Hour 1: Championship-level Excitement

Summary

Podcast Summary: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg

Episode: Hour 1: Championship-level Excitement
Date: January 15, 2026
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Topic: The Giants’ Historic John Harbaugh Hire – Emotions, Analysis, and Franchise Impact

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Episode Overview

This episode is energized by the breaking news that John Harbaugh, former Ravens Super Bowl-winning head coach, has agreed to coach the New York Giants. The trio—ecstatic Giants fan Don La Greca, Knicks broadcaster Alan Hahn, and skeptical but engaged Peter Rosenberg—dive into the significance of this hire, comparing it to the most major coaching moves in New York sports, reflecting on the Giants’ recent history, and exploring what Harbaugh’s arrival means for the franchise and its fans.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Magnitude of the Harbaugh Hire

• Don La Greca’s Excitement:

  • "I can't think of a better day ... than the day the Giants go out and have their biggest hire in franchise history." (00:36)
  • Don claims the franchise hasn’t made a hire of this size since Bill Parcells, and proposes Harbaugh brings ‘championship-level’ cachet instantly.

• Comparative Analysis of Coaching Hires:

  • The hosts list historic New York coaching hires, comparing Harbaugh’s credentials and immediate impact to Parcells with the Jets, Pat Riley with the Knicks, Chuck Daly with the Nets, and others.
  • Alan: "John Harbaugh is the most significant coaching hire made by a New York team since...is it Pat Riley with the Knicks?" (10:17)

• Instant Credibility:

  • Alan: "You have a functioning football team with a true leader and someone that has that kind of cachet around the league." (04:33)
  • Don: "You offered him the job and he took it. Despite all your embarrassments over recent years, you're still a respected enough franchise that somebody of significance wants to coach you." (37:10)

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2. Theories on How the Hire Came Together

• Timeline Speculation:

  • Don suggests the Giants might have targeted Harbaugh immediately after letting go of Brian Dable.
  • "I believe that this was something the Giants knew they were going to do the second they fired Brian Dable." (01:18)
  • Alan and Peter push back, arguing Harbaugh might not have been available or on the radar initially, but agree the timing was fortuitous.

• Joe Schoen’s Role:

  • Alan proposes that the Giants’ GM may have played a key part in advocating for Harbaugh, possibly ensuring his own job security.
  • "What if it was Joe Shane who told the Maras and the Tisches...Harbaugh might be available?" (06:26)

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3. Context: Decade of Bad Decisions

• Failed Coaches Sequence:

  • Don recites the string of Giants coaching misfires: "Ben McAdoo... Pat Shermer... Joe Judge... Brian Dable. Who’s the king of them all so far?...Oh, no, wait. John Harbaugh. Boom." (08:36)

• The Return to Respectability:

  • Don likens this hire to Pat Riley joining the Knicks—transformational at the moment, a sign of restored seriousness and aspiration.
  • "This is like the Giants version of the Knicks getting Pat Riley...from colossal embarrassment to a team that instantaneously becomes a team that will be in the conversation as a possible playoff team next year." (08:54)

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4. Rosenberg’s Skepticism and the “Championship Adjacent” Debate

• Is This a ‘Championship’ Hire?

  • Don: "Giants history is...is championship adjacent." (07:50)
  • Peter pushes back: "I don't consider the team to be such a joke that gaining stability with a great coach like this is championship...adjacent." (09:52)

• Listener Confrontation:

  • Caller Tessa chides Peter for undercutting the excitement, sparking a lighthearted (if heated) back-and-forth for several minutes.
  • Tessa: “At the end of the day, you’re really, really hating right now. You’re really acting like a salty summer.” (28:11)
  • Peter: "You are an annoying caller who I don’t like talking to. Don’t call me." (29:11)

• Harbaugh’s Limitations:

  • Peter’s caution: Harbaugh is coming off being ousted from Baltimore and is not a savior on his own.
  • "An aging coach who was sent out of Baltimore because they don’t think he can win anymore with an MVP quarterback...And you guys are going, please, we'll take Baltimore's trash. Wow, it's exciting." (16:08)
  • Don counters with the Andy Reid-to-Kansas City example.

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5. Franchise Trajectory and the Intangibles

• Stability and Attractiveness:

  • Alan: "This will be a desirable spot for top coordinator candidates...That’s what they're feeling in the building." (14:29)
  • Don: "Bringing in a coach like this...does shake a franchise... Brings not just, ‘hey, this guy we know can coach, he’s got a resume’—people are going to want to coach with him, and be there." (14:20)

• Importance of Standard and Tone:

  • Don: "Remember, we said the problem with the Giants, their standard walked out the door when Tom Coughlin left. ...The standard you expect will come back." (17:32)
  • Peter: "I still do believe in it to some extent that this is a class organization. John Harbaugh is of the ilk that should be with this team." (17:54)

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6. Cautions and Open Questions

• No Guarantees:

  • Don: "There’s a lot that can go wrong...dart could turn out not to be the guy, there could be injuries, maybe they fall short..." (17:15)
  • Alan: "The first concern...are that Todd Monken's coming with him to be the offensive coordinator, and Monken and Lamar Jackson did not get a lot like it just didn’t happen...If the first year, and you’re seeing Jackson Dart kind of having the same...with this offense, that’s the one thing I would wonder." (38:32)

• Coach vs. Quarterback:

  • Alan and Don debate whether it’s better to have the coach or the quarterback in place—concluding optimistically that you have to have the coach to build the rest. (38:06)

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7. Community & Culture

• The Day Feels Like a Win:

  • Don: "My team went away and now they’re back. ...That makes me feel prideful to be a Giants fan." (30:04)
  • Alan: "You have legitimate reasons to think young players will develop and become quality players and free agents will want to come. There’s stability, or at least it feels like it..." (25:07)
  • Multiple callers chime in to share excitement and relief that the team now has “an adult in the room.” (35:34)

• Good for Business:

  • Hosts note that covering bad teams makes for hard radio: "All three of us prefer the teams here win...because covering football year in, year out with two terrible teams makes our job insufferable." (48:08)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "I can't think of a better day...than the day the Giants go out and have their biggest hire in franchise history." (Don La Greca, 00:36)
• "Are you ready for this? I believe this was something the Giants knew they were going to do the second they fired Brian Dable." (Don La Greca, 01:18)
• "John Harbaugh is the most significant coaching hire made by a New York team since...is it Pat Riley with the Knicks?" (Alan Hahn, 10:17)
• "This is the equivalent...the Giants’ version of the Knicks getting Pat Riley. Now, Pat Riley was much bigger...But from the availability standpoint...the Giants go from colossal embarrassment to a team that instantaneously becomes a team that will be in the conversation as a possible playoff team next year." (Don La Greca, 08:54)
• "I don't consider the team to be such a joke that gaining stability with a great coach like this is championship...adjacent." (Peter Rosenberg, 09:52)
• "You have a functioning football team with a true leader and someone that has that kind of cachet around the league." (Alan Hahn, 04:33)
• "This day right now—how I feel—Giants history is championship adjacent." (Don, 07:50)
• "I'm not going to guarantee anything, but it's not crazy to think the Giants going into next season could be a team that could challenge for a wild card spot instantaneously. So why can't I get excited?" (Don, 09:48)
• "This will be a desirable spot for top coordinator candidates. ...We just won't have to settle like the last time around." (Alan, reading a text from an inside source, 14:29)
• "You have to have a coach, a standard, leadership, all the things that are important. Giants finally have that." (Alan, 37:59)
• After sparring with Tessa: "You are an annoying caller who I don't like talking to. Don't call me." (Peter, 29:11)

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Key Timestamps

• 00:36–01:18 – Don’s opening excitement, declaring the day historic for the Giants.
• 03:11–06:59 – The hosts debate whether Harbaugh-to-Giants was long in the making and Joe Schoen’s possible inside role.
• 08:36–09:48 – Don lists failed Giants coaches, compares Harbaugh hire to Pat Riley with the Knicks.
• 10:17–13:39 – Ranking Harbaugh among historic New York coaching hires.
• 14:20–15:12 – The “destination” factor for coordinators and players with Harbaugh at the helm.
• 17:15–18:42 – Realism check: Harbaugh isn’t a miracle worker, but a huge step up.
• 28:01–32:10 – Caller showdown: Tessa scolds Peter for not “celebrating” enough, leading to a classic Rosenberg rant.
• 35:34–37:10 – Caller Frank and the hosts reflect on the Giants’ bad coach hires and why this is different.
• 38:32 – Alan raises the Todd Monken concern regarding offense and quarterback fit.
• 45:00–46:58 – Is this the biggest Giants coaching hire ever? The hosts agree—it is.
• 48:08–50:53 – Why it matters for business and sports radio to have relevant, winning teams in New York.

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Tone & Flow

The episode is energetic and emotional, led by Don’s exuberance and offset by Peter’s insistence on measured optimism. There’s a playful, argumentative, and authentic back-and-forth, highlighted by listener calls that reflect the fanbase’s excitement and a classic New York sports radio brashness. The hosts revel in both the hope and the reality-check aspects of the hire—ultimately agreeing that the Giants, at last, feel like a serious football organization again.

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In essence, this episode captures the pulse of a franchise that may have just changed its fortunes overnight. The Giants are back in the spotlight, and New York sports radio has a reason to believe again.

Transcript

[Don Hahn]

New year, same extra value meals at McDonald's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So now get two snack wraps plus fries and a medium soft drink for just $8 for a limited time only. Prices and participation may vary. Prices may be higher in Hawaii, Alaska and California.

[Don Hahn]

And for delivery. Todd, you know, maybe they can go.

[Alan Hahn]

Pee on each other.

[Don Hahn]

That'd be great. Hahn, there's a lot of women out there that want you.

[Alan Hahn]

Alan and Rosenberg.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Give me the porn. For God's sake.

[Don Hahn]

This isn't North Dakota. This is New York.

[Alan Hahn]

This is Don Hahn and Rosenberg.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The best I've ever heard on ESPN.

[Alan Hahn]

New York and streaming live on YouTube.

[Don Hahn]

I can't think of a better day to have a full frontal show until 7 o' clock than the day the Giants go out and have their biggest hire in franchise history. Don Hahn and Rosenberg with you till 7 o'.

[Alan Hahn]

Clock.

[Don Hahn]

And that's not hyperbole. Hey, Bill Parcells is a Hall of Fame coach. We didn't know how good he was when they hired him in 1983. As a matter of fact, the they're ready to fire him at the end of a 3121 season. Tom Coughlin. Yeah, he went to a couple of championship games in Jacksonville. He didn't go to a Super Bowl. He didn't win a ring. John Harbaugh is here. He is the Giants head coach. And here's my hot take. Are you ready for this?

[Alan Hahn]

Right out of the gate. Let's go.

[Don Hahn]

I believe that this was something the Giants knew they were going to do the second they fired Brian Dale.

[Alan Hahn]

Brian Dabel. This is October.

[Don Hahn]

I understand. But if you listen to what Ian o' Connor was talking about, about how during the season, John Harbaugh had a feeling he was going to get fired and started thinking about, boy, I'd like to be the Giants head coach. Started thinking about wanting to be the head coach of the New York Football Giants. That sounds great, right? That definitely pees all over the opinion a couple of days ago from that one caller. Giants aren't an historic franchise. But then I started thinking about it. I'm like, you know, if John Harbaugh was thinking he might get fired, these owners are all close. You don't think that the Giants had done their homework and thought, hey, there's a good possibility that John Harbaugh is going to be available and we're letting Brian Danville go. I'm not saying they fired because they knew they were going to get John Harbaugh. I believe that when they began their coaching search was the second that they fired Dable. They're probably, let's see what's going on in Baltimore. Probably got some rumblings that he might have been in a little bit of trouble. And if John Harbaugh thought that he was in a little bit of trouble and sees Brian Dabel get fired, you don't think that maybe he had some minions check in and say, hey, would you be interested in him? This could have been in the works. Because you take a look, he never talked to Tennessee, never talked to Atlanta formally. The Giants did everything that he was asked to do. They didn't let him out of the building. And it just feels like this seemed like a fait accompli from the second that he was let go by the Ravens, that if the Giants wanted him, that's where he was going to be. And you know, the Giants were probably itching to get him the second he became available and probably did the legwork to see exactly how much trouble he was going to be in if Baltimore missed the playoffs.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Alan, your face is saying what I'm thinking. I think Don's giving the Giants a tad too much credit.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. 4 and 13. There was nobody dreaming for this job.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, I don't think that I.

[Alan Hahn]

If you said Mike Tomlin because Mike Tomlin probably knew this was it for him because like literally seconds after the game was over, you could just tell that he knew it was over. John Harbaugh wasn't expecting plus the Giants.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Steelers history, but I could play that game a little more.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay, but. But John harbor wasn't expecting to be fired. He lost a power battle with his quarterback.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But John would argue that he wasn't expecting to be fired. But Bashadi knew that he might get fired. No.

[Don Hahn]

You don't think he knew?

[Alan Hahn]

Maybe he.

[Don Hahn]

There was a rift between him and his quarterback and he wasn't going to win that face off.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's fair.

[Don Hahn]

And he probably looked at his team and said, we're not going to make any kind of a run. That's going to change it. But Scotty, you heard him say if that field goal was good against Pittsburgh, he would have just lasted another week. He. He was gone.

[Alan Hahn]

That is true. Listen, I don't want to take this day away from you, Don.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, whatever.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Whatever feels good.

[Alan Hahn]

You feel good about that. All I know is, but I don't.

[Don Hahn]

I feel good because they got John Harbo. Who cares how they got him? I was just giving thought.

[Alan Hahn]

Now I want to take the thought from the start of this football season that you had about the jets and the Giants when you Yelled to me, because you've got a functioning football team. Right, Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That was so fun.

[Alan Hahn]

Tables have turned, haven't.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, boy.

[Alan Hahn]

Because you know what you have now?

[Don Hahn]

A functioning football team.

