The Dan Patrick Show

Episode: Hour 3 – Generational Throw, Steve Young
Date: September 22, 2025
Host: Dan Patrick
Highlight Guest: Steve Young

Episode Overview

This hour of The Dan Patrick Show delves into a whirlwind weekend in college and NFL football, explores "best and worst" moments with callers, and features a lively, insightful interview with Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young. The discussion centers around what makes a “generational” quarterback throw, the evolving dynamic of NFL offenses, the importance of coaching, and the intangible qualities of leadership and entertainment at the game’s highest level.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. College and NFL Weekend Recap (02:36–07:30)

• College football is heating up: Dan hypes up the coming Oregon vs. Penn State matchup, noting “this is where it gets really serious” with teams like Miami, LSU, Oregon, Florida State, Texas, and Michigan all looking strong.
• NFL surprises and shakeups:
  • Lions @ Ravens preview for the night
  • Bengals’ struggles: “They got blown out yesterday… if I look at the schedule here, it doesn’t get much easier for them.” (06:42)
  • Bengals missing Joe Burrow until perhaps postseason
  • Russell Wilson’s future and trade speculation (12:15–13:56)
• Poll Question: What bandwagon (other than your own favorite team) are you jumping on? Chargers and Colts named as hot picks by Dan and the Danettes, with a tongue-in-cheek warning against recency bias.

2. The "Generational" Justin Herbert Throw (07:49–09:10, 26:35–29:20)

• Marvin and Paulie describe a jaw-dropping Justin Herbert throw: “He rolled left while getting hit and threw it across his body for a touchdown. It may be the single best throw I’ve ever seen.” (07:57, Marvin)
• Debate: Is this the greatest throw ever, or just a display of unique physical skill? The consensus: only a select group (Mahomes, Herbert, Rodgers) could even attempt it.
• Steve Young’s Take: “Physically, what you have to be able to do, the strength to climb the pocket, to be mobile enough to find the space… Justin Herbert is the Mona Lisa… you get lightheaded, you’re like, ‘Oh, that’s nice.’” (27:09)

3. Steve Young Interview (26:35–44:40)

a. On Quarterback Artistry and Herbert’s Throw (27:09–29:20)

• “He and Andrew Luck… when I watch them throw, I’m like, ‘Oh, that is sweet.’” (Steve Young)
• “He’s been unleashed a little bit with Jim Harbaugh… he won a game with his legs the other day.” (Steve Young)

b. The Bandwagon Teams and September’s “Preseason” (29:20–30:23)

• Steve is “all in” on the Eagles and Bills: “They’re battle-tested… if I had to bet on a team that’ll be there at the end, I would say the Bills and the Eagles.” (29:27–30:05)

c. The Early-Season NFL Mystery (30:23–32:02)

• September is still about teams “figuring it out” due to limited preseason contact and wild free agency. Steve remains skeptical about Cowboys’ structure.
• On the Bears and Caleb Williams: “Coach Johnson has never had a mobile quarterback… But I love what happened for the Bears yesterday. They needed it.” (31:53–32:02)

d. Quarterback Success and System Fit (32:02–34:21)

• Jones (Giants) needs a “quiet mind” and the right system—a sentiment applicable to many QBs.
• “If I could play today, there’s three teams I’d sprint to: San Francisco, Rams, Chiefs. They have the innovative minds; it’s a tactical advantage.” (33:29–34:21)

e. Who Needs Advice? The Real Commodity: Coaching (34:21–36:10)

• Every quarterback, from Josh Allen to Mahomes, benefits most from an elite offensive coordinator: “Those guys are differentiators.” (36:08)

f. Lamar Jackson's Path (36:10–37:40)

• "Lamar can be the greatest player of all time… the transition is happening—now he’s being challenged to be a sophisticated passer. Just double down on the mind game.” (36:15–37:39)

g. Leadership and Entertainment at Quarterback (37:40–39:47)

