The Dan Patrick Show – Hour 3: The Evolution of The DP Show, Matt Leinart

Date: October 14, 2025
Podcast: The Dan Patrick Show (iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network)

Episode Overview

This episode is a blend of candid shop talk about the evolution and behind-the-scenes stories of "The Dan Patrick Show" and a wide-ranging interview with former USC quarterback and Fox Big Noon Kickoff analyst Matt Leinart. Dan and the Danettes reminisce about their ESPN days, the ups and downs of breaking away to launch their own show, and how the “man cave” vibe fundamentally shaped what the show became. Matt Leinart joins to discuss college football’s biggest matchups, his personal experiences as a quarterback, advice for rookies, and his involvement in a major blood drive initiative.

1. Reflections on the ESPN "Mothership" Years

(00:22-15:42)

Key Points and Insights

• Mending Fences with ESPN: Dan teases improved relations with ESPN (“the mothership”) after years of distance following his departure.

  • Quote: “Now I’m on good terms. I’m on good terms with the mothership.” – Dan Patrick (00:49)

• Frustrations with ESPN Management:

  • Dan describes his long tenure (18 years) at ESPN, growing frustrations near the end, and "precedent setting" pushback on working from home or making office changes.
    • Quote: “I was like 19 years ahead of my time with ESPN. Can I do the show from my home? ‘Nope, that's precedent setting.’” – Dan (01:23)
  • Denied small requests, like a closet or extra monitors for work.
    • Anecdote: Dan stole TV monitors from colleagues and enlisted staff to secretly hook them up. “I went out and I stole two of the TVs from other guy’s desks and put it in my office. … Jason Jackson and Reese Davis, I might have taken their little monitors.” – Dan (03:27)

• The Leap and Reinvention:

  • The last years at ESPN were openly not enjoyable, motivating Dan to break away and launch his own operation focused on fun and team chemistry.
    • “Those last three years I was not happy. … I should have gone after my 15th year there.” – Dan (02:26)

• The Importance of Autonomy:

  • The insistence on doing things “on my terms” led to a tighter, smaller, more enjoyable working group and the “man cave” format in his own attic.

• Leaving ESPN – Secrecy and Logistics:

  • The team describes cloak-and-dagger maneuvers to take contacts, interviews, and resources before departing.
    • Anecdote: “We set up a dummy email account … Fritzi was taking pictures like a spy movie of his book with numbers and sending it to me.” – Paulie Fusco (10:50)
    • Memorable moment: Todd Fritz: “The very first thing … that I smuggled out of there was soccer breakdown.” (11:34)

• Reflections on New Beginnings:

  • The awkward and exciting early years in Dan’s attic, where technical mishaps (“cat stuck in the wall,” “knocked off the air”) became formative bonding experiences.
  • Quote: “It was chaos, but it was fun.” – Dan Patrick (13:44)

Notable Quotes

• “I will not stop until somebody says, ‘Man, you got a great show!’ But I’m over it. I am. I’ve moved on.” – Dan Patrick (04:58)
• “We all had to pitch in. It wasn’t glamorous. … Dogs and cats, kids getting off to school, my wife always cooking downstairs. … It brought us together and made us so much stronger.” – Dan (12:34)

Memorable Moments

• Recollections of technical chaos: the kitten rescue and on-air interruptions (13:24-13:44).
• Paulie suggests, “We should clip this segment and play it our last week on the air just to have it back.” (14:04)

2. Interview with Matt Leinart: Football, Advice, Legacy

(19:04-33:16)

Key Points and Insights

• Quarterback Height and NFL Careers:

  • Dan and Matt discuss if being “too tall” was ever a detraction for QBs.
    • “When I was playing … there were a bunch of us big old statues, right? … Me, Carson, Brady, Peyton.” – Matt Leinart (19:31)

• Transitioning from College to NFL:

  • Matt discusses the difficulty of realizing other quarterbacks were just as good or better in the NFL, compared to “always picking on” weaker defenders in college.
    • “In college … you could always pick on players. There was a weak link. … In the NFL, there really are no weak links.” – Matt Leinart (20:21)
  • Talks about the psychological toll: “When you lose your confidence as a quarterback, kind of all hell breaks loose.” (21:20)
  • The turning point: rediscovering confidence under Gary Kubiak in Houston before injury derailed his comeback. (21:41)

• Advice for Rookie Quarterbacks:

  • “Be a sponge … Ask questions, soak up everything. … Don’t think you know everything.” – Matt Leinart (22:37)
  • The transition is easier now, as offenses are more college-like and rookies are more prepared, but humility and learning remain vital.