[Alan Hahn]

You have a functioning football team with a true leader and someone that has that kind of cachet around the league. And he said, I want that job. Despite the fact that you were 4 and 13, which tells you that I'm sorry. History does matter, right? Yeah, that stuff does matter.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Do you want to go back down.

[Alan Hahn]

To have that kind of apologize? Yeah. This is what.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He had a function in football.

[Alan Hahn]

John Harbaugh would never take the jets job. It would never happen like this.

[Don Hahn]

You didn't mean it. All right, this is the.

[Alan Hahn]

But it happened for the Giants, for.

[Don Hahn]

Ian o' Connor that I'm. That I'm referencing, and Ian's been all over it. I reached out to Ian.

[Alan Hahn]

We're going to talk to him.

[Don Hahn]

We're going to talk to him a little bit later on today. Just what a great job he did. This was six hours ago. John Harbaugh had the Giants atop his potential list even before he got fired. It was discussed. He knew it was possible the Ravens would let him go. In his mind, the Giants and Dart and the storied history of the franchise in the big city made the most sense for the next stop. Okay, so this was on his mind before he got fired.

[Alan Hahn]

So the Giants, in early November, late October, when they were starting to think about it, and then early November when they finally pulled the trigger, they knew then that John Harbaugh could be available. Is that what you're telling me?

[Don Hahn]

No, no. Like I said, they didn't fire Brian Dable because they were going to hire John Harbaugh. The second they fired Dabel. They start doing the coaching search, of course. And you don't think these owners talk to each other? You don't think that there's a ch that the Giants could have done some intel and realized, hey, you know, John Harbaugh might be in some trouble with Baltimore. He's not getting along with his quarterback. This team doesn't look like they're going to make the playoffs. Remember how bad they were early in the season? Then they made a little bit of a run, and then they got into the position where they win and in the last game of the season. So you don't think you do. It doesn't take a lot of intelligence to do some due diligence to say, hey, could this head coach possibly be fight. He's been 18 years. Doesn't get along with his quarterback.

[Alan Hahn]

Can I add. Can I throw a log on this fire?

[Don Hahn]

Go ahead.

[Alan Hahn]

What if it was Joe Shane who told the Maris and the Tish's? You know what, I'm here.

[Don Hahn]

Harbor might be available now. Why do you think that he's still here?

[Alan Hahn]

That's what I'm saying.

[Don Hahn]

He wasn't.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Nobody wants to hear what nobody want.

[Alan Hahn]

To hear that we all Joe Shape who might have talked to Eric. He might talk to somebody who said, hey, by the way, you know, now that you guys are looking for a coach, I got a name you should keep an eye on.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

And then he went to them and said, I'm hearing this, we need to keep an eye on this. Right, Right.

[Don Hahn]

And who's to say that that wasn't.

[Alan Hahn]

Part of the deal? Which is why when everybody says why is Joe Shane still here and Joe.

[Don Hahn]

Shane doesn't get a contract extension, but guess who's gonna get a contract extension the second they get the Harbaugh deal done?

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

It might get lost in translation over time because everybody's gonna be focused on Harbaugh.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But a little.

[Don Hahn]

The little nugget will probably pop out a little bit later on tomorrow or over the weekend. Oh, by the way, Joe Shane's given a three year contract.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You think so?

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, because he could work with Harbaugh. And to the point that Alan made, he probably led the charge to get Harbaugh. He probably did the intel. But all right, that's just a fun little thing that I conspiracy theory I wanted to throw out there. Especially when I saw Ian's tweet. And we'll talk to Ian later on and get his thoughts on whether this is something this. Kyle said he will join us. He'll be joining us coming up at 4 o'. Clock. But this.

[Alan Hahn]

Where are you putting this day? What is this day for you?

[Don Hahn]

This day Day right now. How I feel, right. Giants history is. Is. Is championship adjacent. No.

[Caller or Guest]

Wow.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, take it. Well, I.

[Don Hahn]

Don't tell me how I'm supposed to feel. Why would you say. But why. Why wouldn't I feel championship adjacent? My team has been a.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Me losing Snyder championship adjacent.

[Don Hahn]

Wait a minute. Everybody's got their own fish to fry. Okay? I'm just telling you this guy.

[Alan Hahn]

The Giants have been in for three years.

[Don Hahn]

They have not been able to find a coach since Tom Coughlin. They have been an. A colossal embarrassment basically since they won the Super Bowl. And the hires. Do I have to go over them?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, we will just.

[Don Hahn]

Just to. Just to build up the drum no, no.

[Alan Hahn]

Do it, do it.

[Don Hahn]

Ben McAdoo.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. How'd that work out?

[Don Hahn]

Pat Shermer.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Joe Judge.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, boy.

[Don Hahn]

Brian Dable. Who's the king of them all so far, he's the winner. Oh, no, wait. John Harbaugh. Boom.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Boom.

[Alan Hahn]

All right. You got to go back to.

[Don Hahn]

All right. And when you look at that, I didn't know Bill Parcells was going to be amazing when they got him. I was really excited when I got Dan Reaves, very excited because Dan Reaves had gone to Super Bowls in Denver, didn't win them, but got them to the Super Bowl. I was excited for Tom Copple. It all fired up. He replaced Fossil, went to two championship games in Jacksonville. But then you get a guy that's a perennial winner that has won a Super Bowl. I mean, this is the equivalent. This is like the Giants version of the Knicks getting Pat Riley. Now, Pat Riley was much bigger. I get that. But from the availability standpoint, compared to the four head coaches that they've hired since, all of a sudden, the Giants go for a colossal embarrassment to a team that instantaneously becomes a team that will be in the conversation as a possible playoff team next year. I'm not going to guarantee anything, I'm not going to predict anything, but it's not crazy to think that the Giants going into next season could be a team that could challenge for a wild card spot instantaneously. Peter. So why can't I get excited?

[Peter Rosenberg]

You should be excited. The reason I'm pushing back is, I know it feels really bad to be a Giants fan of recent. I guess to me, as bad as things have been, I don't consider the team to be such a joke that gaining stability with a great coach like this is championship.

[Don Hahn]

Adjace.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I. I think it's really good. It's the best news you've had since the championship. I'll give you. That's why we do this.

[Don Hahn]

That's adjacent. That's fair.

[Alan Hahn]

But here's how you understand the magnitude of this hire. Finish the sentence. John Harbaugh is the most significant coaching hire made by a New York team since. Now understand, hire not became something. Right at the time of the hire, it was like back page, bold type.

[Don Hahn]

But these with these kind of credentials. The last one blank. Is it Pat Riley with the Knicks? Because I went over each team during our meeting.

[Alan Hahn]

Joe Tory. Everybody hated Joe Tory's hire.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. And again, not Bill Parcells. We didn't know.

[Alan Hahn]

What about the Jets?

[Don Hahn]

Bill Parcells jets built for the Jets. It's Bill Parcells, right?

[Alan Hahn]

Well, no, in New York. I said in New York.

[Don Hahn]

I'm saying in New York, for the.

[Alan Hahn]

Jets, biggest hire of.

