The Dan Patrick Show – Hour 3 (January 16, 2026)

“Brooks Koepka Ditches LIV Golf, Chris Simms”

Episode Overview

This lively hour of The Dan Patrick Show delivers a sports-packed discussion ranging from Brooks Koepka's rumored return to PGA Tour after his LIV Golf stint, to NFL playoff pressure and coaching moves with guest analyst Chris Simms. The crew also delivers their “Worst of the Week” picks, chats with callers, and keeps things light with rhyme games and banter. The tone is classic Dan Patrick: knowledgeable, irreverent, and conversational.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. NFL Playoff Preview and Weather Talk

• Sunday Night Matchup: Matthew Stafford and the Rams face Caleb Williams and the Bears on NBC/Peacock; Chris Simms will be on the broadcast team (02:36+).
• Weather as a Factor: Sean McVay (Rams head coach) addresses playing in cold conditions, highlighting minimal excuses but readiness to adjust (03:24).
• Dan Patrick reflects on how teams acclimate to weather and wonders why altitude—so vital in basketball and baseball—gets less attention in football (04:00).
• Sam Darnold's Health: Darnold (Seahawks QB) has an oblique injury but expects to play, despite media hype causing some confusion regarding his status (06:01).

“You just get used to that. Now I’m not playing football, you’re just walking around. But, you know, it’s all relative.” – Dan Patrick (04:00)

2. Worst Week in Sports (06:44+)

• Lakers' Defense: Cited as faltering.
• Brooks Koepka and PGA/LIV Drama:
  • Todd laments PGA allowing defected LIV golfers like Koepka to return, calling it hypocritical.
  • Dan breaks down which ex-LIV stars could feasibly return and reasons the PGA might welcome back high-profile players as a win against LIV (07:02).

“Now you’re the PGA Tour, and Brooks Koepka wants to come back. Does it feel like a PR win for the PGA Tour that he wants to come back?” – Dan Patrick (07:02)

• LIV Tour’s Flawed Appeal: Dan is frank about LIV’s lack of mainstream interest, reiterating the power of history, venues, and star narratives in golf (08:00–10:00).

“Nobody cares. We still come back to, ‘I want to see great golf, in events that I know, in places that I know.’” – Dan Patrick (09:08)

• Eagles Head Coach Nick Sirianni: Criticized for “burning his Super Bowl hall pass” with poor losses (10:42).

• Ronnie O’Sullivan Snooker Woes: The master snooker player withdraws from the 2026 Masters, a big blow to the sport’s visibility (12:02).

3. PGA vs. LIV – Economics & Philosophy (14:29)

• Caller (Brialla, Maryland): Argues that increased PGA purse money is a direct result of LIV’s competitive threat.
• Dan & Crew: Agree but note that it doesn’t make LIV watchable; they’re skeptical of LIV’s long-term impact, aside from juicing PGA purses.
• Greg Norman's Motives: Dan and Seaton mock the idea that PGA pros should be grateful to LIV for raising payouts, citing Norman and Mickelson’s acrimonious approach (15:08+).

“Thank you for trying to put us out of business, because now we have more money.” – Seaton (15:08)

4. Chris Simms Interview (20:21+)

Pressure Players & Teams This NFL Playoff Weekend

• Individual: Josh Allen (Bills QB) faces high expectations due to “modern day John Elway” status without a Super Bowl yet.
• Rookie Spotlight: C.J. Stroud (Texans QB) is under the microscope after Houston’s defensive-powered playoff run.
• Team: Denver Broncos, as no. 1 seed with big expectations in Sean Payton’s regime.

“You’re looking at the modern day John Elway. He’s yet to get to a Super Bowl. I think he feels that pressure.” – Chris Simms (20:41)

Potential Blowout Game

• Seahawks-49ers most likely (Simms believes Seattle is on another level; San Francisco “decimated”).

“If there’s one, that’ll be the game.” – Chris Simms (23:30)

Coaching Genius

• Kyle Shanahan: Simms calls him a rare, “code cracker” offensive mind, prepping QBs as ‘robots’ during the week so they’re automatically prepared in-game (24:01).

