The Dan Patrick Show: Best Of – August 27, 2025

Overview

This episode of "The Best of The Dan Patrick Show" blends classic DP banter, humorous takes on sports headlines, and interviews with Nick Wright (Host of “First Things First,” Fox Sports 1) and Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel. The main threads throughout the show include high-profile sports relationships (Travis Kelce & Taylor Swift’s engagement), NFL coaching hot seats, playoff pressures, quarterback evaluations, and what makes a team or coach thrive—or struggle—under the spotlight.

Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. Travis Kelce & Taylor Swift Engagement + The Wedding Cake Bet

Time: 02:37–16:59

• Dan's Love for Love, and the Bet

  • Dan Patrick celebrates the official engagement of Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift and revisits his famous wager with show regular Todd Fritz (“Fritzi”): if they became engaged, Dan would hit Fritzi with a wedding cake.
  • The crew struggles to remember the exact terms of the original bet: was it “engaged” or “married,” and when exactly did Dan utter it? Listeners are recruited to help find the audio proof.
  • Lighthearted debate ensues about semantics in bets and whether Fritzi should have to take the cake.

  Notable Quotes:

  • Dan: “Nobody loves love quite like I do. ...I made a bet with Fritzi that when they got engaged, I would hit him with a wedding cake in the face. But we can't find the day that I said that.” [02:37]
  • Nick Wright: “I remember you and Fritzi having a bet, just like you said, but I don't remember the language of the bet. Was it engaged or married? Those are two different things.” [04:20]

2. NFL Coaching Hot Seat: Who Must Win to Survive?

Time: 06:49–16:14, 23:27–26:49

• Poll Questions:

  • Is Travis Kelce more likely to retire now that he's engaged?
  • Which NFL coach needs to win a playoff game or risk losing their job?

• Candidates Discussed:

  • Mike McDaniel (Dolphins): Seen as having to make the playoffs or win a game.
  • Brian Daboll (Giants): Needs improvement to retain his position.
  • Mike Tomlin (Steelers): A rare case of organizational loyalty, but playoff wins expected.
  • Zach Taylor (Bengals): “Can only live off the fumes of going to a Super Bowl for so long.”
  • Kevin Stefanski (Browns), Shane Steichen (Colts), Sean McDermott (Bills), Dan Campbell (Lions): Each coach's unique pressures and what could buy them more time or get them fired.

  Notable Quotes:

  • Dan: “I would probably say Brian Dable because I don't think they're going to be that good soon enough for him to hold on to that job.” [07:36]
  • Nick Wright: “There are guys who are trying to build something is one category, and then other coaches who are wasting an opportunity.” [09:50]

3. NFL Playoff Pressure Rankings

Time: 12:22–13:59, 23:27–25:41

• “Super Bowl or Bust” Coaches:

  • Sean McDermott – Bills’ regular season success isn’t enough; fans want a Super Bowl.
  • Dan Campbell – Lions need to finally break through after high expectations.

• Fan Expectations & Organizational Patience:

  • Dan Patrick and Nick Wright analyze which teams/coaches require deep playoff runs to assuage fan bases and owners.

  Notable Quotes:

  • Dan: “Buffalo Bills need to go to the title game for sure. For at least. At least. I think. Okay, more pressure. Dan Campbell or Sean McDermott?” [12:33]
  • Nick Wright: “Tomlin's better off missing the playoffs and breaking a streak than making the playoffs and losing in round one, which is maybe not fair, but I think that's reality.” [25:03]

4. Chiefs, NFL Contenders, and Ranking Quarterbacks

Time: 30:45–35:53

• Are the Chiefs Overlooked?

  • Nick Wright adamantly argues that the Kansas City Chiefs remain the team to beat despite off-season media narratives suggesting otherwise.
  • Discusses sports media hypocrisy about which teams need to make blockbuster trades.
  • “How do the Chiefs not make the Super Bowl?” Only a catastrophic event or “act of God,” says Nick.

• Quarterback Talk

  • Dan and Nick debate quarterback rankings, valuing postseason performance over regular season stats.
  • Jalen Hurts vs. Lamar Jackson vs. Josh Allen — who do you want in the clutch?