• Rivalry Memories and the ‘Bush Push’:

  • Dan and Matt rehash the iconic USC-Notre Dame game and the "Bush Push" play’s 20th anniversary.
    • “Everywhere I go, you cheated, you Bush. … Guys, this is a 20-year anniversary. Come on.” – Matt (24:40)
  • Matt underscores the less-talked about crucial plays leading up to the famous moment.
    • “The fourth down for sure, the fourth and nine. … There’s a couple plays … I think people forget.” – Matt (25:38-26:57)

• USC vs Notre Dame Big Picture:

  • Matt analyzes the stakes of this year’s matchup: “This is a playoff elimination game for Notre Dame … USC can lose this and obviously still win out and make a playoff.” (24:34)

• Blood Drive Initiative with Abbott:

  • Discusses the Big Ten school blood donation competition, noting massive impact and engaging collegiate rivalry.
    • “One blood donation can save up to three lives. Abbott has done an incredible job … last year was a success; this year’s even better.” – Matt Leinart (28:48)

• Personal Treasures:

  • Dan quizzes Matt: If his house were on fire, would he save his Heisman Trophy or autographed Kobe Bryant jersey?
    • “I got two hands, Dan, so I’m taking one of each!” – Matt (30:18)
    • Matt’s admiration for Kobe as his all-time favorite athlete.

• On the Penn State Firing Decision:

  • Matt stresses that while James Franklin is a great coach, recent failures and disconnect with the fanbase left Penn State feeling a change was necessary. (31:07-33:05)

Notable Quotes

• “The fit is just so important, obviously.” – Matt Leinart on what determines quarterback success (22:32)
• “My wife took our office in the house. I’m in the corner of my garage in this little space … But I got a nice little … I don’t have the setup you have.” – Matt (30:40)
• “Everything is aligned up [at Penn State] for them to win a championship. … That’s the reason why this happened. They haven’t been able to do that.” – Matt (33:05)

3. Open Phones, Debate & Humor

(17:56-19:04; 33:16-44:14)

Key Points and Insights

• Fun with Picks and Calls:

  • Callers discuss topics from measuring Dan’s height live, officiating quirks with play clocks in NFL games, and overlooked rock musicians.

• Classic “Danettes” Banter:

  • Humorous conversation about Dan’s popsicle situation mid-show (35:26 onwards), mocking the lack of studio etiquette and the miscellaneous roles of team assistants.

• Random Sports History & Poll Results:

  • Mentions Joe Montana’s 1990 record and Cubs’ Steve Bartman incident.
  • Ongoing polls about NFL playoff races and the MVPs of recent games.

4. Notable Quotes & Moments

• Dan Patrick on forging his own way:
  “Those last three years, I was not happy. … I should have gone after my 15th year there. The last three weren’t fun, and the mothership didn’t help just because everything was precedent setting.” (02:26)

• Paulie Fusco, on attic days:
  “We set up a dummy email account. … Fritzi was taking pictures like a spy movie … It’s like 40 or 50 emails of athlete numbers.” (10:50)

• Matt Leinart, on losing NFL confidence:
  “When you lose your confidence as a quarterback, kind of all hell breaks loose. And at least it did for me.” (21:20)

• Matt Leinart, on the myth vs. real legacy plays:
  “There’s a couple plays … if we score right there, there’s still a minute left. Brady going to lead them down. They’re going to win the game.” (25:47)

• Dan Patrick, on the show’s origins:
  “It was chaos, but it was fun.” (13:44)

• Matt Leinart, on what he'd save from his office:
  “I got two hands, Dan, so I’m taking one of each!” (30:18)

5. Timestamps for Important Segments

• Reminiscing ESPN “Mothership” Years: 00:22 – 15:42
• Matt Leinart Interview Begins: 19:04
  • Height/quarterback talk: 19:04 – 20:05
  • On NFL transition and confidence: 20:05 – 22:32
  • Advice for rookies: 22:37 – 23:54
  • Notre Dame/South Bend stories: 23:54 – 25:30
  • “Bush Push” legacy: 25:30 – 27:03
  • Blood drive campaign: 28:07 – 29:23
  • Heidi vs. Kobe memorabilia: 29:27 – 30:25
  • Penn State/James Franklin firing: 31:02 – 33:05
• Wrap-up banter, calls & polls: 33:16 – 44:14

Conclusion

This episode offers fans a peek behind the curtain at the formative chaos and enduring camaraderie that defines The Dan Patrick Show. With Matt Leinart’s candid recollections on the realities of life as an NFL quarterback and genuine reflections on legacy and leadership, the show underscores its unique mix of sports insight, humor, and self-aware nostalgia. Whether you’re here for the ESPN war stories, the deep dives on football’s intricacies, or the offbeat studio banter, this Hour delivers.