[Don Hahn]

Because I went over. I went over all the teams in New York. So I said for the Giants, this is the biggest.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes. All right.

[Don Hahn]

Because it's a little bit better than Tom Coughlin. We didn't know what Parcells was when they hired him. Right.

[Alan Hahn]

It's a step above Dan Reeves.

[Don Hahn]

It's a step above Dan Reeves. No question. For the jets, it's Bill Parcells because he had two rings. Yeah. Probably even better than John Harbaugh. The. Them getting Bill Parcells. And what happened. Instant credibility. Right. 9 and 7 the next year, a year later, they went to the championship game. Two. No shock. Right. For the Knicks, it'd be Pat Riley.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

For the Nets it would be Chuck Daley, Chuck Daly.

[Alan Hahn]

No question.

[Don Hahn]

For the Rangers, coming here was a big deal.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, but here's the debate. But he wasn't a coach. I said a coach.

[Don Hahn]

Just coach.

[Alan Hahn]

Coaching higher.

[Don Hahn]

Rangers. It was. It's either Mike Keenan, who had gone to the finals of the Blackhawks, the Flyers, or Herb Brooks, who was a year removed from winning the gold medal with Team usa. It's between those two, really. Islanders, the rehiring of Arbor, when they brought him back.

[Alan Hahn]

Because they brought him back after Terry Simpson.

[Don Hahn]

Yes.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

That would probably be for the Islanders.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay.

[Don Hahn]

For the Mets, could be Casey Stengel, just because of all the rings he won with the Yankees. Really could be Jeff Torborg. That obviously didn't work out. There was a lot of excitement.

[Alan Hahn]

That's what I mean, though. I'm going with in the moment.

[Don Hahn]

And Buck Showalter, I think, really lended a lot of credibility and excitement when they. When they brought him back.

[Alan Hahn]

No, no.

[Don Hahn]

But Bobby V didn't have credentials that the guys that we're talking about had. All right, what are the teams am I forgetting in New York? Devils, I guess Jacques Lemaire, because he had been in Montreal.

[Alan Hahn]

Significant hire. Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

And so am I missing any local teams.

[Alan Hahn]

You did them all.

[Don Hahn]

I think I did them all.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So that.

[Don Hahn]

That's. We're talking. And John Harper right up there. And the Yankees. I don't know who it would be. I guess Billy Martin, first time. Oh, yeah. Which Billy. But no, because it. Billy, he was a. Was a former Yankee. He had had success in Oakland. In Oakland and Detroit and Minnesota. Like he rejuvenated franchises and stuff. So when he came to the Yankees, there was an air credibility. But. But that's what we're talking about, Peter. That's why Is it a championship? No, but the way I feel today is the my team is now back in the conversation. Forget about the embarrassment that they've been and the laughingstock they've been. They have been non competitive with the exception of the the 22 run which was, you know, 9, 7 and 1 and really nothing but it was fun. It was fun until it was but.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now it became the least fun game in the history of football. It was fun.

[Don Hahn]

Now the Giants are part of the conversation again because now you look at the recent evidence Chicago got it right with their coach. We didn't know how right until we saw it this year. So Chicago gets the right coach all of a sudden. Caleb Williams, we weren't talking him up after his rookie year. Now they're the best team in their division and still alive in the playoffs, in the division around. Look at what's happened with New England, Don.

[Alan Hahn]

This is variable to New England.

[Don Hahn]

That's what right. I mean and so there is going to be that again. I'm not going to jinx it. We're going to have to wait and see how it happens. But to all of a sudden believe you've got the quarterback which is still needs to be defined but you now.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Have the feel good about it.

[Don Hahn]

You're now in the conversation again. You're now in the conversation again. Among teams that can get up.

[Alan Hahn]

Here's something that a friend of mine there texted me today.

[Don Hahn]

Okay.

[Alan Hahn]

Said this will be a desirable spot for a top court for top coordinator candidates. From all indications that's big. We just won't have to settle like the last time around. That's what they're feeling in the building, right? That's what they're feeling. There is that. Yeah we got the guy. But what this does, this does shake a franchise. This does bring not just hey, this guy we know can coach. He's got a resume. People are going to want to coach with him. People are going to want to be there. And we thought this is what Aaron Rodgers was going to bring to the jets. That idea of players are going to want to come here because they're going to want to be part of something fun and and a chance to win a Super bowl that lasts all of about four plus.

[Don Hahn]

And the good news is John Harbaugh can pull his, you know, Terror's Achilles.

[Alan Hahn]

Thanks for doing that. I really needed that today. That was great. You know, I'm here to support your.

[Don Hahn]

Didn't you bring.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Didn't you bring up the Jets?

[Alan Hahn]

You brought the Jets? No, but I said that's what the feeling was with the Jets. When they got Roger, he didn't need to go.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's a valid point because his can't die in one game. His.

[Don Hahn]

That's all I'm saying.

[Alan Hahn]

Let's dies, you know. Well, I already knew the result. Did not.

[Don Hahn]

I was just trying to remind that there's a little less risk.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm here supporting you with a head coach.

[Don Hahn]

My 39, soon to be 40 year old quarterback. Please don't get hurt.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right, Al, you want me here, but here, let me. I'll dump on Don for you since you want to prop him up for you.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, I've been trying.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I remember, I remember the time my franchise finally got it right. Yeah, you know, we, they, they brought in, well, you got Mike Shanahan and I said we got a Super bowl winner. Now we're finally right.

[Don Hahn]

And every.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, then we got Ron.

[Alan Hahn]

That didn't work.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Still wouldn't, you know. So my point is it's super exciting. I guess I feel the championship adjacent thing for me is like, you know, you got the quarterback, which is a hard thing to define. An aging coach who was sent out of Baltimore because they don't think he can win anymore with an MVP quarterback, two time MVP who they can't win with. And they said we're all set here. And you said, and you guys are going, please, we'll take Baltimore's trash. Wow, it's exciting.

[Don Hahn]

Didn't Kansas City do that with Andy Reid?

[Peter Rosenberg]

They sure did. So. And it's the. And it worked out. I'm just saying this is still. Hey, it's a great feeling, but it's also a crap shoot.

[Don Hahn]

Well, it's a lot less of a crapshoot than the 4 quarterback. The 4 head coaching crap that they brought in over the last.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And less of a crap than everyone else that's out there, in my opinion.

[Don Hahn]

And also you bring, I don't want.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You bring up crap. I'll take Baltimore's crap over Cleveland's crap any day of the week.

[Don Hahn]

Now Shanahan's a good point because you were excited when you got Shanahan as your head, but your quarterback was Donovan McNabb at the end of his career.

[Alan Hahn]

Is that bad?

[Peter Rosenberg]

And then it was RG3.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, right. Who got hurt, who couldn't stay healthy.

[Don Hahn]

Now, now this. You're right. There's a lot that can go wrong. Dart could turn out not to be the guy. There could be Injuries. Maybe they fall short, maybe they never win. Jets didn't win, but Bill Parcell.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Cam Scatterman becomes a full time twitch player.