“He makes it simple for them. When I call this, you … He’s an ultimate code cracker.” – Chris Simms (23:57, 24:21)

Weather Impact

• QBs Stafford & Williams will be fine; running backs and ball-handlers will deal with slick, painful conditions more than anyone else (25:32).

Sam Darnold’s Oblique

• Annoying, lingering for a QB—Simms recounts his own struggle with that injury: “It bothered me for weeks… I couldn’t throw a football for the first seven or 10 days.” (26:35)

College Football QBs

• Dante Moore returning to Oregon is the right call for his development; Ty Simpson (Alabama) benefits by moving up the depth chart (27:53+).

Giants Familial Fandom

• Simms celebrates Harbaugh joining the New York Giants, likening his personality to Parcells and Coughlin; expects a return to “Giant way” with tough, big rosters (28:49).

Fernando Mendoza Draft Profile

• Mendoza: Technically sound, “machine throwing the football,” but lacks next-level wow factor; “there’s nothing he does great, but nothing he does wrong.” (30:19–31:13)
• Would take Mendoza if the result is “Joe Flacco”—good, but not superstar. NFL coaches will feel safe drafting him for his reliability (31:34–32:10).

NFL Coaching Openings

• Top: Ravens, Falcons, Titans—good young pieces, cap space, and tradition cited (32:42–33:50).

5. Listener Calls and Show Banter

• Callers chimed in on topics from grandparent nicknames (“Pop Pop” vs. “Grandpa”—34:16) to Bo Nix’s win record, QB eligibility controversy, and college football's “older” rosters post-COVID (34:08–39:03).
• Rhyme Time Game: Todd runs a rapid-fire sports rhyme game, with the crew competing for answers (“Dorito Bonito,” “Dirty Purdy," "Seattle Tattle," “Loud Stroud,” etc.)—lots of inside jokes and laughter (39:36–42:54).

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Dan on LIV’s Irrelevance:

  “The LIV Tour is not interesting unless you love DeChambeau or Phil or Jon Rahm. Other than that… there’s just not an interest there.” (09:08)

• On the Burden of Returning LIV Golfers:

  “Some players ... were like, well, I would have gone for $100 million if I knew I could come back in three years!” – Dan (07:39)

• Caller Brialla (on LIV's Influence):

  “These $20 million tournaments are all because they were threatened by the LIV Tour. Prior to that, they were unwilling to negotiate, they were unwilling to change.” (14:29)

• Chris Simms on Playoff Pressure:

  “Modern day John Elway … one of the greatest quarterbacks we’ve ever seen… He’s yet to get to a Super Bowl. I think he feels that pressure.” (20:41)

• Simms on Shanahan:

  “He makes it simple for them… I call this play with this play in the huddle, too. You gotta figure out … he’s an ultimate code cracker.” (24:01)

Important Segment Timestamps

• 02:36 – NFL Playoff set-up and weather discussion
• 03:24 – Sean McVay on cold games
• 06:44 – Worst Week in Sports start
• 07:02 – Brooks Koepka/PGA-LIV controversy kicks off
• 10:42 – Eagles post-mortem, Sirianni critique
• 12:02 – Ronnie O’Sullivan snooker withdrawal
• 14:29 – Caller Brialla on LIV's financial impact on PGA
• 20:21 – Chris Simms joins for in-depth NFL talk
• 24:01 – Shanahan as “code cracker” explained
• 26:35 – Simms on Sam Darnold’s oblique injury
• 27:53 – College QB transfer insight (Dante Moore/Ty Simpson)
• 28:49 – Giants & Harbaugh fit; family stories
• 30:19 – Mendoza’s draft scouting report
• 32:42 – Best NFL head coach openings analysis
• 39:36 – Rhyme Time sports word-play segment

Original Language & Tone Maintained

The summary preserves the playful banter, informed debate, and occasionally irreverent style of Dan Patrick and his co-hosts, providing a comprehensive, entertaining recap.