• Entertainer vs. psychologist: “The game really demands a dynamic human being that can deal with people… The entertainment part is in the doing.” (37:46)
• Great quarterbacking is as much about leading and inspiring as the X’s and O’s.

h. In-the-Pocket Experience—Sound and Chaos (39:47–41:32)

• “I heard Reggie White yelling… you’re 6'6", 500. Just stop with the screaming.” (40:02, Steve Young)
• The intensity and focus turn crowd noise to “white noise”—except maybe for memorable trash talk from Hall of Famers.

i. Deion Sanders Stories & Offense (41:57–44:37)

• “He grabbed me early and said, ‘I’m an amazing teammate… the rest of it, just get some popcorn and watch the parade, bro.’” (41:59, Steve Young)
• On Deion’s talent: “He was one of the rare guys that defied your eye… I can’t gauge it.” (44:37)

4. Callers’ “Best and Worst” & Tush Push Debate (14:38–19:33, 52:26–54:46)

• Mix of humorous and insightful “best and worst” moments from listeners.
• More on the “tush push” play—coaches call in to discuss its history, officiating challenges, and the unpredictable aesthetics of (and potential rule changes around) the play.
• Broader debate on whether field goals under 50 yards should be banned (19:33–20:27).

5. Lightning Round: Fun & Poll Results (51:29–55:23)

• The Danettes guess which quarterback Deion Sanders intercepted most (answer: Jim Everett).
• Poll results: The Packers-Browns game is the “loss that will haunt” respondents; Indiana gets the “win of the weekend.”
• Light-hearted debate over team bandwagons and “which is a better team: the Colts or the Hoosiers?”

Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• On Herbert’s once-in-a-generation throw:
  “He rolled left while getting hit and threw it across his body for a touchdown. It may be the single best throw I’ve ever seen. I don’t think three guys in the world can make this throw.” — Marvin (07:57–08:12)

• Steve Young on QB artistry:
  “Justin Herbert is the Mona Lisa… you get lightheaded, you’re like, ‘Oh, that is sweet.’” — Steve Young (27:09)

• On the Bears’ future:
  “I love what happened for the Bears yesterday. They needed it, and it was just a sign that there’s life there.” — Steve Young (32:01)

• Leadership as a QB:
  “The game really demands a dynamic human being that can deal with people… the entertainment part is in the doing.” — Steve Young (37:46)

• On Deion Sanders:
  “He was always ready to play… just get some popcorn and watch the parade, bro, because it's a good one.” — Steve Young (41:59)

• On in-the-pocket mayhem:
  “I heard Reggie White yelling… you’re already 6'6", 500. Just stop with the screaming!” — Steve Young (40:06)

Segment Timestamps

• 02:36: Weekend football recap, NFL surprises, and poll question reveal
• 07:41–09:53: Danettes debate “best throw ever”—the Herbert TD pass
• 26:35–44:40: Steve Young interview
  • 27:09: Steve’s analysis of Herbert’s throw
  • 29:27: Bandwagon teams
  • 32:02: On Daniel Jones, system fit, and coaching
  • 36:10: Advice for Lamar Jackson and QBs
  • 39:47: In-pocket chaos stories
  • 41:59: Deion Sanders memories
• 14:38–18:29, 52:26–54:46: Callers’ “best and worst” and “tush push” rule debate
• 51:29: Deion Sanders trivia, poll results, and rapid-fire reactions

Summary/Tone

High-energy, playful, and deeply insightful—Dan Patrick and Steve Young offer equal parts expertise and humor, deftly weaving technical football analysis with locker room stories and big-picture perspective on what drives talent and success in modern football. Both experienced fans and newcomers are treated to candid takes on quarterback evolution, coaching’s true value, and the artistry of the game.

Listeners walk away with:

• An appreciation for what separates generational quarterback talent
• New understanding of team-building and September’s “preseason” in today’s NFL
• First-hand stories of in-game chaos, trash talk, and Hall of Fame personalities
• A compelling window into what makes (and breaks) football’s biggest stars

Compiled for listeners who want the nuances, the laughs, and the wisdom—all in one place.