The Dan Patrick Show – Hour 2

Date: January 8, 2026
Main Guests: Ryan Fitzpatrick (former NFL quarterback, Prime Video analyst)
Key Topics: NFL coaching carousel, Dolphins firing Mike McDaniel, playoff scenarios, college football (Fiesta Bowl), inside sports media

Episode Overview

This hour of The Dan Patrick Show features Dan and the Danettes discussing breaking news in the NFL—most notably, the firing of Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel—and broader trends in coaching hires and firings, playoff pressure, and issues in college football. Former NFL QB Ryan Fitzpatrick joins for a wide-ranging segment on playoff matchups, coaching pressure, and player development. The show also delivers its signature blend of insider insight, humor, and listener interaction.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Poll Questions & Sports Headlines (00:49–01:43)

• Dan reiterates poll questions about NBA trades (Hawks vs. Wizards) and which NFL playoff teams listeners believe have the best chance.
• Seaton shares that the Hawks are thought to be slightly improved after a trade (53%), and the Bills and Patriots lead AFC playoff predictions.

2. NFL Playoff Coaching Pressure (01:44–06:25)

• Dan recounts a conversation with Dan Orlovsky about whether Sean McDermott (Bills) is coaching for his job. Orlovsky answered:

  "If I'm going to be honest, I would say yes." (01:50)

• Coaching Carousel: With John Harbaugh now available, Dan muses about playoff teams potentially firing existing coaches to pursue him. He also discusses the idea of coaches leaving for TV and compares scenarios—referencing Jon Gruden, Tony Dungy, and Mike Tomlin possibly taking a broadcasting break before returning to coaching.
• Coaching in TV vs. Game Coverage: Dan breaks down the difference between in-game and studio analyst roles—the challenge of getting "animated" in a sterile studio and the constant distractions of producers talking in the analysts' ears.

3. Inside TV Production (06:25–08:40)

• The crew shares some behind-the-scenes aspects of working with IFBs (in-ear monitors), how on-air talent communicates with producers, and how seasoned they are (or not!) at handling distractions.
  • Dan:

    "It's a natural instinct. If somebody starts to say something to you, you stop." (07:51)

  • Paulie: Compares missing cues to a baseball catcher–pitcher shakeoff.

4. College Football Playoff Preview: Miami vs. Ole Miss (Fiesta Bowl) (08:51–11:28)

• The Danettes share who they're rooting for, even if they're neutral fans, and why:
  • Dan:

    "I'm rooting for Ole Miss because that kind of creates the... the mess continues. The conversation continues. The Lane Kiffin situation. Miami's been here before. This is foreign." (08:52)

  • Marv: Points out, “For new generation, Miami seems like a Cinderella story... If you’re under 35, you don’t remember the 80s, the 90s." (09:47)
  • Paulie: On Ole Miss:

    "They also feel like an SEC school that's always on the cusp ... it'd be refreshing to see them get there." (10:30)

• Seaton highlights both teams' underdog runs, especially Miami's wins over Texas A&M and Ohio State.

5. Callers on Coaching and NIL/Student-Athlete Debate (11:28–16:36)

• Jets Fan Caller: Asks if the Jets should try to make a move for Harbaugh or Tomlin. Dan doubts those coaches would be interested in the Jets' situation.
  • Dan:

    “John Harbaugh and Mike Tomlin don’t have to take that job." (12:20)

• Another Caller: Suggests that with NIL and the transfer portal, the student–athlete distinction is vanishing and wonders about players being reclassified as employees.
  • Dan:

    "I can't sit here and honestly say, 'Oh, I don't see that possibly happening.' ... Here's something that never comes up ... players actually got academically ineligible. ... Now I haven't heard anybody." (13:43)

  • Discussion of players' academic requirements, the shift to online classes, and how academics seem less emphasized now.

6. Guest Segment: Ryan Fitzpatrick (18:08–30:22)

A. Labels, Intelligence & the Ivy League Stereotype (18:45–20:10)

• Dan: Asks if going to Harvard helped or hurt Ryan heading into the NFL.
• Fitzpatrick:

  “The initial negative was... do you actually like football or do you have other interests? ... I accepted that label because it was always, 'Oh, he's smart, he can pick up a playbook...'" (19:02)

B. Packers-Bears Playoff Pressure (20:10–21:56)

• Dan: Who's under more pressure: Matt LaFleur or Ben Johnson?
• Fitzpatrick:

  “LaFleur’s got a lot more pressure... Ben Johnson, masterful job... LaFleur’s got the most pressure on him coming in..." (20:33)

• On LaFleur Hot Seat:

  "I think that's crazy to say." (21:38)

C. On Sean McDermott's Future & Jags Winning Streak (21:56–23:33)

• Dan: Orlovsky thinks McDermott is coaching for his job.
• Fitzpatrick:

  “That would also be shocking... That game is going to be really interesting because the Bills... were still favored... Jacksonville winning eight in a row..." (22:07)

D. Trevor Lawrence’s Growth (22:49–24:20)

• Fitzpatrick: Highlights the Jags’ confidence, effect of Jacoby Myers' addition, and Parker Washington's emergence.

