The Dan Patrick Show — Hour 2 – Legendary Partying, Michael Irvin

Date: December 18, 2025
Host: Dan Patrick
Guest: Michael Irvin

Episode Overview

This episode of The Dan Patrick Show centers around legendary tales of partying in sports and music, pop culture nostalgia, and an in-depth interview with NFL Hall of Famer Michael Irvin. Dan and the Danettes debate which era or celebrity would have been the ultimate to "kick it with," and Irvin brings high energy as he discusses 90s Cowboys lore, NFL hot topics, and delivers classic stories with humor and candor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Poll Question – Legendary Parties

[03:05-06:32]

• The hour’s poll asks:
  Who would you most have wanted to party with?
  • Led Zeppelin (1970s)
  • Motley Crue (1980s)
  • Michael Irvin (1990s)
• The Danettes debate the merits, reputation, and wildness of each group.
• Dan jokes, “What are the chances I could die – like, high with all of them and then work my way back.” (04:19)

NFL and College Football Chat

[07:33-11:51]

• Rundown of a packed football weekend: NFL, bowls, teams to watch.
• Discussion of major changes in college player compensation (NIL), recruiting scandals, and anecdote about a high school player getting a $3 million NIL deal.
• Dan asserts:

  “The NCAA does not exist anymore. It does not. I was told that yesterday. The NCAA, as you know, it does not exist.” (11:15)

Classic Sports Recruiting and Player Perks

[08:43-12:29]

• Stories of Eric Dickerson and the infamous gold Trans Am, SMU’s old-school “pay for play”, and creative booster workarounds.
• Dan on the changing landscape:

  “Nowadays that would be like, what's wrong? You guys aren't spending enough money? You're not giving away enough cars.” (08:58)

Catchphrases in Sports Media

[13:26-16:17]

• Callers reminisce about classic SportsCenter catchphrases from Stuart Scott and others.
• Listener calls in with a nostalgic memory of Dan saying “Don Mattingly gone” at a game, highlighting Dan’s longstanding cultural footprint.

Michael Irvin Joins the Show

[20:56-38:02]
(Highlighted conversation; see timestamps for notable quotes)

Cowboys Partying and 90s NFL Celeb Life

• Irvin confirms Troy Aikman had “all the baddest top things out there” (meaning top celebrity dates) (21:45, 22:23).
• Addresses being painted as the “bad guy” in documentaries, jokes about NFL partying, and how celebrity dating in the NFL is nothing new.

Drafting & Controlling Destiny

• Irvin reveals how he controlled which team drafted him, ensuring he landed with the Cowboys:

  “I designated Dallas, LA or New York. So I was going to end up where I wanted to be and not in any of those places.” (23:56)

Current NFL Events

• Justin Jefferson/Minnesota Vikings:

  “He's such a good dude. He's such a competitor... No matter what quarterback he's had, he's turned them into pretty, pretty good quarterbacks. And I think he'll get J.J. McCarthy there.” (24:49-26:10)

• Joe Burrow/State of the Bengals:

  “Isn't it funny how history somehow finds a way to repeat himself here again in Cincinnati?... I think he's just trying to light a fire up under the organization.” (26:10-27:30)

• Cowboys’ 2025 Season Grade:

  “There is no grade to give outside of a failure grade. The standard, Dan, is the standard.” (27:35)
  “Those are ornaments on the tree. That's not the Christmas tree.” (28:26)

• KC Chiefs/Mahomes:
  On the injuries, team building, and the necessity of surrounding Mahomes with more talent.

  “The weight got a little too heavy and it actually broke Patrick Mahomes. So now they have to start taking some of that weight off by putting better talent around.” (31:40-32:01)

• Troy Aikman vs. Patrick Mahomes:

  “No. No, I won't take Patrick Mahomes over Troy Aikman. I won't take nobody over Troy Aikman, including mom, dad, sister, brother, niece, nephew in my family.” (32:06)

Entertaining Cowboy Tales

• Laughs on whether Aikman dated Shania Twain or Lori Morgan, confusion over celebrity rumors (36:49, 42:07).
• Playful riffing about Troy Aikman’s 90s lifestyle, how it compares to modern athletes.

