The Dan Patrick Show – Hour 2 (Nov 14, 2025)

Main Theme:
The episode centers on dynamic sports debates, MVP choices in baseball, and the legacy and mindset of NFL great Rob Gronkowski. Topics range from the value of sports stats and award systems to the unique personalities that animate professional athletics. The episode balances expert conversation with humor, community engagement, and notable guest interviews.

Episode Overview

• Date: November 14, 2025
• Host: Dan Patrick
• Key Topics: MLB MVP debate (Shohei Ohtani vs. Aaron Judge), sports stats relevance, Rob Gronkowski on NFL history and life after football, Steph Curry’s sneaker saga
• Special Guest: Rob Gronkowski (Four-time Super Bowl Champ)

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Meet Friday & Poll Questions

• The hour kicks off with playful banter about "Meet Friday" and the group's meal (“Who has it better than we do? Nobody.” [03:10]).
• Poll Recap: Patriots dominate in “best shape for next five years” poll among NFL teams.
• New Poll (06:10): If you have a Drake Maye MVP ticket at +6000 odds, do you hold or sell?
  • The crew debates the allure of betting windfalls and the “story” value of a big future bet.

2. MVP Debate: Shohei Ohtani vs. Aaron Judge

• Discussion on how to judge MVPs if MLB had only one, not separate AL/NL awards.
  • Dan: “Who would be the MVP between Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani if there was only one mvp? Ohtani.” [09:25]
• Judge earns 17 of 30 first-place votes (with Cal Raleigh getting 13); Ohtani is unanimous.
• Historic Note: First time both MVPs in one year repeat the next season.

Stats & Legacy

• Judge is improving post-30, confounding prior concerns about “big swing” aging.
• Paulie: "In his 20s, in six seasons, he had 158 home runs. In his 30s, only four seasons, 210 homers.” [14:47]
• The crew questions the evolving importance of batting average, fielding, and Gold Glove awards.
  • Dan: “Does batting average matter or it doesn’t? …Can we make up our mind here?” [11:25]

3. Value of Awards & Player Visibility

• Dave from Ohio: Upset that Jose Ramirez gets overlooked for MVP, overshadowed by big-market stars. [16:36]
  • Dan: “It was so top heavy. One and two between Judge and Raleigh. And Ramirez is a great player… he’s kind of lost in Cleveland.”
• The group jokes about how nicknames and team fit boost player profiles.

4. Listener Stories & Show Community

• Johnny in West Texas: Wonders if disagreement on awards "devalues" the system.
• Ben from California: Shares a poignant, lighthearted story of trying to call the show while in prison:
  • “We rented a phone out in the prison from another inmate… and we tried to call in… We ended up getting caught.” [21:00]
  • Dan: “Well, I’m glad I could keep you company, Ben, and I hope you’re doing well on the outside.”
• The crew jokes about prison calendars and infamous calendar photos.

5. Health, Humor, and Relatability

• Simon in Virginia: Asks, “Does LeBron’s sciatica make him more relatable or more soft?” [24:45]
  • Dan discusses personal experience with sciatica and jokes about him and LeBron being “similar athletes.”
• Todd lists an amusingly extensive lineup of his own injuries, likening himself to a game of Operation.
  • “You got the foot issue… bronchitis… Crohn’s... my forearm” [27:30]

Featured Interview: Rob Gronkowski

Begins: [33:15]

On Drake Maye & Tom Brady Comparisons

• Dan: “What do you see when you see Drake Maye?”
  Gronk: “I kind of see a little clone of the great Tom Brady in ways… he’s a smart and intelligent football player just like Tom.” [33:40]
• Highlights Maye’s decision-making; notes athleticism edge over Brady.

On Patriot Retirement & Physical Ability

• Confirmed he signed a “one-day contract” to retire as a Patriot—jokes about needing a signing bonus for two days.
• “I feel like if I lined up… I could definitely give a fade route full speed and probably complete it. The stamina wouldn’t be there…” [36:00]

On His Place in History & Comparisons to Travis Kelce

• How competitive was Gronk about legacy?
  • “When I was playing, there’s no doubt I wanted to be one of the greatest to play the game…” [37:00]
  • Gives props to Kelce, Tony Gonzalez, and admits: “In many ways, Travis Kelce is better than myself, and in many ways, I would say I’m better than Travis Kelce… we’re kind of different players.” [38:40]
  • Compares tight ends to “sushi”: “It’s just what you want that night for dinner. They’re both great, but they both taste different…” [39:15]