[Don Hahn]

The point is my biggest problem is no longer a problem.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes, I have a coach. Remember we said the problem with the Giants, their standard walked out the door when Tom Coughlin left. We've said that from that moment when he wouldn't shake John's hand.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yep.

[Alan Hahn]

Right. The standard you expect will come back. That's what you're expecting because of who you have.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And I said from the second he became available, when I made the joke about like, hey Kevin, we no longer.

[Alan Hahn]

Need to see you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's because the Giant way, and we all admit the Giant way has taken some dings over the last couple of years. But I still do believe in it to some extent that this is a class organization. John Harbaugh is of the ilk that should be with this team. I fully respect that.

[Don Hahn]

And what have I always been saying? When would you take Tomlin or will you take this coach or that coach? Well, why would you want Tomlin? I want to be Pittsburgh. I want to be a team that finishes above.500 every year and gets eliminated a first round because it's way better than what I've had to live with. Now there may be come a time we might fast forward 10 years from now and go, boy, that didn't work out with John. Yeah, but you went to the playoffs five, six times. Maybe you lost the divisional game. Maybe you went to a championship game, never won. Isn't that a lot better than what.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We'Ve gone through that's working out now.

[Don Hahn]

They may not be a Super bowl, there may not be a championship game, but I am not, we're not going to come here on Monday next year and talk about how bad the coaching is.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We will not.

[Don Hahn]

We might question the decision or two. That's the way we do. But you know, you've got you right now here, here's the biggest thing, the thing you knew in the quarterback. Now you've got a bigger no in the head coach because the quarterback is way more in question than the head coach right now.

[Alan Hahn]

Not an no. It's the bigger no.

[Don Hahn]

I believe they've got the quarterback, but I can only believe it. I know they've got that.

[Alan Hahn]

But I'm curious now to see the rest of this because of what like I said, I just read you that text I got is coordinators, the coaching like everything now builds out. Because Parcells remember when he came to the jets, he had an all star like coaching staff, like it was the best. Like this was a great coaching. That 98 roster and coaching staff was off the charts. So that's what you want to see because that of course is then what lends to how you have success and winning and all those things. So that, that's all now going to come. Peter's right in that you don't want to get too far ahead of this thing. But Don's right to believe that this feels like the start of something good. And that's the best part is where it goes from here. You have reason not to believe that it's a, it's a team that has gone all over the place and all over the map over the last 10 years, that you have reason to believe that now this thing is going to be headed in the right direction. Because not only do you have the coach, you feel good about the quarterback, you feel good about some of the skilled players, you have a high enough draft pick to get another very, very good skilled player and maybe, just maybe there will be some free agents out there that say, I want to be part of that.

[Don Hahn]

No, that definitely it becomes a destination.

[Alan Hahn]

So that's great. And that's why you can start to hope.

[Don Hahn]

The one thing, there's a level of credibility, you know, we could throw around historic franchise and what the Giants mean and what the city means. But right now to be able to bring a coach like this in and also guys too from a PR standpoint to win it in a route, when you take a look at it, Tennessee never had a chance. Falcons never had a chance.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're still the Giants.

[Don Hahn]

This was.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We know a number yet.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, it was a five year deal. Probably 100.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Probably 100.

[Alan Hahn]

Sounds like 100.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well that's, that's sort of relevant to 20. I'm curious if it ends up being 100 or like quietly here it was like it was 112. You're like, I mean I'm curious to.

[Don Hahn]

Know what that number is, but based on it, it is.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But that is pretty cool.

[Don Hahn]

The biggest available coach didn't hesitate. Didn't hesitate and chose the title.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No. Because. Because the yo yo who called who all three of us shut down. Just to be clear for anyone listening, Giants fans, including me, what we all 3. Allen, a Jets fan, me, a commander's fan and Don all jumped someone who suggested that the Giants are not a historic franchise. They showed you again that they are. And that as much as fans can't live with themselves because it's been 15 years the rest of the league and people who watch football know it hasn't been that long. The decay has not gone on that long. There's still shine on this team and they have a kid at quarterback who a lot of people are very excited about.

[Alan Hahn]

Just think, the Giants have won a Super bowl sooner than the jets have made the playoffs. That's all you need to know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Exactly.

[Don Hahn]

Exactly.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's why you're who we really pity.

[Alan Hahn]

That's why Don just piling on there, he didn't need. He just threw an elbow as I was.

[Don Hahn]

I was making a point, Peter.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I was looking. I scored the point. It was a valid point because he brought it up. He goes, like when we had Rogers and you said, but even if Harbaugh tears his Achilles, it's a relevant point because you won't lose him next year. It's not positive. That's why the coaches. Unless, God forbid, you lost him, which would be very unfortunate, that would only.

[Alan Hahn]

Happen to the Jets.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Listen, I'm paying attention to what's going on. We could all be gone by then. I don't know.

[Don Hahn]

It may not matter at all.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It may not matter at all.

[Alan Hahn]

Let's not go down this road.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But Harbaugh should be there.

[Don Hahn]

All right, all right, listen, we want to hear from you. This is a day that Giant fans could feel pretty good about. Come to DSW for the shoes, stay for the fun.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because let's be honest, if shoe shopping.

[Don Hahn]

Isn'T fun, are you even doing it right? So.

[Caller or Guest]

So go ahead.

[Don Hahn]

Try something new. Try something different.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Good different.

[Don Hahn]

Try something that feels like you.

[Sponsor/Advertisement Voice]

You know, the real you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And then definitely brag about it later. Because at dsw, you've got unlimited freedom to play.

[Don Hahn]

Find the shoes that get you at prices that get your budget. At DSW stores [e-mail] Let us surprise you.

[Sponsor/Advertisement Voice]

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[Don Hahn]

Network.

[Sponsor/Advertisement Voice]

Quick Break let's talk defense. Football's on your screen, but peace of mind starts at home. Blink outdoor 4 security cameras offer up to a 2 year battery life and sync module XR so you can cover more space without constant maintenance. No wires, no fumbles, just easy coverage that works in the background. You've got your team on the field now. Get your defense at home. Home get blinked today at the Home Depot. How doers get more done thanks for.

[Alan Hahn]

Listening to the Don Han and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Alan Hahn]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. All right. We got calls to get to, don't we? There's a lot of excited Giants fans that they have every reason to be excited because this does feel like you are now finally headed in the right direction. It feels like someone's at the wheel that you really can trust is in charge. They have not really had a face of the franchise, somebody of an elite caliber respected like this. And that is important. I just think that's important to have that one voice. And that's what you have with John Harbaugh with his success, his resume. And this is now why you can have legitimate reasons to think young players will develop and become quality players and free agents will want to come to this team. They have more draft picks to continue to add to the roster. There's stability, or at least it feels like it for a five year deal.

[Don Hahn]

And again, the money's the money. You knew it was going to be expensive. It doesn't feel like they had to hand over the franchise to him either. You know where he's the net, complete control. That's the other thing with the analogy of Rogers, that's my favorite part. You had to hand over everything. Like he's going to have power, there's no question. But with Joe Shane still there, however you feel about him, it's not like he, he Breathe. Bringing in his own people, blowing things up and.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But Alan made that point yesterday. It was Alan, and it's a. It's a really good one. As. As omnipotent and powerful as John Harbaugh was in Baltimore, he was under Ozzy Newsom.