Super Bowl Pressures

• On the Bills and Josh Allen:

  “No, not super bowl or bust — a Super Bowl win. It's got to be a Super Bowl win...” (35:48)

Music & Legendary Concerts

[46:25-49:45]

• Callers recount seeing Led Zeppelin, Pearl Jam, and Grateful Dead.
• Dan shares Hootie & the Blowfish stories, including drunken on-stage mishaps.
• Debates over which surprising bands partied the hardest.

Fun Banter and Behind-the-Scenes Extras

[42:20-43:34, 49:45-51:19]

• Internal show voting on “Most Valuable” and “Least Valuable Danette.”
• On Jameis Winston’s notorious 30 touchdown/30 interception season:

  “They should do a 30 for 30 on the 30/30 season that Jameis has — he giveth and he taketh away.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Dan Patrick:

  “Heroin always wins, you know, Heroin's undefeated.” (05:33)

• Michael Irvin on his reputation and NFL documentaries:

  “So, I guess in this whole documentary, I have to be the bad guy. [Emmitt Smith] looked at me and said, ‘Well, you kind of were.’” (22:37)

• Michael Irvin on managing his own draft:

  “Any team that would have drafted me that I didn't want to play for, I would have just dropped the class and gone back to school, and they would have lost their draft pick.” (23:56)

• On Cowboys’ standards:

  “The standard is the standard. I don’t want to hear how many records you broke this year… are you in the playoffs with a chance to win a ring. And they are not. That’s a failing grade.” (27:35–28:21)

• Michael Irvin’s loyalty:

  “There is nobody. I will take over Troy [Aikman] because… Patrick Mahomes is great… but Troy is the best timing throwing quarterback in the history of this game… not even Jesus himself.” (32:23, 33:37)

• Dan Patrick on catchphrases:

  “Everybody then had to have a catchphrase. It felt like if you were coming to SportsCenter. Hey, and I've got a catchphrase… that's the password to get in.”

• Michael Irvin closing:

  “You've been on the road a long time, DP. God has blessed you greatly.” (36:22)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 03:05 — Hour 2 Poll Question: The ultimate party era/person
• 11:15 — “The NCAA does not exist anymore...”
• 20:56–38:02 — Michael Irvin interview begins
  • 21:45 — Troy Aikman’s celebrity dating
  • 22:37 — Being “the bad guy” in Cowboys doc
  • 23:56 — How Irvin controlled his NFL draft fate
  • 24:49–26:10 — Justin Jefferson, Vikings, and quarterbacks
  • 26:10–27:30 — Joe Burrow’s situation/cryptic talk
  • 27:35–28:26 — Cowboys’ season: “Ornaments on the tree…not the Christmas tree”
  • 31:43–32:01 — Mahomes, Chiefs, and the toll of expectation
  • 32:06–33:37 — Aikman vs. Mahomes (loyalty to Troy)
  • 35:45–36:15 — Bills: “Super Bowl win or bust”
• 46:25–49:45 — Caller concert stories, Led Zeppelin and Grateful Dead memories, Hootie & the Blowfish story

Summary

This episode blends nostalgia with sharp sports commentary, fueled by stories of wild music, NFL legends, and candid talk with Michael Irvin. With a playful look at the “craziest party eras,” lively banter, and real insight into today’s college and NFL scene, the show is both a trip down memory lane and a pulse check on current sports culture. Irvin’s appearance stands out for his charisma, unfiltered honesty, and affection for his Cowboy teammates — and the stories and myths that surround them.

Recommended Segments:

• Michael Irvin’s entire discussion (20:56–38:02) for NFL fans and lovers of candid athlete storytelling.
• The opening poll and party stories (03:05–06:32, 46:25–49:45) for pop culture and music history buffs.