  Notable Quotes:

  • Nick Wright: “Everyone is saying simultaneously...Ravens and Bills are the class of the AFC. The Ravens and Bills need to trade for Micah Parsons to get over the hump. What's the hump, America? Who are we talking about here?” [32:21]
  • Dan: “I think if you ranked playoff quarterbacks, that to me has more value now. We won't do that. But, but I would put the guys who have actually done this, the guys who have produced, when your team needs you...” [34:09]

5. Surprise Pick: Bucs for the NFC?

Time: 35:53–37:19

• Nick Wright’s Bold Prediction:

  • Exclusive for the Dan Patrick Show: Nick is leaning toward the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as his pick for the NFC’s representative in the Super Bowl, citing schedule, offensive strengths, and historical trends in the NFC East.

  Notable Quotes:

  • Nick Wright: “The Tampa Bay Buccaneers...lot of stuff to like...If you don’t have Tom Brady or Patrick Mahomes [in the last 25 years], you win the Super Bowl, half the teams—more than half—don’t win a playoff game the next year." [36:31]

6. Sports Documentaries, Life as a Fan, and Banter

Time: 37:26–40:40

• Nick admits not having seen either the new Cowboys or the Chiefs documentaries, joking about watching sports instead of vacationing.

• Playful ribbing between Dan and Nick over who dresses better for TV, and which of them has handed out more Super Bowl trophies.

7. Interview: Dolphins Head Coach Mike McDaniel

Time: 45:56–59:16

• On Coaching Journey & Perspective

  • McDaniel recalls his winding path from Yale receiver to NFL head coach, stressing adaptability in coaching systems to suit player strengths, referencing the RG3 era in Washington and influence of the Shanahan coaching tree.

• Player Evaluation

  • Ranks Tua Tagovailoa as “probably the most talented quarterback” he’s worked with, crediting also Matt Ryan, RG3, and Matt Schaub for unique QB skills.

• Handling Pressure

  • Acknowledges external pressure but explains how he keeps it in perspective and maintains work-life balance, especially after becoming a father.

• Fun Background:

  • Shares the story of how seeking Bronco autographs as a child led to his mother meeting his future stepfather, an assistant video guy with the Broncos—thus setting McDaniel on an NFL path.

• On Travis Kelce & Taylor Swift

  • Learns of the engagement live on air and playfully claims ignorance, reflecting on “love-based relationships.”

  Notable Quotes:

  • Mike McDaniel: “The whole tree underneath Kyle Shanahan learned that in 2012 when we had a rookie RG3...We completely adapted...All these people firsthand where we had our offense...and then retooled it in Washington.” [49:36]
  • On Tua: “I think Tua is probably the, the most talented quarterback...[but] The most talented speed threat was probably Robert Griffin III.” [51:15]
  • On pop culture: “You keep yourself from anything that’s multimedia, and then you make yourself a terrible conversation when people bring up pop culture.” [57:41]

Notable Quotes, One-Liners, and Moments

• “Nobody loves love quite like I do.” – Dan Patrick [02:37]
• “You can't spell Todd without odd.” – Dan Patrick [17:14]
• On Travis & Taylor: “Now they're getting married...what is America’s greatest love story.” – Nick Wright [25:48]
• Nick Wright’s high school theory: “If you’re Taylor Swift...the only thing...you didn’t get to have that type of high school experience. ...What initially drew her to Travis was, I get to have it now—I’m dating the star football player.” [28:37]
• On the Bucs pick: “That is gonna...that is viral bonanza. This guy. Nobody’s had that.” – Nick Wright [36:37]
• “My expectation is that nobody wants to hang out with me ever...that I’m the boss of.” – Mike McDaniel, on whether players invite their head coach to weddings [58:35]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Opening & Kelsey/Swift Wedding Cake Bet: 02:37–16:59
• NFL Coaching Hot Seat & Playoff Pressures: 06:49–16:14, 23:27–26:49
• Interview: Nick Wright (coaching, Chiefs, Bucs, Taylor & Travis): 23:27–40:40
• Interview: Mike McDaniel (coaching journey, Tua, RG3, personal anecdotes): 45:56–59:16

Tone & Style

The episode is classic Dan Patrick Show: witty, self-aware, a touch irreverent, and deeply conversational. There’s a blend of sports knowledge, cultural references, running gags, and nerdy “inside sports” banter. The humor comes from camaraderie as much as snark, with affectionate jabs exchanged between hosts, producers, and guests.

For Listeners Who Missed the Show

This “Best Of” is a breezy, ping-ponging trip through the week’s major NFL stories, pop culture crossovers, and the realities behind coaching in the NFL. Whether you’re here for the inside scoop, bold predictions, or just a laugh about wedding cake and head coaches’ party invitations—there’s something for every fan.