The Dan Patrick Show – Hour 3: Jaxson Dart Is Reckless, Steve Young

Date: December 2, 2025
Host: Dan Patrick
Guests: Steve Young (Hall of Fame QB)

Overview

This episode centers on two major themes: the aggressive playing style of Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart—particularly his risk-taking runs—and the broader chaos engulfing college football, including the Lane Kiffin coaching carousel and structural issues with the NCAA. Hall of Fame QB Steve Young joins Dan to break down both on-field quarterbacking decisions and the dilemmas posed when college coaches leave mid-season. The conversation is filled with the show’s hallmark humor, perspective, and a dose of nostalgia.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Jaxson Dart’s Reckless Style & Quarterback Risks

• Poll Question: "Should Jaxson Dart start sliding or getting out of bounds?"
  – 90% of listeners said, "Yes." (04:00)
• Dart’s Attitude (audio played):
  – Jaxson Dart: “I've played this way my whole entire life. It shouldn't be like any shocker… We're not playing soccer out here. You're gonna get hit. Things happen. It's part of the game.” (05:00)
• Dan Patrick’s Take: Appreciates Dart’s aggression but cites examples (Cam Newton, Josh Allen as rare exceptions). Most QBs need to outgrow the “tough guy” approach when entering the NFL, where speed and power are on another level. (05:07)
• Adjusting to the Next Level: Devin McCourty (from the prior hour) notes that rookie QBs must "unlearn" college habits; the NFL’s speed means old tactics become liabilities. (06:02-06:30)

2. Lane Kiffin to LSU & Coaching Carousel

• Fan Calls on Lane Kiffin: Listeners discuss whether Coach Kiffin’s move is about money, resources, and support (not strictly salary).
  – “It’s really about the infrastructure at LSU and LSU football.” – Dan Patrick (07:58)
• Concerns with Kiffin’s History:
  – “He did the same thing at other schools—it's a cautionary tale for LSU. They're gonna eat him alive if he doesn't produce.” – Nate, LA (08:10)
• Kiffin’s Press Conference Played:
  – Lane expresses desire to finish playoffs with Ole Miss but says “In the end, that was their decision, and we totally respect that.” (09:15)
• Dan Patrick’s Analysis: Worries about punitive impacts on Ole Miss for losing their coach and how the playoff committee may react; references selection committee history of downgrading teams missing key personnel. (09:32)
• Speculation Game: Where is Lane in Four Years?
  • Panel predictions: LSU, back in college at another school, in the NFL, or working in media (10:38–12:07)
  • Mock Headlines: Todd delivers comedic Lane Kiffin headlines like “Baton Scrooge: Kiffin Puts Coal in Former Team’s Stockings” and “Lane in the Ass: Ole Miss Thought They Had a Long-Term Coach” (12:07–13:05)

3. NCAA, Transfers, & College Football’s Structure

• Listener Question: Is the NCAA’s fear of lawsuits a reason for lack of transfer/portal rules?
  – Dan Patrick: “I think it’s too big for them … they need a commissioner … This is all business. You go to college and if you want to get a degree, you can get a degree. But you might go to college to major in football and that’s fine.” (14:24–16:06)
• Panel Comparison: NCAA’s lack of authority contrasted with Roger Goodell’s power in the NFL. (16:06)

4. Army-Navy Football Tradition

• Fan Appreciation: A listener recounts taking his son to the Army-Navy game, inspired by Dan’s previous coverage, and thanks Dan for being a long-time companion on morning commutes. (16:30–17:47)
• Dan Patrick: “When those cadets come in, man, you’ll never feel prouder. We’re in good hands with those cadets.” (17:47)

Featured Guest: Steve Young

Segment Start: [22:48]

1. Coaches Leaving Mid-Season (BYU/Penn State Hypothetical)

• Steve Young: “There’s something really wrong that allows for this kind of madness… it would be super painful… Don’t be confused, it would be like ripping… rip them from our bloody hands.” (22:48–23:54)

2. Advice to Jaxson Dart

• Steve Young:
  • “As a quarterback, you have to give your teammates sense that you’re in for it all… But, you gotta stop and you gotta stay healthy. As a pro player, you really need to learn how to do that. I love when Emmitt Smith used to say, ‘Know when the journey is over.’” (24:14–25:31)
  • “He’s just young. He’s trying to figure it out, and he’s being a little, you know, overzealous, and he needs to avoid stupidity. The locker room will… they don’t like stupid either.” (25:45)

3. Evolving Quarterback Play

• Bill Walsh & Learning the Pro Game: Walsh discouraged Young’s early-career scrambling, pushing pocket passing and sophistication.

