Dan Patrick addressed his upcoming retirement again Wednesday. This time, he detailed the mindset driving it and the concerns that he has surrounding it.
What We Know: Patrick plans to retire from The Dan Patrick Show after Super Bowl LXII in Atlanta 2028. That’s roughly one and a half years away. He’s hosted the syndicated show since 2007, following his run at ESPN. Unlike that ESPN exit, though, Patrick wants this departure to feel earned. He discussed his feelings approaching retirement on Wednesday’s edition of The Dan Patrick Show.
What They Said: (All quotes via The Dan Patrick Show)
Dan Patrick on how he wants to retire from The Dan Patrick Show: “I want to go out where I’m proud of what I’m doing. I left ESPN and I wasn’t proud of what I was doing. Now it had nothing to do with my abilities. It just had to do with a mindset. ESPN had changed. I had changed, and I wasn’t proud of the last couple of years I did SportsCenter. But here, I do love coming in every single day.”Dan Patrick says his wife shares his concerns about being happy in retirement
Dan Patrick says his wife shares his concerns about being happy in retirement: “We’ve had discussions about this. And she said, “Are you going to be happy? Are you going to be able to watch the show? Are you going to be able to find other things to do?” Those are all concerns. Those are legitimate concerns that I have.”
Dan Patrick says he wants to ensure he leaves before his skills falter: “Part of the reason why I got to this point of this was going to be my last contract is I’m going to be close to being 72. Maybe that doesn’t sound ancient, but in this business it is. This is three hours every day, and it’s live. And I want to make sure I’m sharp.”
What Remains Unclear: It’s still unclear how Patrick will fill his routine once the show ends. Producer Seton O’Connor told Barrett Media earlier this year he has pitched several projects to work alongside Patrick following retirement.
What It Means: The vulnerability in Patrick’s remarks show true concerns. As any longtime sports radio talent would show with a devoted audience. There is still plenty to figure out following Patrick’s retirement regarding the future of the radio program and staff. His focus on his own concerns are just part of that process. For once, listeners get a candid look at retirement anxiety near the top of a career. Meanwhile, two seasons remain before Patrick closes one of sports radio’s most enduring runs.
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John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.