The Dan Patrick Show – Hour 3 Summary
Episode Title: Giants Already Got Their First Win, Reggie Miller
Date: January 21, 2026
Host: Dan Patrick
Guests: Reggie Miller
Main Theme:
This episode navigates the shifting sands of sports culture, pressure-filled moments, and accountability, with a particular focus on recent NFL and NBA headlines, the personal “what ifs” for both host and guest, and a wide-ranging discussion with Hall of Famer Reggie Miller. The show is marked by candid, self-effacing humor, deep sports insight, and listener engagement on the theme of memorable heartbreaks in sports.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Bills Fire Sean McDermott – The Culture of Blame
[01:16–08:28]
- Owner Terry Pegula’s Press Conference:
- The Bills’ owner stated his decision to fire coach Sean McDermott was “based off the results of the game in Denver.”
- “[The owner] said, ‘my decision to bring in a new head coach was based off the results of the game in Denver.’” – Todd Fuhrman [04:51]
- Dan and the crew debate the fairness and logic of making a major organizational change over one disappointing performance.
- The Bills’ owner stated his decision to fire coach Sean McDermott was “based off the results of the game in Denver.”
- Josh Allen’s Role and Fallout:
- Responsibility for the loss and subsequent firing is linked to Josh Allen’s underwhelming postseason. “[Now] he got his coach fired is basically what's coming out of this.” – Dan Patrick [05:43]
- Drafting Blame Game:
- Owner shifts accountability for the Keon Coleman draft pick onto the coaching staff.
- Blame and Culture:
- The host underscores the chaos of a front office crisis: “This sounds like a mess now... everyone playing the blame game.” – Dan Patrick [06:40]
- Coaching Changes and “Winning the Press Conference”:
- Discussion on the superficiality and pressure of introductory pressers for new coaches; mentions Harbaugh, McDaniel, and others.
- Importance and challenge of “creating culture”: “You gotta... change the culture. But what is... culture?” – Dan Patrick [08:37]
- Anecdote: Jason Garrett admits he “had no idea what he was doing” as a new head coach.
2. Personal Heartbreaks in Sports
[10:42–12:39]
- Dan’s Own Regrets:
- Missed plays as a young athlete, his on-air Super Bowl mistake with Gronk.
- Story of incorrectly asking Gronkowski “Did you forget how that felt?”—when it was his first Super Bowl win.
- “If I said that to Belichick... or ask Brady. But I asked Gronk and yeah, got roughed up a little bit there. But yeah, it's all right.” – Dan Patrick [12:39]
- Theme for Listener Calls:
- Listeners share their own most memorable “gutting” moments in sports—a communal, cathartic segment.
3. Exclusive Feature Interview: Reggie Miller
[20:00–39:10]
A. Reggie on the Moment That Haunts Him
[20:00–22:48]
- The Missed Free Throw (1994 Eastern Conference Finals, Game 6):
- Reggie shares the career moment he can’t escape—missing a crucial free throw, letting the Knicks off the hook, and losing a shot at the NBA Finals.
- “I go one for two and it's a tie ball game... There's a difference between tied and being up because all they did was exhale. They went on to beat us in game six and we lost game seven. … It kills me.” – Reggie Miller [21:22]
- Reggie shares the career moment he can’t escape—missing a crucial free throw, letting the Knicks off the hook, and losing a shot at the NBA Finals.
- Candid on “Choking”:
- Reggie admits self-fault, refusing to blame teammates:
- “Did you choke?” – Todd Fuhrman
- “I choked.” – Reggie Miller [37:11]
- Reggie admits self-fault, refusing to blame teammates:
B. NBA Trade Speculation and Team Dynamics
[22:48–34:10]
- Knicks’ Chemistry and Karl-Anthony Towns:
- The crew discusses ongoing chemistry issues and potential roster moves. Reggie critiques Towns’ fit and the team’s defensive drop-off.
- “Look, something just isn’t clicking chemistry wise in that locker room... His shooting is atrocious.” – Reggie Miller [23:02]
- The crew discusses ongoing chemistry issues and potential roster moves. Reggie critiques Towns’ fit and the team’s defensive drop-off.
- Warriors’ Window with Steph Curry:
- Golden State’s urgency to capitalize on Curry’s late prime; possible moves (DeRozan, Kaminga).
- “That window is really closing here, Reg.” – Todd Fuhrman [24:25]
- Golden State’s urgency to capitalize on Curry’s late prime; possible moves (DeRozan, Kaminga).