• “The game is sophisticated passing from the pocket. Now, you have to threaten the line of scrimmage with your feet … Go get those ‘free yards.’” (27:05)

• Would Young Rush for 10,000 Yards in Today’s League?

  • “The game is not about numbers—it’s about difference-making, vital yards … in the biggest games, your legs will win you the game.” (28:18–29:19)

4. Drake Maye’s Intangibles & The ‘Slowed-Down’ Mind

• Steve Young: “He gets it. The game makes sense to him… 22 people running around, and his brain slows down when it gets crazy.”
  • Dan: “Is that teachable?”
  • Steve: “No, it’s a genetic reaction. The normal human reaction is to get tense and diminished under pressure, but guys like Mahomes have a blessing—when it gets crazier, their brain says, ‘we’re good.’” (29:19–31:15)
• Compares to Wayne Gretzky’s "snapshot" vision in hockey for spatial awareness. (31:15–32:13)

5. San Francisco 49ers, Christian McCaffrey & NFL Trends

• On the Niners: “They’re good enough to threaten… Who wants to play the 49ers? Nobody. For all that’s happened, we have to tip our cap to everyone in the organization.” (32:31–33:32)
• On McCaffrey: “He’s Roger Craig [but modern]… Hall of Fame is about game-changers and you can’t write the book about today’s game without him.” (33:35–34:52)

6. Quarterbacks and Pressure

• Under Pressure:
  • “Josh Allen—just feels like that’s the next mountain to climb… not a burden, it’s a challenge he seems built for.” (37:02–38:15)
• Pocket Passer Era Ending?
  • “Yes. Matthew Stafford and Aaron Rodgers, the last around from a more sophisticated era… today’s rookie must go get those yards with their legs. Otherwise, the game will eat you up over time.” (38:23–39:57)

7. Locker Room Banter on Memorabilia

• Light-hearted back and forth about whether Steve Young’s office is a football “museum,” and if he acts as a “dinosaur” of the passing era. (40:00–41:17)

Notable Quotes

• Steve Young on leaving coaches:
  “It would be like ripping… They’d have to rip [Kalani] from our bloody hands.” (23:36)

• Steve Young to Dart:
  “You don’t have to ram into linebackers for no reason… You have to find the fine line between being tough and being smart.” (24:14)

• Steve Young on QB mentality:
  “When it gets crazier, your brain must say, ‘We’re good.’ That’s a genetic blessing.” (30:00)

• On McCaffrey:
  “Hall of Fame is about game-changers—and you can’t write the book about running backs today without Christian McCaffrey.” (34:52)

• Steve Young on old-school QBs:
  “The game will eat you up if you can’t get those yards. You might be good, but you can’t dominate.” (39:57)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [05:00] – Jaxson Dart, “We’re not playing soccer out here.”
• [12:07] – Lane Kiffin “four years from now” predictions
• [12:16] – Todd’s mock Lane Kiffin headlines
• [14:24] – Dan on NCAA’s lack of rule enforcement
• [16:30] – Listener tells Army-Navy story, Dan reflects on the tradition
• [22:48] – Steve Young joins the show
• [24:14] – Steve Young’s advice to Jaxson Dart
• [29:19] – Young on “genetic” mental gifts for QBs
• [32:31] – Young on Niners, coaching culture
• [33:35] – Young on McCaffrey as a Hall of Famer
• [38:23] – Are Stafford and Rodgers the last of the pocket passers?
• [40:00] – Steve Young’s office memorabilia banter

Memorable Moments

• Todd’s “Lane in the Ass” headline, making Dan groan (12:58)
• Listener shows gratitude for Dan’s coverage inspiring a father-son Army-Navy trip (16:30)
• Steve Young likening a beloved coach leaving to a “bloody-handed” tug-of-war (23:36)
• Young explaining “how you slow the game down” is a genetic distinction—an elite QB trait (31:00)

Tone and Style

The show maintains its signature camaraderie and blend of insight, humor, and straight talk, particularly with the banter among Dan and the Danettes, the mock headlines, and Steve Young’s candid, metaphor-rich football philosophy.

Summary for New Listeners

This episode is a must-listen for fans interested in the intersection of quarterback mentality, college football’s turbulent landscape, and the wisdom of a Hall of Fame QB. Steve Young’s appearance ties together big-picture NCAA issues, the evolution of QB play, and the importance of blending toughness with longevity. The Lane Kiffin discussion is peppered with laughs and guarded optimism—and listeners weigh in with their stories and gratitude, reflecting the community Dan has built.