The Dan Patrick Show

Date: September 11, 2025
Episode: Hour 2 – Thursday Night Football, Derek Carr, Clippers Investigation Update

Episode Overview

This episode of The Dan Patrick Show kicks off Hour 2 with lively banter about Thursday Night Football, insight into quarterbacks as TV analysts, a featured interview with former NFL quarterback Derek Carr, and breaking discussion on the Los Angeles Clippers investigation involving potential cap circumvention tied to Kawhi Leonard's endorsement payments. The show is peppered with humor, sports wisdom, audience calls, and thoughtful tributes, all delivered in Dan Patrick’s trademark conversational, candid style.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Thursday Night Football & Poll Questions

(Starts ~02:23, Key Segment: 05:05–06:17)

• Game Preview: Focus on the Washington Commanders vs. Green Bay Packers; "The Commanders are getting three and a half at the Packers. The over/under is 48 and a half." (Dan Patrick, 05:25)
• Fan Engagement: Polls ask which NFL table fans would rather dine at—Patrick Mahomes or Travis Kelce. Kelce leads at 66%.
• Bandwagon Poll: Packers are the hottest NFL bandwagon (60%). Polls reflect hesitation around the Chargers: "We've been burned before." (Dan Patrick, 05:15)

2. Quarterbacks as Analysts: Communication & Accessibility

(06:17–08:52)

• Conversation on how quarterbacks have a unique football "language" that analysts must translate for fans.
• "If you’re going to be an analyst, you gotta make sure...you talk to everybody so they know exactly what that is." (Dan Patrick, 06:37)
• Praise for analysts like Troy Aikman, Dan Orlovsky, and John Smoltz for their clarity and speed in breaking plays down for audiences.
• Learning curve for analysts who get further from the game: staying up-to-date with terminology, personnel, and schemes becomes crucial.

3. Listener Calls: Moral Victories and Emotional Moments

(10:40–16:47)

• Moral Victories in Football: Callers ask if the Commanders could claim a moral victory or become NFC favorites with a big win in Green Bay.
• 9/11 Remembrance: Dan shares a heartfelt story about his firefighter in-laws and the aftermath of September 11, 2001:

  "They would go to two or three funerals a day and then they would be working at the World Trade Center 24 years ago." (Dan Patrick, 12:06)

• Sports and Patient Fans: Listeners vent about the patience required of Indiana sports fans amid recent heartbreaks.

4. Derek Carr Interview: From QB to Analyst

(22:29–35:08)

Becoming an Analyst

• Carr discusses his YouTube/podcast transition:

  "I just tried to, you know, mimic what [Jon Gruden] did, and it kind of worked out." (Derek Carr, 23:27)

Breaking Down Quarterback Play

• Insights on Justin Herbert and consistency amidst coaching changes:

  "He's just so consistent, so accurate, and he’s so tall...rarely fooled, which is really, really a luxury." (Derek Carr, 23:54)

• Young QBs make familiar mistakes because speed of the pro game is on another level.

The Art of Playing QB

• Trusting the pocket:

  "You just gotta make a decision, really, as a man. Say, 'I'm going forward.' ...You gotta go forward. You gotta climb." (Derek Carr, 26:13)

Fun Anecdotes

• Carr shows off his Jon Gruden impersonation with a story:

  "'I want completions.' He goes, 'No, I want communication, you idiot.'" (Derek Carr as Gruden, 27:10)

Life After Football—And Maybe Back Again?

• On his decision to retire (and leave $30 million on the table):

  "It wasn’t easy, I promise.... I wasn't ready." (Derek Carr, 29:30)

• Home life: Wednesdays are now for date nights; "I'm not getting hit. So it was good." (30:59)
• Temptation to return? Mostly from brother David, but says he’s content for now:

  "Right now, today, I’m not coming back." (32:09)

Thursday Night Football Breakdown

• The real test: health and ball security, stressing that short prep weeks make for messy games.

On Peyton Manning’s Legacy

• "That's the best way to play football...but now with the CBA, coaches don’t even have time to teach the game like we did." (Derek Carr, 34:15)

5. Clippers/Kawhi Leonard Investigation & Adam Silver’s Response

(44:55–47:28)

• Pablo Torre’s reporting suggests Clippers minority owner Dennis Wong invested almost $2 million in a company that then paid Kawhi Leonard.

• Dan’s critical of the situation:

  "There's something here. And I would ask the commissioner, what is your next move?" (Dan Patrick, 46:19)

• Adam Silver’s on-record, cautious, legal answer:

  "I’d be reluctant to act if there was a mere appearance of impropriety...the goal of a full investigation is to find out if there really was impropriety." (Adam Silver clip, 45:38)

• Discussion of possible repercussions for Clippers with already limited draft capital.

6. NBA Skill Evolution — Steph Curry’s Take

(47:40–49:51)

• Steph Curry, on Today Show, calls modern NBA "the most skilled era of basketball history."

  "1 through 5 and all the way down the roster...this is the most skilled era of basketball history." (Steph Curry, 48:12)

• Dan and crew discuss the skill evolution across all positions and how the analytical, three-heavy style may eventually further evolve.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Quarterback Lingo in Broadcasting:
  "If you're going to be an analyst, you gotta make sure that... you gotta speak to a large, large group of people, not just people who play football."
  — Dan Patrick (06:37)

• Derek Carr on the Reality of Retiring from NFL:
  "To say no to the money part of it, I had to die to myself on that one. I had to be like, what's the right thing to do?"
  — Derek Carr (30:03)

• Derek Carr’s Jon Gruden Story:
  "'I want come...' And I said, 'completions.' He goes, 'No, I want communication, you idiot.'"
  — (27:10)

• Adam Silver’s Take on Clippers Situation:
  "I would be reluctant to act if there was sort of a mere appearance of impropriety...the goal of a full investigation is to find out if there really was impropriety."
  — Adam Silver (45:38)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Poll Question/Bandwagon Talk: 04:02–05:22
• Quarterbacks as Analysts: 06:17–08:52
• Caller Shares 9/11 Memories: 11:38–13:45
• Derek Carr Interview: 22:29–35:08
• Clippers Investigation/Adam Silver: 44:55–47:28
• Steph Curry on Today Show/Skill Evolution: 47:40–50:27

Tone & Style

The episode features the show's signature mix of light humor, accessible sports analysis, and deep-dive interviews. Dan and the crew riff on QB culture, poke fun at themselves, and engage listeners from diverse backgrounds—and Derek Carr’s candor and wit as a guest makes for especially engaging radio, with the conversation weaving seamlessly between football tactics, personal anecdotes, and life after the NFL. The serious note of 9/11 is handled with respect and sincerity.

Conclusion

The Dan Patrick Show Hour 2 delivers a smart, fun mix of sports news, fan polls, expert analysis, heartfelt listener moments, and a candid, must-hear interview with Derek Carr. The Clippers investigation coverage and Adam Silver’s cautious responses illustrate the show’s ability to break down complex, timely issues for fans. All together, an engaging episode for sports followers seeking both depth and entertainment.