The Dan Patrick Show — Hour 3 Summary

Episode Date: December 12, 2025
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This hour of The Dan Patrick Show features a blend of classic Dan Patrick banter—sports analysis, playful debates, nostalgia about cheap beers, and lively audience interaction. The highlight is a wide-ranging, candid interview with NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, touching on college football, NBA trends, NIL, ownership dreams, and more.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Coaching Carousel and Michigan Rumors (03:45–05:08)

• Dan shares breaking news: reports confirm Army Head Coach Jeff Monken is on Michigan’s coaching short list, owing to his squeaky clean reputation and family coaching pedigree.

  • Dan: “Michigan’s ever growing list of coaching candidates is confirmed according to my source to include the head coach at Army, Jeff Monken.” (04:22)

• Quick roundtable on the typical logic behind such a hire:

  • Paul: “To me, that is a cleanup on aisle five. A squeaky clean army head coach with no baggage...” (05:08)

2. Poll Question and Philip Rivers Debate (05:54–07:44)

• The crew debates whether veteran QB Philip Rivers will start this weekend vs. Riley Leonard, circling around readiness, mobility, and whether the move would be a publicity stunt.
  • Dan: “I’m going to say Riley Leonard is going to get the start and he’s earned the start... It’s not like Philip Rivers is more mobile or more athletic.” (06:27)
  • Todd: “The season’s on the line. It’s not a publicity stunt. Get him out there from play number one...” (07:25)

3. NFC South Parity & "Most Must-Win Game of the Weekend" (07:44–10:13)

• Statistical oddity: In NFC South head-to-heads, underdogs are 7-1 this season.
• Panel predicts the biggest “must-win” NFL game:
  • Todd: Chiefs v. Chargers is “last call for Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.” (09:19)
  • Seaton: Panthers must beat the Saints. (09:29)
  • Marvin: Lions versus Rams: make-or-break for Detroit’s playoff hopes. (09:44)
  • Paul: If Army’s Jeff Monken beats Navy, he may clinch the Michigan job. (09:48)
• Dan ultimately calls Lions-Rams the weekend’s biggest must-win. (10:04)

4. Call-In Segment: Sports Nostalgia and Cheap Beer Memories (10:46–15:31)

• Audience shares sports trivia and first celebrity crushes.
• Listeners and Dan trade stories about cheap beers from their past: Rolling Rock, Jenny Cream Ale, Colt 45, Mickey’s Big Mouth, Olde English, Keystone Light, Natty Ice, and more.
  • Dan: “There was a beer called Top Hat...There was Red, White and Blue, I think I drank that. Doesn’t that sound cheap?” (12:39)
  • Dan: “Growing up in a household where my dad drank bad beer...He was always amazed that me and my brothers, we never took it...Dad, your beer was terrible.” (14:47)
• Teasing: Shaquille O’Neal coming up, with a caller sharing a Shaq-military story. (15:31)

5. Shaquille O’Neal Interview (27:36–41:05)

a. College Days, NIL, Football? (27:58–30:35)

• No, LSU didn’t try to recruit Shaq to play football, but he wanted to: “I started off as a football player. I was a tight end and a nose guard. I actually love football because I love inflicting pain on people.” (Shaq, 27:58)
• Shaq credits football star Tommy Hodson as his college role model.
• On whether he’d be a one-and-done player today: “I would not. Because with this NIL stuff...I’d milk that. If you’re a top NIL guy, I think you can make more than what these rookies are making on their contract...I would never be one and done.” (Shaq, 29:31)

b. NBA Ownership Dreams (30:35–31:04)

• He’s actively working to buy into a pro sports franchise, preferring the NBA.
  • Shaq: “In a perfect world, I would love to be part of the Orlando Magic or the Miami Heat.” (30:45)

c. NBA Topics: All-Star Ideas, Jokic/Wemby Matchups (31:04–34:13)

• All-Star format: Likes the idea of World vs USA, but wants a big prize to make players care. “I would make it to where they would definitely have to compete. I’d put a $2 million prize at the end. The loser gets nothing.” (Shaq, 31:21)
• Gameplan if playing Nikola Jokic: “Every time he shot a three, run by him, post up in the lane...try to get him two quick fouls...I wasn’t a pick and roll defender, so he’d probably get every shot he wants.” (Shaq, 32:20)
• Against Wemby: “You have to back him under the rim and just throw it down in his face...he is much lighter than I, so I know I can get to my spot...” (Shaq, 33:13)

d. On MVPs, Steve Nash, and “Most Valuable” Debate (34:13–34:56)

• Why only one MVP? “I don’t know...We need a national MVP NBA criteria on what it takes to be MVP, so there’s no questions at the end.” (Shaq, 34:17)
• Dan asks whether the MVP comes up when Shaq is around Steve Nash. “No, not at all...Certain things happen. Whoever ‘they’ may be said he was two-time MVP over me. You have to accept that and live with it…” (Shaq, 34:54)

e. Shaq’s Fun House — The Party at the Super Bowl (35:25–36:53)

