Dan Patrick was among the most recognizable faces at ESPN during his time there and is even recognized for it today. He was an anchor on “SportsCenter” from 1989 to 2006 while also hosting a radio show from 1999 to 2007.
Patrick wasn’t planning on leaving in 2007, though. In fact, he was ready to sign an extension with ESPN but turned it down at the last minute.
Patrick was a guest on the Audacy Original Podcast “Stacey King’s Gimme the Hot Sauce Podcast” and explained his departure from ESPN and realizing the important things in life.
“I needed to be challenged again. I think I’d gotten to the point where I was sort of mailing it in on ‘SportsCenter’ and I thought that’s not fair to somebody who’s always wanted to do this and here I am not as passionate as I should be,” Patrick said (29:46 in player above). “And then I had a conversation with my wife and she, obviously, is the smart one, and she said ‘Look, your kids are all going to be out of the house.’”
Patrick’s kids were between the ages of nine and 15 at the time and he was set to sign a new five-year contract. That would’ve taken him through most of his children’s teenage years and his wife gave him some wise words of advice.
“She said you’re going to hate yourself. ‘Aw, I’ll be around the kids,’ you know, and I went to ESPN that morning and I was supposed to sign my new contract and for some reason my wife’s words came into my head and I’m sitting there with my boss and he goes ‘Alright, what is it, take it or leave it?’ I go ‘I’m going to leave it,” Patrick said. “And he didn’t even hear me, he goes ‘Alright, I’ll have Danielle draw up the contract,’ I go ‘No, I’m going to leave it.’”
While Patrick may have been worried about what would happen next, that quickly turned to relief and realizing what’s most important.
“I remember walking outside and I called my wife and said ‘Hun, I’m coming home.’ She goes, ‘OK.’ I said ‘Hun, I’m leaving ESPN.’ She goes ‘OK, we’ll sell the house if we needed to,’” Patrick recalled. “Oh my God, I started crying because she had the true perspective.”
Patrick was caught up in being on TV and on ESPN but he soon realized that family is the most important thing.
“I drove home and I remember getting there, pulling into the driveway, and my youngest daughter comes out and I thought, ‘Oh, my wife sent her out, this is awesome.’ You know dad came home, he’s going to leave ESPN, and my youngest goes ‘Should I always be honest with you, dad?’ I go ‘Absolutely.’ ‘No matter what?’ ‘Absolutely.’ ‘Even if it hurts your feelings?’ I’m thinking how can she hurt my feelings, I go ‘Yes, you should tell me.’ ‘OK, you got a booger in your nose,’ and then she turned and walked away,” Patrick laughed.
“And I walked in, I go ‘did you set her up to?’ She goes ‘No, why?’ And I told my wife the story and it’s like alright, I’m home.”
All of Patrick’s kids were silent at the table when he walked in.
“My son said ‘Is this a good thing?’ I said ‘It’s a great thing.’ They started banging on the kitchen table, and then I realized this is what my wife is talking about. And as crazy as it may sound, I should’ve done it earlier. I didn’t have the guts to do it earlier. She gave me the guts to do it. But I needed to get my a– kicked a little bit and I needed to come home.”
Patrick worked for ESPN from 1989 to 2007 as an anchor and host. He launched his new version of “The Dan Patrick Show” on October 1, 2007, and has since worked for Sports Illustrated and NBC Sports.
Related
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow Audacy Sports
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram