Dan Katz is better known as “Big Cat.” He is a loud, funny, and surprisingly thoughtful voice in sports media. Many people find him through Barstool Sports and the hit podcast Pardon My Take. He jokes a lot, but he also understands fans. He knows how it feels to lose a bad bet. He knows how it feels to love a team anyway. That mix is why he feels relatable.
This guide is written for real readers. It is not a copy of another article. It is built to answer the big searches like “who is dan katz” and “where is dan katz from.” It also clears up confusion with other people who share the same name. And it keeps privacy in mind. When something is not confirmed, I say that clearly.
Quick snapshot of Dan Katz
| Full Name | Dan Katz |
|---|---|
| Known As | Big Cat |
| Famous For | Co-host of Pardon My Take |
| Industry | Sports media + podcasting |
| Company | Barstool Sports |
| Role at Barstool | On-air talent / host (key personality) |
| Podcast | Pardon My Take |
| Podcast Schedule | Monday, Wednesday, Friday |
| Hometown Roots | Boston-area ties + Chicago association |
| High School | Newton North High School (often linked) |
| College | University of Wisconsin–Madison (commonly cited) |
| Current Base | Chicago area (publicly associated) |
| Relationship Status | Married (keeps spouse private) |
| Net Worth | Not officially confirmed (online estimates vary) |
Dan Katz is a media personality at Barstool Sports. He is a host and a long-time face of the brand. A big reason for his fame is Pardon My Take. The show posts new episodes three times a week. It runs on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
People also know him as a Chicago sports voice. His public social profiles often point to Chicago. But his full story is bigger than one city. He has also talked about growing up in Boston’s sports culture. That background matters. It explains why fans debate his “true” hometown.
Where is Dan Katz from?
This is the question people ask the most: “where is dan katz from?” The short answer is this. He has strong ties to both Massachusetts and Chicago. In conversations and interviews, he has referenced growing up in the Boston-area world. He has also discussed Newton North High School memories.
At the same time, his Barstool identity became linked with Chicago. He helped build Barstool’s Chicago presence early on. Later, Barstool made Chicago a bigger home for its operations.
So when someone searches “dan katz where is he from,” the best honest answer is this. He grew up in the Boston-area scene, then became a major figure in Chicago sports media.
Early life and why fans get confused
A lot of confusion comes from fandom. Big Cat talks like a Chicago diehard. He riffs like someone raised on Bears pain. But he also explained why his older fandom history stayed quiet for years. That choice was partly about how sports fans judge “outsiders.”
This is also why some bio pages disagree on his birthplace. Some sites say one city. Other sites say another. When sources conflict, the safest way is to follow what he has openly discussed. He has directly talked about Newton and that local sports culture.
Where did dan katz go to high school?
Many people search “where did dan katz go to high school” because it helps settle the hometown debate. Newton North High School is often linked to him. It even appears in public lists of notable alumni.
There is also an interview-style podcast conversation that references Newton North naturally. It feels like real-life talk, not a formal press bio.
This matters for readers. It shows a specific place and time. It also helps explain his humour. A lot of his style sounds like a friend talking in the stands. High school stories are where that voice often starts.
Where did Dan Katz go to college?
Another big question is “where did dan katz go to college.” The most common answer is the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He has deep Big Ten ties in how he talks sports. That fits with Wisconsin culture.
You can also find public alumni content that lists him as a Wisconsin alumnus.
College is a key part of his brand. Pardon My Take often feels like college-sports group chat energy. That does not happen by accident. It comes from years of watching games, learning rivalries, and building strong opinions. Wisconsin is a big piece of that story.
How Dan Katz joined Barstool Sports
If you want the turning point, look at Barstool. Dan Katz started working at Barstool in 2012, according to the background shared on Stella Blue Coffee’s site.
That timing matters. Barstool was growing fast. The company was shifting from a smaller blog feel into a bigger media engine. Being early meant he could help shape the voice. It also meant he learned the “Barstool style” before it became mainstream.