[Alan Hahn]

Yep.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's comfortable being the head coach. He doesn't need to be. I buy every grocery. I cook every. He's a leader of men. That's kind of his. His deal.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Doesn't need to be the ultimate play caller, the ultimate decision maker.

[Don Hahn]

No.

[Alan Hahn]

He's the CEO who kind of lets all the departments work and make sure that everything's working properly overseas. That's why him not being the offensive expert or the defensive expert to me.

[Don Hahn]

Has worked out for him. I like this here and that. And usually that's kind of what happens when you bring in the significance. Right. Like, it didn't go well with Riley and the Knicks, but with the ego. And then, you know, Keenan was out the.

[Alan Hahn]

It worked right away.

[Don Hahn]

Right away. But then as soon as it worked, you started to see the power struggle.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Same thing with Keenan. He wins the Cup. Next thing you know, he's getting out of Dodge, trying to go someplace else, trying to parlay into another deal. Right.

[Alan Hahn]

So.

[Don Hahn]

Because sometimes that's how these guys become available. No. Even Bill Parcells, to a certain extent, it was like, all right, you won, you got close, but then he's out the door again. And then there ended up being drama and heartbreak. And you're hoping that this could be, you know, 10 years, because, what, he's 63 years old. He looks fabulous. I mean, this could be a guy that could be coaching here for the next eight, 10 years. And in every single one of those years, you're going to feel very, very good about your team. All right? What better place to start? When we open up the phones at 1-800-919-3776, who's usually screaming in the negative, now probably howling in the positive. It's Tessa in West Calvin. There you go. How are you, dear?

[Tessa (Caller)]

Listen. Oh, my God. Thank you guys so much for taking my call. Happy New Year. Oh, my God. Listen, am so excited, but I do have to make one comment, but guess what?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm gonna do it with a smile.

[Tessa (Caller)]

I have to make a comment to Peter really quick. You know, my friend of me. Hey, Pete, I just want to tell you, at the end of the day, you're really, really hating right now. You're really, really acting like a salty summer. Because at the end of the day. If John feels. Which I agree, if John feels like this is championship caliber. Is signing. He's correct. At the end of the day, we had to sit and listen to you complain about paying for cable to watch your then great dynamic team play on Monday and Sunday nights. You know we have to listen to that.

[Don Hahn]

I.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Don, you're screaming like a lunatic. You didn't win a championship.

[Tessa (Caller)]

Cuz I am one. I am a lunatic.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I am nothing but respectful about this signing. All I said was it's not championship adjacent. Tessa. Tessa. I'm not doing it today with you.

[Alan Hahn]

You.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're celebrating.

[Caller or Guest]

My show.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Tessa, how about this?

[Tessa (Caller)]

You be quiet and Don, this is what I want to say. He's about to have a cry child. Don, like how you did on the other.

[Peter Rosenberg]

See you later, Tessa. See, you know. Tessa, listen. You are an annoying caller who I don't like talking to. Don't call me.

[Don Hahn]

I don't think it's a frenemy anymore. Clearly an enemy.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

You bore.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You insufferable bore.

[Alan Hahn]

Stop.

[Don Hahn]

You poor. Wait a minute.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There was no every time now. Today's not the day. I'm not calling her out her name. I'm not saying anything nasty. You bore me. I am. I am showing a honest, real opinion about the coaching job. Why do I need to be attacked? Someone tell me. Don't feel awkward. Tell me, did I deserve to be attacked? Have I been fair, interested, passionate about the hardball? Higher. Since the very beginning.

[Alan Hahn]

You have made salient points today about not getting too far ahead of things. But Giants fans are for a day. Just what I said was, in case.

[Don Hahn]

You missed it, I said this is championship adjacent. Yes, the feeling. Giants won a Super Bowl. I said adjacent because my team is now back. It's like my team went away and now they're back. And that. That's what. That's what get you. Get you excited to that now is it the level of a championship? No, but I said adjacent, meaning it's kind of got that vibe to it because my team disappeared for a decade and now it's back. And that makes me feel prideful to be a Giant fan. Excited to be a Giant fan. And those are the vibes you get when the team wins. It's like, I'm proud of this team. I'm proud of this team. Today they squashed their opponents to get the coach. They saw the coach they wanted and they got him. And it wasn't even close.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We didn't have to sweat. If Tessa had paid attention to how I responded To Don, it was actually a compliment. What I'm saying is the reason it's not championship adjacent is because the Giants aren't so pathetic that a coaching hire is winning the championship. That is a distinction for the jets for the worst teams in football. Betasa couldn't resist having to scream at me when I am being cool. De La. I am cool as ice tea on the other side of the pillow about the Giants higher. I praised it. I don't understand what. And then it had to be a screaming about me paying for cable. I'm not doing it today. All right. Or clearly doing it now.

[Don Hahn]

Did she hang up? I did not.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I hung up on her.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, you did?

[Peter Rosenberg]

She wouldn't let me talk. I'm not.

[Don Hahn]

I'm not. I know he got access.

[Alan Hahn]

You all do.

[Don Hahn]

I just think that we needed to keep score on how that happened.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, I don't know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's fair.

[Don Hahn]

It was me.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay, well, once I was trying to respond and she's literally doing a full soundtrack under my voice and won't let me talk and we can't even have a fun back and forth anymore. I'm hanging up now.

[Don Hahn]

I. I don't know why you'd even want to. And I love Tessa to even worry about going after Peter.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Just.

[Don Hahn]

This is fun, man. It's a good day.

[Alan Hahn]

Was Peter being that of Peter? Was Tess being that guy? A little that guy Thursday?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Listen, I know she doesn't, like, got.

[Alan Hahn]

A little bit of that guy.

[Don Hahn]

Like she wanted to hang on the rim.

[Alan Hahn]

That's what it was, Don. And that's being that guy.

[Don Hahn]

That's being that guy.

[Alan Hahn]

But no one having a good day. While I'm having a good day, let me go after the guy.

[Don Hahn]

Let's see if she makes the list on fourth.

[Peter Rosenberg]

By the way, though, let me just say this too, because I'm down to get into with callers. I have my problems with callers. Callers don't like me, etc. My thing with Tessa, though, is, guys, if you were to really go back in history, right, And I can, like, tell you about different callers, my back and forth. She has always been harder on me than I am on her. And it's really just based on her not liking me because I'm a Redskins fan. It just gets to be old. Like, I don't disrespect the Giants. I never get up here and act like a giant dumb sports talk host who just like, ha, ha ha. I don't do that. Like, I respect. If anything, I'm Jealous of the organization. I talk. I literally just 10 minutes ago talked about how they are a class team and showed it again today that they are still an elite franchise. Why do you need to jump on me? My team sucks. Well, leave me alone.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay.

