys come into the league that haven’t really had to be in a huddle and bark out a cadence or snap count… A lot of that occurs in shotgun… but it is a huge advantage to be able to get under center.” (31:36)

On Marvin Harrison Jr.: Rookie WR’s Struggles

• Confidence lapse and comparison burden:

  "He’s a good player. I think the biggest knock... his inability to make that contested catch. The hard thing is the comparison is Larry Fitzgerald… He hasn’t lived up to that billing yet, but he has the talent. It’s still early.” (32:22)

Waiting Game for Rookie QBs (Jackson Dart)

• On when to start a rookie QB, referencing Thursday games for extra prep:

  “I’ve always had, after our [Thursday night] game, circled. Week seven would be his first start… It’s nice for Jackson Dart to be able to sit and kind of watch [Russell Wilson] operate.” (33:40)

Podcast Life: “Fitz & Wit”

• On his new podcast, chemistry with Andrew Whitworth, sharing stories:

  “I put off the podcast for a couple years, and then I realized I finally found the right person… to be able to sit down and talk with some of these guys… We love it.” (35:01)

4. Listener Calls & Dan on Interviewing

36:11 – 52:35

Listener Feedback & Interview Praise

• Listeners call to praise Dan for his interview style—one caller (law enforcement) even uses Dan’s interviews as a teaching tool for reading body language and open-ended interviewing (47:15).

  “Ask open-ended questions… The approach is the same: Ask interesting questions, but better yet, get interesting answers. That’s the key.” (37:03)

• Discussion: backup quarterbacks make for great interviews, have unique views on the game (51:05).

On Young Quarterbacks & Caleb Williams

• Dan’s advice: fans/media are too quick to judge; young QBs need time and an openness to coaching:

  “Are you going to listen to somebody? Are you going to be coached? That’s the most important part of all of this. And not everybody wants to be coached or coached hard.” (39:32)

• The most telling QB trait:

  “The biggest thing I like to see—what happens when something goes wrong. That tells me a whole lot about that quarterback.” (41:39)

Notable Quotes

• Jim Harbaugh:

  “God doesn’t give anybody a monopoly, maybe except Justin Herbert.” (12:22)
  “There’s a never give up, never give in personality, and that bodes well. That’s the kind of hearts champions are made of.” (04:51)
  “Why would you want to fight? Let’s be friends. Don’t make an enemy when you can make a friend.” (16:53)

• Ryan Fitzpatrick:

  “If a quarterback could bring a Super Bowl to [Buffalo or Detroit], I think they’ll end up in the Hall of Fame.” (25:36)
  “I come out of that game so impressed with Detroit and what Dan Campbell has done… right now, Detroit’s my favorite team in the NFC.” (26:17)
  “It’s wonderful.” (About bad defenses, 28:07)
  “Completion percentage [has] jumped way up… I don’t know that it’s necessarily changing for the better.” (30:08)

• Dan Patrick:

  “The biggest thing I like to see—what happens when something goes wrong. That tells me a whole lot about that quarterback.” (41:39)
  “Ask interesting questions, but better yet, get interesting answers. That’s the key.” (37:03)

Important Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamps | |-----------------------------------------------|--------------| | NFL MNF Recap, Aikman as analyst/qb | 02:37-04:22 | | Jim Harbaugh Interview | 04:22-18:10 | | Fitzpatrick on Goff, Ravens/Lions, Chiefs | 25:20-35:54 | | Harbaugh on Herbert’s development | 08:52-13:33 | | Listener Interview Praise & QB Insight | 36:11-41:39 | | Bears/Caleb Williams, QB evaluation | 39:09-41:39 |

Tone & Style

• Conversational, candid, and insightful, with DP’s hallmark blend of respect, curiosity, good-natured ribbing, and sports fandom. Both Harbaugh and Fitzpatrick respond with openness, humor, and detail, providing both inside-the-helmet analysis and big-picture context.

For Listeners: Why This Episode Stands Out

• In-depth look at coaching philosophy and QB evolution from people who live it.
• Harbaugh’s thoughts on NFL “unfinished business” and the family legacy are genuine and fun.
• Fitzpatrick’s candor on quarterback life, Detroit optimism, and evolving offensive strategy adds a rich, player-driven point of view.
• Listener calls reveal the respect Dan’s interviewing style commands and offer extra nuggets on sports media and the value of backup QBs’ perspectives.

Perfect for NFL fans, aspiring coaches, and anyone intrigued by sports psychology, quarterbacking, and the art of the interview.