Dan Patrick Reveals ESPN Tried to 'Smear' Him After Exit
You know, it’s not every day that someone goes toe-to-toe with a media giant like ESPN and comes out standing. But that’s exactly what Dan Patrick did — and he’s finally opening up about just how brutal that journey was. On a recent appearance on Pardon My Take , Patrick didn’t hold back. He claimed that after he left ESPN in 2007, the network didn’t just let him walk away quietly — they tried to destroy him.
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Yeah, that’s the word he used: smear campaign . According to Patrick, once he started his own version of The Dan Patrick Show , ESPN began pressuring radio affiliates to drop his program. Basically, if you aired Dan Patrick, you’d get blacklisted from carrying any ESPN content. Talk about playing dirty.
But instead of being crushed by that pressure, Patrick said it lit a fire in him. He admitted it was scary — who wouldn’t be intimidated by the massive machine that is ESPN? But he saw it as a sign that he mattered. "Holy s--t. I’m gonna matter. They’re gonna have to deal with me," he remembered thinking. That’s classic underdog mentality right there — David versus Goliath, and Dan was ready to throw the stone.
He shared how the decision to leave ESPN wasn’t just about work — it was deeply personal. His wife reminded him of how fast their kids were growing up and how little he was around. That hit him hard. Even though he was offered a five-year deal to stay, he walked away, without even having a clear plan. That’s gutsy.
The transition wasn’t easy. Patrick said there were moments he wasn't sure if he could even make payroll for his crew. They were doing the show out of his attic for three years. This wasn’t some glamorous Hollywood exit with instant success — it was rough, risky, and uncertain. But through it all, he kept grinding.
Even now, as his show continues to thrive — currently streaming on Peacock and syndicated nationally — Patrick looks back with both pride and perspective. He said he’s warned others not to follow his path unless they’re truly ready, because the odds of making it like he did are incredibly slim.
Dan Patrick's story isn't just about sports media politics. It’s about betting on yourself, standing up when you’re pushed down, and surviving in a cutthroat industry. He didn’t just leave ESPN — he challenged it, and in many ways, he won.
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