[Don Hahn]

Usually the answer for why you're attacked in the now is because of hatred of you deeper on other things, right? That's usually the case.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Usually.

[Don Hahn]

She doesn't like you. She doesn't like me? She said you're a frenemy. No, it's enemy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It was the first thing you wanted to do on a day like today. And now, Tessa, you didn't get to even. You didn't even get to have your celebration.

[Don Hahn]

Now I know we're teammates. Can I still like her? I do like Tessa.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sure, knock yourself out. I'm sure she's a nice person. She's just not nice to me.

[Don Hahn]

No, she's not nice.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And as a result, I probably went pretty far in calling her an insufferable bore.

[Don Hahn]

There's. I'm sure people have been called worse.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, how about just long winded.

[Don Hahn]

But.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But like, I'm sure she's a lovely person, but like, you're not nice to me. And I'm done. I'm good. It's my daughter's first birthday. I'm not getting by.

[Don Hahn]

Tessa, honestly, any other day it would have been the open. Happy birthday, Maya. Oh, thank you. We shouldn't have waited this long. I feel like.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Did either. Did either of you founder? Did either of you see the post yet? Either you see my last. Thank God. No. I don't know what that article would be, but.

[Don Hahn]

No.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Thank God.

[Don Hahn]

No.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, I'll show you during the break. My wife created a world for Maya this morning and a photo shoot that is fantastic.

[Don Hahn]

And then will there be a proper birthday party?

[Peter Rosenberg]

There'll be something.

[Don Hahn]

Smash cake.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, yeah, there'll be a smash. The smash cake has happened.

[Don Hahn]

The problem with the smash cake for the kids, they didn't know what to do with it. I was like, come on, smash it.

[Alan Hahn]

Smash it.

[Don Hahn]

They didn't.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Can I ask a question? What's the difference between a smash cake and just a cake? It's just a cake they can smash.

[Don Hahn]

Well, you just don't want them smashing the cake that you're giving to all the other people.

[Alan Hahn]

It's a separate cake.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. So you are. You're acknowledging they're gonna smash the cake. So give them a cake.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So the cake. So the smash cake could just be called the baby cake. Yeah, it's the Baby.

[Don Hahn]

But there's also a formal cake that you cut up and get other people.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All the other yo yos who are mooching off of the baby's birthday.

[Don Hahn]

Right. Because listen, I'm sure Maya's gonna be very popular. I don't think she has a stable of friends. Just.

[Peter Rosenberg]

She does not.

[Don Hahn]

Right. So believe me, that'll change. Come the fourth, fifth birthday, it's gonna.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Be a month, then it's over. And then every weekend you have someone else's birthday.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. Oh, it's a thing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, you're in the.

[Don Hahn]

It's like a part time job.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're in the thick of it now.

[Don Hahn]

Right?

[Alan Hahn]

When does she post, by the way? Because I'm.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, I want to show you during the break. I want to be there and enjoy it with you. Don't even keep looking at it.

[Alan Hahn]

Really.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let's share it together.

[Don Hahn]

Let's go to Frank. He's in Newark. You're on ESPN New York. What's up, Frank?

[Frank (Caller)]

Good afternoon, guys. I'm gonna say this. It's finally great and relieving to have a. A head coach who's a grown. An adult in the room. And what I like most about this whole. This whole fiasco was the fact that they saw a coach out there on the market that was there to take and they went and they got him a couple years ago. And I know this is a dead point in the water now, but remember when Matt Rule with Carolina, they went out, they bought him dinner, they ate Puentes, they. They took out his family and everything.

[Caller or Guest]

That.

[Frank (Caller)]

That's how the. It looks like. The Giants went after a guy that had a proven resume. That's what I liked about this whole situation. It's just that it's often so many times the Giants mess this up and till this day, nobody can convince me that they really wanted Joe Judge. And they were aggressive about it, but I like the fact that they went after it, they sought it, they saw the opportunity. And normally the Giants have a bad reputation of botching stuff like that.

[Don Hahn]

Well, you know what this feels like.

[Alan Hahn]

Did want Joe Judge, though. They sent a plane for him.

[Don Hahn]

No, they wanted.

[Alan Hahn]

That was recommended.

[Don Hahn]

They just made mistakes.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, he was recommended by belts.

[Don Hahn]

Ben McAdoo was the offensive coordinator for a great season for Eli Manning. And so they brought McAdoo and Ben Shermer was the guy that was supposed to be the quarterback whisperer. They brought him in for Eli. Joe Judge they legitimately liked. And then Brian Dabel they legitimately liked. They just got it wrong. But this feels more like a marriage. Guys that they. They wanted each other, right? He wanted to be the Giants coach. The Giants wanted him. Of course, he's getting paid handsomely. I wasn't gonna do it for free.

[Alan Hahn]

Timing was. Was just perfect.

[Don Hahn]

But the reason. But that's kind of makes me feel good as a Giant fan is that you didn't have to, you know what yourself out right. You didn't have to pay 10 times more than everybody else. Is that you offered him the job and he took it. Because you, despite all of your embarrassments over recent years, you're still a respected enough franchise that somebody of significance wants to coach you.

[Alan Hahn]

And we know that in the NFL, probably bigger than any other sport, coaching is so critical to success. It's beyond. I can't honestly, because in baseball, it's managing. There's a lot of numbers that are involved. You're not really the controlling players anymore. You're not doing it like the old way, right? The NBA, it is probably second most important, right? NHL, you have talent, you have good players. But in the NFL, it's about.

[Don Hahn]

It's.

[Alan Hahn]

You don't have a coach.

[Don Hahn]

It's a coaching league.

[Alan Hahn]

You got to have a coach, a standard leadership, all the things that are important. Giants finally have that.

[Don Hahn]

And as much as the quarterback is the most important position, you can make the case you'd rather have the coach than the quarterback because you'll find an easier time to either get the coach or the get the quarterback or develop the quarterback with the right coach rather than a great quarterback. And you've got a clueless coach. And how many times have we seen great quarterbacks not win because they didn't have the right guys?

[Alan Hahn]

Here's the first.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's a great debate, though.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, I'll throw out the first concern that you're going to have is that all indications are that Todd Monkin's coming with him to be the offensive coordinator. And Monkin and Lamar Jackson did not get a lot like it just didn't happen. It didn't work. Now, Monkin owned it. Said he had, you know, that he did a bad job and all that stuff. But if the first year and you're seeing Jackson dart kind of having the same whatever it is with this offense, you know, that's the one thing I would wonder is like you're bringing him in. So you really do believe in him, right? Like clearly Harbaugh believes in him and that it almost is an indication that it was more of a Lamar Jackson issue than it was a Todd Monkin, but that's probably the first thing I'm going to watch because that wasn't great and it did lead to the end in Baltimore. Why would you want to bring that offense here and have Jackson Dart try to run it if Lamar Jackson had issues with it, that's all. That's the one thing I would probably if you're going to find something that raises an eyebrow, that's one O'Reilly Auto.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Alan Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Alan Hahn]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.

