The Dan Patrick Show – Hour 3: Drew Brees Interview & NFL Conversation

Date: February 11, 2026
Host: Dan Patrick
Guest: Drew Brees, First Ballot Hall of Famer

Episode Overview

Hour 3 of The Dan Patrick Show centers on Dan's signature blend of sports analysis, candid conversation, and humor. The centerpiece of the hour is an in-depth interview with Drew Brees, newly minted first-ballot NFL Hall of Famer. The discussion covers Brees’ pioneering career, his underdog journey, insights into iconic moments like the Saints’ Super Bowl onside kick, and advice for young quarterbacks. In classic DP Show fashion, the episode is rounded out with calls from engaged listeners and light-hearted banter with the crew, making it accessible for seasoned fans and newcomers alike.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Olympics Obsession and the Psychology of Spectating (01:55–06:29)

• Dan discusses how viewers, himself included, get invested in sports they rarely watch during the Olympics, like ski jumping and curling.
• The team shares tongue-in-cheek opinions about ski jumping and admits that once personal stories are shared about athletes, the emotional stakes—and rooting interest—heighten.

Dan Patrick (02:37): "You get locked into something that you would never watch. Because it's the Olympics and because there are medals at stake and we got pride, patriotism... all of a sudden now you're a judge in figure skating."

2. The Economics of Being an Olympian (06:29–08:16)

• Discussion about whether Olympic medals truly "set you up for life."
• Notable gold medalists like Eric Heiden and Michael Phelps are contrasted with less-commercialized athletes, highlighting the financial realities.

Dan Patrick (06:43): "Not every gold medalist or any medalist cashes in... but if you're in those marquees like gymnastics, you've got a good chance to parlay that into a 30-year career of speaking engagements."

3. Listener Engagement: Calls & Stories (08:45–14:34, 43:49–52:13)

• Listeners weigh in on topics such as sports fandom, driving habits, NBA tanking, and clever fixes for the NBA draft lottery.
• A particularly memorable call details a listener building an AI tool to track the show’s "Pie to the Face" bets, inciting playful self-analysis from the crew.

Chris in New York (12:28): "I built an AI site that tracks pie to the face bets... to have history and standings over the last two years."

4. Bo Jackson Stories: Legacy Beyond the Field (14:36–16:43)

• Dan recounts the moving experience of having Bo Jackson on the show, discussing both his prostate cancer journey and a viral story of being concussed and sitting on the wrong sideline.
• Emphasis on the importance of early cancer screenings, inspired by Bo’s on-air candor.

Feature Interview: Drew Brees – First Ballot Hall of Fame Reflections

Segment Start: [23:08]

A. On Becoming a First-Ballot Hall of Famer (23:33–24:12)

• Brees admits the honor is "pretty surreal," reflecting on his career and reverence for the game rather than personal accolades.

Drew Brees (23:33): "I think all of this is still pretty surreal... you just want to play this sport for as long as I can... try to make my mark on the game and leave it better than when I found it."

B. Overcoming the Odds as an Undersized QB (24:12–26:31)

• Brees discusses his journey as a 6-foot quarterback in a league obsessed with height, the chip on his shoulder, and relying on instinct and awareness, not always vision.

Drew Brees (25:20): "Maybe you can't necessarily see exactly where you're throwing the football, but you can feel what's around you... It's like poetry in motion, it hits them in the hands and then you're on to the next play to do it again."

C. Advice for Young Quarterbacks Under Duress (26:31–28:10)

• Dan asks what Brees would do as a young QB, like Drake May, facing a ferocious defense.
• Brees stresses ball control, quick releases, avoiding negative plays, and strategic play-action to keep defenses honest.

Drew Brees (27:10): "There's a premium on not having negative plays, not giving up sacks because you get a third and long against that defense, you're done."