- Wild Trade Fantasies—Giannis or Steph Moves?
- Musings on superstars potentially requesting trades, wild hypotheticals of Steph Curry joining San Antonio alongside Wemby and Castle.
- “Maybe it’s time that I call someone in the Midwest by the name of Giannis Antetokounmpo and say... the time is now. You're getting older. I'm certainly knocking on Father Time’s door.” – Reggie Miller [26:03]
- Musings on superstars potentially requesting trades, wild hypotheticals of Steph Curry joining San Antonio alongside Wemby and Castle.
- Team Building and Experience:
- Reggie and Dan discuss what would make teams contenders—pairings that might rival current powerhouse squads.
C. Wonders of the NBA’s Young Stars
[32:18–34:10]
- On Cooper Flagg:
- Firsthand praise for Flagg’s growth and adaptability, with special note for coaching allowing “failure” as growth. “This young man is going to be the face of our game.” – Reggie Miller [33:48]
- On Wembanyama:
- Acknowledges Wemby’s unique potential: “I just think that the league is his for the next decade.” – Todd Fuhrman [33:54]
- Dan notes: “If that's the case, then he's going to have to play more than 28 minutes a game. I need more Wemby.” [34:10]
D. College Basketball & Fan Behavior
[34:26–35:17]
- UCLA Students Storming the Court:
- Panel and Reggie are incredulous about the “lack of sense of history” at UCLA, after students stormed the court following a win—a practice considered below the program’s stature.
E. NFL, Nostalgia, and Accountability
[35:17–39:00]
- Team Fandom:
- Reggie reaffirms loyalty to the Raiders, discusses iconic football moments.
- Back to NBA Regrets:
- Returns to the missed free throw story, laying sole responsibility on himself: “When you're the man, it falls right here.” – Reggie Miller [37:44]
Listener Engagement: Sports Heartbreaks
[40:56–44:22]
- Listeners call in with the plays that haunt them (e.g., Super Bowl heartbreaks, missed game-winning plays), continuing the episode’s theme of sports as an arena for both glory and regret.
Notable Quotes & Timestamps
- “This sounds like a mess now. It just went from a really tough loss where your quarterback didn't play well to everyone playing the blame game.” – Dan Patrick [06:40]
- “You gotta... change the culture. But what is... culture?” – Dan Patrick [08:37]
- “There's a difference between tied and being up because all they did was exhale. … That’s why it just kills me because I... I let them off the hook.” – Reggie Miller [21:22]
- “Did you choke?” – Todd Fuhrman [37:09]
- “I choked.” – Reggie Miller [37:11]
- “When you’re the man, it falls right here.” – Reggie Miller [37:44]
- “Maybe it's time that I call someone in the Midwest by the name of Giannis Antetokounmpo and say... the time is now.” – Reggie Miller [26:03]
- “If that's the case, then he's going to have to play more than 28 minutes a game. I need more Wemby.” – Dan Patrick [34:10]
- “He just doesn’t look comfortable under Mike Brown’s system. And don’t get me started on the defense…” – Reggie Miller [23:02]
Other Key Segments & Timestamps
- [01:16] – Start of main content (post-intros/ads)
- [04:51] – Todd’s “money quote” from Bills owner
- [10:42] – Dan reflects on personal missed plays and broadcasting errors
- [20:00] – Reggie Miller joins, shares his career “haunt”
- [23:02] – Knicks trade rumors and chemistry issues
- [26:03] – Hypothetical Giannis-Golden State pairing
- [33:48] – Reggie on Cooper Flagg as future NBA face
- [34:26] – UCLA fans storming the court
- [37:09] – Todd: “Did you choke?” Reggie: “I choked.”
- [40:56] – Listener heartbreak calls begin
Tone & Style
The episode is marked by candid, good-natured self-deprecation, in-depth sports knowledge, and the camaraderie of both hosts and callers. There’s room for both the profound—the haunting weight of a missed opportunity—and playful banter about fan logic, media foibles, and growing up in sports.
Episode Takeaways
- Front offices and coaching are often scapegoated for players' mistakes—real organizational change is harder than it looks.
- Sports regret is universal, from Hall of Fame pros to weekend warriors—everyone has their “what if.”
- NBA culture is shifting, both in how organizations pursue winning (trades, chemistry) and how fans engage with tradition.
- New stars (Wemby, Flagg) are poised to redefine the sport, but must be given space to fail and grow.
A rich, relatable episode for anyone who’s lived with a big sports “what if”—or just loves imagining what Steph Curry as a Spur would look like.