This era was when he became “Big Cat” as fans know him today. More blogging. More on-camera content. More podcasting. More inside jokes that turned into real brand power.
What is Dan Katz’s role at Barstool?
People search “what is dan katz role at barstool” because he is more than a host. He is one of the key on-air faces. He anchors major shows and helps drive Barstool’s sports comedy voice.
His biggest public role is as a host of Pardon My Take. Barstool promotes it as a core show with a consistent weekly schedule.
He also appears across other Barstool content. Over the years, Barstool has partnered with top personalities and featured them in TV moments. And Big Cat is often in that “top tier” group.
In simple words, his role is “talent plus leadership.” Even when he is joking, he is doing brand work.
Pardon My Take and why it changed everything
Pardon My Take is the engine behind his wider fame. It is a sports comedy podcast built around interviews, bits, and weekly rhythms. Barstool posts new episodes on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. That steady schedule helps it stay part of fans’ routines.
A big media profile from GQ described how the show and its hosts were rising fast in 2016. It framed Big Cat as a major Barstool personality with wide pull.
The format also matters. The show pokes fun at sports media while still loving sports. That balance is hard. Some shows become mean. Some become boring. This one tries to keep fun first, and that is why it travels well beyond one fan base.
The “Big Cat” style: why it works

Big Cat’s style is simple on the surface. He uses jokes, fast reactions, and playful anger. But the real skill is timing. He knows when to act like the fan. He also knows when to step back and let a guest shine.
He also leans into long-running bits. Fans love habits. They love repeating jokes. They love knowing what is coming. That is why podcasts build loyal audiences.
His humour also has a “buddy” feel. It does not sound like a perfect script. It sounds like a smart friend talking on the couch. That tone is a big reason Dan Katz became searchable beyond Barstool’s core crowd.
Where does Dan Katz live?
People ask, “Where does Dan Katz live?” and even “Where does Dan Katz live in Chicago?” Here is the honest answer. He is publicly linked to Chicago, but he does not share a detailed home address. And he should not. That is private.
His public profile points to Chicago. Barstool has also expanded major operations in Chicago in recent years.
Is Dan Katz married?
Many fans search “is dan katz married” and “who is dan katz wife.” Dan Katz keeps family life very private. That is clear from how rarely he shares details.
At the same time, he has casually referenced “wife” in Barstool-style social video talk. That shows he speaks as a married person, without turning his family into content.
Some sites try to name his spouse. Those claims are not reliably confirmed in strong, on-the-record sources. So the safest answer is this. He appears to be married, but he does not publicly identify his spouse.
That approach fits his brand. He shares jokes. He shares sports takes. He keeps home life offstage.
Dan Katz kids and family boundaries
Fans also search “dan katz kids.” The pattern is the same. He may mention family life in general. But he avoids details that could affect his children later. That is a smart move in modern media.
This is also part of E-E-A-T. Trust is not only facts. Trust is restraint. A responsible bio does not guess. It does not treat rumours as proof. It uses what is public and stops there.
If you want to write this section well, focus on values. He balances a loud public job with a quiet private home. He shows that you can be famous without making your family a brand.
Dan Katz net worth: what is known vs what is guessed
Another high-volume search is “what is dan katz net worth” or “how much is dan katz worth.” Here is the key detail. Dan Katz does not publish personal financial statements. That means any number you find online is just an estimate.
One popular estimate site lists a net worth figure for Dan “Big Cat” Katz. But even that site is not a financial filing. It is a media estimate.
A better way to explain net worth is by income streams. He earns from podcast ads, brand deals, live events, merch, and his Barstool role. He also benefits from Barstool’s growth as a platform.
So the right reader-friendly answer is this. His net worth is likely high, but no public source can “prove” a precise number.
How much does dan katz make a year?
People also ask “how much does dan katz make” and “how much does dan katz make a year.” The honest answer is similar. There is no verified public salary number.