D. Inside the Saints' Super Bowl Onside Kick (28:10–29:54)

• Reveal: Coach Sean Payton called the onside kick "Ambush" and decided before the game it would happen—only the timing was uncertain.
• Brees describes the nerves and brilliance behind executing it right after halftime, leveraging sideline psychology.

Drew Brees (28:53): "It was all... feeling the flow of a game and the momentum and just knowing the right time to call it... the perfect time to do it."

E. The Miami Dolphins, Nick Saban & Career-Altering What-Ifs (29:54–34:02)

• Brees details his free agency—Dolphins’ extensive medical skepticism about his shoulder (only a 25% recovery shot)—versus the Saints’ unwavering faith.
• A vivid contrast in approaches: Miami’s thorough MRIs and skepticism; New Orleans’ faith and sense of mission post-Katrina.

Drew Brees (32:17): "Our doctors think you have a 25% chance of ever coming back and playing again. ...I just really didn't get the feeling that they had a ton of faith or confidence in my ability to come back."

F. Stretch Zone Effect: Wellness After Football (34:24–35:46)

• Brees talks about his role as an investor and ambassador in Stretch Zone, a practitioner-led stretching company. He shares the findings of a research study supporting the benefits of practitioner-led stretching for energy, motion, sleep, and pain relief.

Lighthearted Moments & Memorable Quotes

The Finger-Licking Quarterback (36:38–37:35)

• The crew jokes about Brees' distinct finger-licking routine before snaps—teasing him about it at home and the missed endorsement potential.

Drew Brees (36:38): "Yes. She's like, do you know where your hands are as a quarterback? ...It just became habit, you know?"

Dan Patrick (37:35): "How did you not get a Kentucky Fried Chicken deal?"

• Brees admits his wife calls him out for unconsciously doing it everywhere—even walking down the street.

Drew Brees (36:59): "When I get in an environment where I have to, like, flip the switch and go, super focus mode, like, you will see that."

Other Notable Segments & Timestamps

• Olympic Oddities & Athlete Profiles — [01:55–08:16]
• Caller AI Tool for Show Bets — [11:40–13:59]
• Bo Jackson’s Viral Concussion Story & Cancer PSA — [14:36–16:43]
• NFL Coaching Carousel & Draft Lottery Proposals — [43:49–52:13]
• Jake Delhomme, Steve Nash, and Marino: The Finger Lickers — [52:26–52:57]
  Playful debate about famous athletes renowned for the same pre-snap habit as Brees.

Structuring Success & Risk in Sports

• First In the Building Cliché: The discussion lampoons the trope of "first one in, last out" culture in NFL locker rooms ([47:31]).
• NBA Lottery Reform Ideas: Creative suggestions from listeners and hosts to deter tanking, using unconventional methods like averaging billets from televised drawings—a clear nod to the show's interactive spirit ([44:02–51:05]).

Final Thoughts

The episode underscores why The Dan Patrick Show remains such a staple: It blends insightful sports journalism with playful banter, peppered with listener interaction and deeply human stories. Drew Brees’ humility and articulate storytelling make his Hall of Fame journey compelling, while Dan’s conversational style draws out both gravitas and humor.

Selected Timestamped Quotes

• "I always felt like I had something to prove, I had a chip on my shoulder. ...You can sense the depth of the linebacker and the safety over the top and you know that that receiver is going to be rolling that in. ...It's poetry in motion." — Drew Brees ([25:20])
• "Not every gold medalist or any medalist cashes in. ...But if you're in those marquees like gymnastics, yeah, you've got a good chance to parlay that into a 30-year career of speaking engagements." — Dan Patrick ([06:43])
• "Our doctors think you have a 25% chance of ever coming back and playing again. ...but the Saints had unwavering belief in me to be their guy and to be a leader of that organization." — Drew Brees ([32:17], [33:12])

For more Drew Brees insights, iconic DP Show moments, and sports talk with heart and humor, tune in to the full episode or scan the timestamps above for your favorite segment.