Playing Style & Career Choices

• Says he couldn’t have played differently, even if it meant more years:
  • “If you play a little less savagey… you’d have two more years left. I’d be like, you know, I’ll just stick to the 11 years that I played. That’s just how I rolled my whole life.” [41:50]

On Keg Stands, “Wild” Reputation, and Comparisons to Tom Brady

• Reflects humorously on public worries about past antics:
  • “With so much other things going on in this world… people were worried I was a troublemaker because I was doing keg stands.” [43:20]
• On drinking: “Tom can pound beers faster than anyone that I’ve ever seen. …I drink two beers now and I’m pretty tipsy.” [44:30]

Youth Football Charity & Surprising Schools

• Details T-Mobile “Friday Night 5G Lights” campaign:
  • $1 million donated to Derricks High School, AR, plus a new Gronk Fitness weight room and SEC title game tickets. [45:25]
  • “They already know that they’re the grand prize winner, but they don’t know I’m here right now. …I’m going to surprise the whole town.” [46:40]

Other Notable Topics

6. Steph Curry Sneaker Free Agency [53:10]

• Discussion about Steph Curry’s contract expiration with Under Armour, possible Nike reunion, and past missteps in Nike’s sales pitch.
  • Paulie: “One of the first ones was kind of plain white, and it didn’t hit. …Like a hospital shoe.” [55:20]
  • Crew jokes about branding opportunities and mispronunciation of "Stephan/Stephen."
  • Dan: “Nike is the best at shoe campaigns, bar none… Imagine that campaign.” [58:24]

7. Live Check-in: Seaton on the Road [1:02:15]

• Seaton O’Connor joins via remote from Northglenn, CO; local fans bring dogs, burritos.
  • “I think they actually came to see me, people. Dude, there’s like, five dogs here. It’s awesome.”
• Plans to drive further west and meet the show crew in Vegas.

8. College Football Hall-of-Fame Schools [1:10:18]

• Long-running segment on Pitt’s surprising number of Pro Football Hall-of-Famers—likely to be third-most soon, behind Notre Dame and USC.

9. Jameis Winston Prop Bets [1:13:10]

• Comedy around betting on Jameis Winston’s output against the Packers:
  • Dylan: “If it was 300 and a half, I’m taking the over on that.” [1:15:14]
• Anticipates “wild” stats: “Could be four touchdowns, three interceptions.”

Notable Quotes

• Dan Patrick: “You took great pride in the number of strikeouts and what your batting average was. Then you put in all the other stats... does fielding matter anymore? Do we care?” [11:52]
• Rob Gronkowski: “That’s just the style that was in me. That’s just how I was born to play. I wouldn’t change anything.” [42:15]
• Rob Gronkowski on Travis Kelce: “If we played together, that would be the ultimate combo.” [40:15]
• On MVP Debates:
  • Dan: “If location matters, put Cal Raleigh in New York—and he’s the second coming of Thurmon Munson.” [12:50]
• Listener Ben: “We rented a phone out in the prison from another inmate… and we tried to call in… We ended up getting caught.” [21:00]
• Dan on sneakers: “Nike is the best at shoe campaigns, bar none.” [58:24]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Meet Friday Banter / Poll Questions: 03:00 – 09:00
• MLB MVPs / Ohtani vs. Judge: 09:10 – 16:00
• Listener Calls / Awards System: 16:00 – 23:00
• Listener Ben’s Prison Call Story: 21:00 – 23:00
• Health & Relatability (Sciatica, etc): 24:00 – 29:00
• Rob Gronkowski Interview: 33:15 – 47:10
• Steph Curry Sneaker Segment: 53:10 – 01:02:00
• Seaton O’Connor Road Report: 01:02:15 – 01:06:30
• Pitt Hall of Famers: 01:10:18 – 01:12:00
• Jameis Winston Props & Betting: 01:13:10 – 01:16:15

Episode Tone & Style

• Conversational, witty, self-aware, and good-humored.
• Focused on insights but often undercut with jokes, playful jabs among co-hosts, and big doses of self-deprecation.
• Listener calls invite personal, quirky stories and genuine connection.

Summary

This episode is a quintessential Dan Patrick Show: lively, opinionated, irreverent, and deeply plugged in to both the stats and the stories that shape sports culture. It offers a heavyweight guest (Rob Gronkowski), thoughtful debates about sports heroes and how we measure greatness, audience engagement, and a lot of laughs along the way.