  “Confidence is such a huge thing for quarterbacks... Trevor's playing at a really high level right now.” (23:41)

E. How Coaches Lose the Locker Room (24:20–25:21)

• On the "lost locker room" cliche:

  “If you don’t demand the same thing out of your great players... that’s the first way where you can start to lose a locker room.” (24:33)

F. Drake May’s MVP Trajectory (25:21–26:53)

• Fitzpatrick: Gives credit to the team's "infrastructure" and play calling, noting how playing in certain systems is transformative.

G. Learning Curve & Tom Brady's Genius (26:53–28:17)

• What changes in a QB’s tenth year?

  “It was just the way that I looked at the game all of a sudden... Knowing that every single thing that we did had a purpose..." (26:57)

• Tom Brady:

  "He was in complete command the whole time. ...and the greatness that we all got to sit back and witness." (27:35)

H. Fitzpatrick vs. Brady (28:17–29:46)

• Dan: “Did you feel like he was better than you?”
• Fitzpatrick:

  "Yes. ...I was better than him, you know, in that moment, for that specific day. ...I think we played 14 times and I was better than him 3 of 14." (28:04)

• Memorable stat: Only NFL QB with both a six-TD/no-INT game and a no-TD/six-INT game.

  “...I'll hang onto that one forever.” (29:53)

7. Callers & Listener Interaction (30:45–32:56)

• A caller seeks validation for calling himself a "dynasty" in his holiday light competition (Dan says yes).
• A listener asks Dan about his Wikipedia entry, leading to reminiscing about sports bios and embellishments.

8. BREAKING NEWS: Dolphins Fire Mike McDaniel (32:49–40:10)

A. Details and Initial Reactions (32:49–34:53)

• Paulie (quoting Adam Schefter):

  "According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Dolphins have fired head coach Mike McDaniel." (32:55)

• Dan: Wonders if McDaniel’s firing, which happened after John Harbaugh became available, is directly related.

B. Is Miami a Good Job? (35:56–40:10)

• Dan and the Danettes debate whether Miami is a desirable coaching destination, considering instability, infrastructure, and recent history.
• Marv:

  “Are they in the same category as... the Raiders and the Jets and the Browns as far as just inept franchises?” (39:54)

• Dan: Outlines the pillars needed for successful rebuilds—quarterback, offensive line, number one receiver—and argues Miami may lack some key components.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Dan Patrick:

  "I'm rooting for Ole Miss because that kind of creates the... the mess continues. The conversation continues. The Lane Kiffin situation." (08:51)

• Ryan Fitzpatrick:

  "The initial negative was... do you actually like football or do you have other interests? ... I accepted that label because it was always, 'Oh, he's smart, he can pick up a playbook...'" (19:02)

• Ryan Fitzpatrick, on Brady:

  “He was in complete command the whole time. ...the greatness that we all got to sit back and witness.” (27:35)

• Dan Patrick, on coaching carousel:

  "There are coaches walking around with their cell phones hoping that a text or a phone call from up above doesn't happen. And Mike McDaniel was one of those coaches." (33:07)

• Marv, on the Dolphins:

  "They got a longer playoff win drought than a couple of those franchises. They’re up there about 24, 25 years with no playoff wins." (39:54)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:49 – Poll questions & NBA/NFL headlines
• 01:44 – NFL coaching pressure, Harbaugh speculation
• 08:51 – College football playoff (Miami vs. Ole Miss) preview
• 11:28 – Listener calls on coaching/athletics/NIL rules
• 18:08 – Ryan Fitzpatrick joins the show
• 32:49 – BREAKING: Dolphins fire Mike McDaniel (Paulie/Adam Schefter)
• 34:53 – Debate: Is the Miami Dolphins job attractive?
• 39:54 – Discussion: Are the Dolphins an inept franchise?

Overall Tone & Takeaway

The show combines rapid-fire sports analysis, industry insidery humor, personal anecdotes, and live reaction to breaking news with the Dolphins head coaching change. Ryan Fitzpatrick provides insightful and candid looks at quarterbacking, coaching, and the unique dynamics of NFL pressure.

Listeners are left with a deeper sense of the NFL's coaching churn, the sometimes arbitrary nature of big decisions, and a dose of levity amid the sports chaos. As Dan put it, sometimes just “making it to Thursday” as an NFL coach is an accomplishment in itself.