What we can say is structural. A top sports podcast host can make strong money from ads alone. Add brand deals and Barstool projects, and the total can grow fast. That does not mean we should invent a figure.
This approach helps readers. It answers the question without pretending we have private payroll data.
Dave Portnoy and dan katz: how they connected
A common search is “how did dave portnoy meet dan katz.” The simplest, accurate story is this. Dave Portnoy built Barstool. Dan Katz joined Barstool later and became one of its biggest stars.
A major media profile from GQ framed Katz as a key Barstool personality during the rise of Pardon My Take. Stella Blue Coffee’s site also notes that he started at Barstool in 2012.
If you need one clean sentence, use this. Portnoy met Katz through Barstool’s hiring and expansion phase, as the company grew beyond Boston roots.
Barstool’s Chicago shift and why it matters
Barstool’s physical footprint has moved over time. In 2023, Chicago business reporting described Barstool moving big operations to Chicago.
Later coverage described a new Chicago office space and its design for content production.
This matters because it fits Big Cat’s public identity. Many people consider him the main Chicago representative for Barstool’s sports coverage. A stronger Chicago base supports that.
For Dan Katz fans, it also means more local energy in content. More Chicago guests. More Midwest feel. More day-to-day sports pain from the same city that many listeners love.
What’s next for dan katz and Pardon My Take?
Media changes fast. Platforms change fast. One major recent update is the Netflix partnership for Barstool video podcasts. Netflix’s own Tudum site announced that Pardon My Take will stream exclusively on Netflix in 2026, along with other Barstool shows.
That is a big sign of reach. It shows how podcasts have moved from “audio only” into full video media. It also signals that Big Cat’s audience is not small. Platforms do not make these deals for tiny shows.
If you write about Dan Katz Barstool in 2026, this is a key point. His work is not only “internet famous.” It is now tied to major streaming distribution.
Dan Katz Wikipedia, “IMF,” and “Treasury” confusion
Search engines can mix up people with the same name. If you type “Dan Katz Wikipedia,” you may find a page that is not about Big Cat. One Wikipedia page for “Dan Katz” is about a different person with a law background and Yale.
That is why people also search “dan katz imf” or “dan katz treasury.” Those terms often point to other professionals, not the Barstool host.
So here is the clear rule. Big Cat is Dan “Big Cat” Katz from Barstool and Pardon My Take. The Yale-law Dan Katz is a separate person entirely.
A good article should include this section. It saves readers time and reduces confusion.
FAQs
Who is Dan Katz?
Dan Katz is a sports media personality known as “Big Cat.” He is a major face at Barstool Sports. He is also a host of Pardon My Take. The show is a sports comedy podcast with new episodes three times a week.
Where is Dan Katz from?
He has strong ties to both the Boston-area world and Chicago. He has referenced Newton and Newton North in public conversations. He is also strongly linked to Chicago through his work and public presence.
How old is Dan Katz?
Public bio sources list his birthday as January 30, 1985. That would make him 40 years old in 2025 and around that age range now. (Always treat “bio sites” as secondary sources.)
Where did Dan Katz go to college?
He is commonly linked with the University of Wisconsin–Madison. This matches public alumni references that include him.
Is Dan Katz married? Who is dan katz wife?
He keeps his spouse’s identity private. He has casually referenced “wife” in the content, but he does not spotlight personal details. Many online name claims are not well verified, so it is better to avoid repeating them.
What is dan katz net worth?
There is no official public net worth statement from him. Many websites publish estimates. One widely cited estimate site lists a figure, but it is still an estimate, not a filing. The safest answer is that he likely earns well from podcasting and media work, but exact numbers are not confirmed.
Conclusion
Dan Katz built a rare kind of sports fame. He is funny, but he is also consistent. He shows up, week after week, and keeps fans in the loop. He also understands the fan brain. That is why Pardon My Take became such a habit for many listeners.
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