• Carnival rides, famous DJs, and Shaq himself as DJ Diesel. Also Shaq’s son Miles O’Neal DJing. “This will be, for the eighth year in a row, the number one party at Super Bowl...” (Shaq, 35:44)
• Plug for “Shackalicious XL Gummies.” They are NOT infused: “I am an athlete, sir. I do not partake in such activities.” (Shaq, 36:47)
• Has never gotten high. Only ever smokes hookah (“just for the smoke”) and cigars. (Shaq, 36:57)

f. LeBron, the Changing NBA, and His Free Throws (37:13–40:39)

• Can LeBron be a complementary player? “LeBron knows and understands at some point, this thing comes to an end. He’s always been a team guy first...he knows when to let these guys cook.” (Shaq, 37:28)
• Dan: “Who will you miss more between Steph, LeBron, and KD?” Shaq: “I’ll miss all of them...it’ll be a sad day for me...” (38:47)
• How’s his free throw shooting these days? “Terrible. Only hit them when I need to hit them.” (Shaq, 39:10)
• Would he take threes if he played today? “I probably would only have shot the three if we were up more than 10, 15 points...But I’m not going to shoot five or six threes. Hell no. Never.” (Shaq, 40:06)

g. Final Banter

• Shaq jokes with Dan about a free throw contest: “Are you challenging me, Daniel?” (39:33)
• Shaq promises to visit the studio next time he’s in town. (39:54)

6. Final Poll Results & Listener Appreciation (47:13–48:53)

• 69% of listeners say Philip Rivers will start this weekend (47:23)
• A caller, Sully, thanks Dan for introducing him to country singer Stephen Wilson Jr. “To say his show is a spiritual experience would be underplaying how amazing and talented Stephen Wilson Jr. is...” (48:10)

7. Sports History Lightning Round (50:50–53:05)

• Joe Namath’s last Jets game (1976), Gretzky’s fastest to 50 goals (1981), and football trivia staples like the “snowplow game” (1982) and Gale Sayers’ six-TD performance (1965).

8. What We Learned Today (53:05–53:30)

• Todd: “Shaq says he would not have been one and done now in college because of all the NIL money and staying in school.”
• Seaton: “Shaq wanted to play football, but LSU wouldn’t let him."
• Paul: “Shaq may buy a team.”
• Dan (via Todd): “Ross Tucker says wearing sleeves is soft. OL have to send a message that they’re tough in the cold weather.”

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• Dan Patrick: “Michigan’s ever growing list of coaching candidates is confirmed according to my source to include the head coach at Army, Jeff Monken.” (04:22)
• Paul: “To me, that is a cleanup on aisle five. A squeaky clean Army head coach with no baggage...” (05:08)
• Dan Patrick: “Riley Leonard with a bad knee is more mobile—more hurt knee should be [better] than Philip Rivers currently healthy knees.” (06:52)
• Todd: “The season’s on the line. It’s not a publicity stunt. Get him out there from play number one.” (07:25)
• Dan Patrick: “In NFC South head-to-head matchups, the underdog is 7 and 1. 7 and 1…” (08:02)
• Seaton: “Panthers have to beat the Saints this weekend...this is an absolute must-win Panthers game.” (09:29)
• Shaquille O’Neal: “I started off as a football player. I was a tight end and a nose guard. I actually love football because I love inflicting pain on people.” (27:58)
• Shaquille O’Neal: “With this NIL stuff...I’d milk that. If you’re a top NIL guy, I think you can make more than what these rookies are making...” (29:31)
• Shaquille O’Neal: “In a perfect world, I would love to be part of the Orlando Magic or the Miami Heat.” (30:45)
• Shaquille O’Neal: “I would make it to where they would definitely have to compete. I’d put a $2 million prize at the end. The loser gets nothing.” (31:21)
• Shaquille O’Neal: “I don’t know [why I have only one MVP]. We need a national MVP NBA criteria on what it takes to be MVP...” (34:17)
• Shaquille O’Neal: “Only [shoot threes] if we were up more than 10, 15 points...not going to shoot five or six threes. Hell no. Never.” (40:06)
• Shaquille O’Neal: “I’m not known for defense...but guess what? People are not known for stopping me, either.” (33:56)

Memorable Moments

• Caller nostalgia for lost cheap beers, followed by Dan’s affectionate chronicles of his dad’s “bad beer” fridge.
• Shaq’s sincerity about NIL, business education, and franchise ownership.
• The playful blindfolded free-throw challenge between Dan Patrick and Shaq.
• Shaq’s practical All-Star game solution: winner-take-all, big money, pride and rings.

Important Segment Timestamps

• 03:45 – 05:25: Michigan coaching candidate news.
• 05:54 – 07:44: Philip Rivers poll/debate.
• 09:17 – 10:13: Must-win NFL games roundtable.
• 12:15 – 15:31: Cheap beer nostalgia.
• 27:36 – 41:05: Shaquille O’Neal interview (core segment).

Summary

This hour captures everything listeners love about Dan Patrick’s show: sports talk with humor, nostalgia, spontaneous debates, and a big-name guest. Shaquille O’Neal provides both laughs and thoughtful insights—on NIL, the All-Star Game, today’s NBA, ownership ambitions, and even a peek into his off-court personality. Add to that lively audience participation, a dash of cheap beer humor, and you’ve got a quintessential Meat Friday.