[Don Hahn]

Don on a Rosenberg until seven and dang Rossa. Ian o' Connor is going to join us at four. We were had a bit of a scheduling conflict with Damian Woody, so he'll be joining us at another time. So hopefully everything's okay on that front. So we won't know what's going on going into the divisional round. But more importantly, we don't know if he saw Napoleon Dynamite.

[Alan Hahn]

I buys him another week.

[Don Hahn]

Do not.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No. There's no chance.

[Don Hahn]

No for sure. But it could be on the table that because he didn't see it. That's why he's not coming on. I can't say yes or no, but.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He would just think I'd rather not even talk to them again and disrespect.

[Don Hahn]

Don this way until I see it because I was not happy last week. Let's go to Jesse in Stamford. You're on ESPN New York. What's up, Jess? Hey, guys. Just calling to have Peter's back a little bit. First off, happy birthday to Maya, my daughter. My.

[Peter Rosenberg]

My wife and I are expecting our.

[Don Hahn]

First child in March. Awesome.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, man, you're on the corner.

[Alan Hahn]

Congratulations.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, it's coming close, but yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Peter, I just want to have your back a little bit. I don't understand what people hear. They just hear what they want to hear. I've been listening to you and I'll.

[Don Hahn]

I wouldn't be one of the first.

[Peter Rosenberg]

People to pick on you, but I.

[Don Hahn]

Gotta have your back here, man. I have heard nothing from you that's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Been negative or over over derogatory at all. Thank you, buddy. I appreciate it, Jesse. And like that's, that's what I guess found so irritating about it, besides the fact that Tess wouldn't then let me speak. But like to hear one comment that I made to Don where I just. By the way, we're doing a talk show here, guys. So if Don. If Don comes out with a hot take and says this is championship adjacent, my job as his co host is to have some level of reaction to that. Either, yes, totally, or ah, that's a bit much. I went with that's a bit much.

[Alan Hahn]

What happened when he said that?

[Peter Rosenberg]

What do you mean?

[Alan Hahn]

You and I locked eyes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, we locked eyes. Like, wow, that's something. When he knows what he's doing.

[Alan Hahn]

Championship at Jays. You and I were like, really?

[Peter Rosenberg]

And so he said it for a reason. All I did was react. And as I pointed out, my reaction was out of respect for the Giants. I think loser teams celebrate coaches like championships.

[Alan Hahn]

The jets have championship off season, not the Giants.

[Don Hahn]

That's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's my point.

[Alan Hahn]

But we can acknowledge, though, pretty significant day.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And I. And did I not.

[Alan Hahn]

And in Giant. But why I said New York, the. The. The most significant coaching hire in New York since Blank. I brought that up because this is not just a Giant thing. This is like New York landing a coach of this caliber. As much as New York is considered to be like, oh, everybody wants to. It doesn't always happen. You don't get that guy. Like, the Giants just did well, and.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The Giants don't do this.

[Alan Hahn]

And you could argue the last time.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Go get huge names.

[Alan Hahn]

The last time a New York team got the huge name was probably Parcells in 97, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

When he went to the Jet. When the jets got a guy like that.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And this is the biggest Giants coaching hire ever, correct?

[Don Hahn]

I believe so. Because otherwise you're talking about Tom Coughlin. No, this is bigger respect. Dan Reeves, this is bigger. Coughlin came from Jacksonville, but he won the two championships. But he also had ties to the organization.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He had blood in the ground.

[Don Hahn]

You know, Dan Reeves went to all those Super Bowls with Denver, so that was a significant.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Those are big. But the bottom line is Harbaugh is not only a perennial winner with like 180 wins, he's a Super Bowl.

[Don Hahn]

And in this caliber with the giants, they're batting 50, 50 because McCoughlin, they won two Super Bowls. Dan Reeves went to the playoffs his first year with the Giants, and then that was it. He was done. Two years later, he was out. So there's no guarantees here, but how can you not get excited? Jerry on Long island, you're on espn. New York what's up, Jer? How you doing, guys?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Peter, I want to say, like. Okay, I understand what you're saying, Peter.

[Frank (Caller)]

But as a Giants fan, today is not the day. You can have that debate with Don about his comment another day.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let us have our dick today. I was about what he said.

[Don Hahn]

Is that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Is that really entertaining?

[Don Hahn]

So.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So just. You just want Don to spend the day going. We can't have any back and forth, no conversation. Especially.

[Frank (Caller)]

Especially coming from a rival fan.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You've got to understand, it's our day.

[Don Hahn]

Let us.

[Frank (Caller)]

Don could be wrong 100 million times.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But let us be wrong today. Let us enjoy our day today.

[Don Hahn]

Like.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like, like this is not just about a Giants coach. This is a. In New York altogether. Yeah, but Jerry. But Jerry. But let's be fair. Jerry, two things. One, I would say that again. You're going back to what I think is loser talk. Having your day is the day after the championship, which you guys have done twice in like the last 16 years. Okay. Or 17 years, whatever it is. So it's not like you never have those days. You've had those days. And number two, you know, you listen to the show. Jerry, no matter what I do, the day after the Commanders embarrass, the Giants test is still on my ass. It makes no difference. I catch it from people.

[Don Hahn]

First of all, I was the one that said it. And then you said it to me and I didn't have a problem. We just. We had the back and forth because I realized there is no agenda. People need to focus on this. We know Peter's a Commanders fan, but every time Peter has a comment about the Giants, it doesn't have to come from a place of an agenda that he's a commander's fan. He can have a football fan's opinion, he can have a talk show opinion. Everybody thinks everything is agenda driven.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And not only that, you guys, respectfully, if you don't do this for a living, you may not get this. Do you understand? All three of us prefer the teams here win, regardless of how we feel about the teams. Because covering football year in, year out with two terrible teams makes our job insufferable.

[Don Hahn]

It's.

[Alan Hahn]

It's good for business.

[Don Hahn]

We want.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I love when the Giants and Jets win. I really. Unless they're playing my team that week, I want them to win or at least relevant.

[Don Hahn]

Because. Because the reason football more than any other sport, because I will push back on it being with the other sports is because if the baseball team stink, hockey team stink, basketball team stink, we'll talk about other things. But during football, we're still talking football. We still have to do football on Monday, we still have to do football on Friday, we still have to make our picks, we still have weeklies with NFL insiders. And to constantly talk NFL with both teams being brutal. That's where it hurts. If the Mets and Yankees are terrible.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We'Ll just talk about something else. We don't have to talk about baseball.

[Don Hahn]

If both teams stink, you know why? Because the rest of the tackle will be out on baseball too. Same thing with basketball and hockey. If the Knicks stink, they're out.

[Peter Rosenberg]

If the Rangers are all, the only one I push back on is the baseball. Because in the dead of summer, if both, well, the Yankees are never bad, so it's not a relevant thing.

[Don Hahn]

I'm telling you, living in this world, when the Yankees were bad, it was a long time ago. But if the Mets and Yankees are both bad, yeah, we might bring up.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But we're not going to talk about.

[Don Hahn]

The Kansas City Royals run. We're not going to do that. We barely talk about the World Series unless the Mets and Yankees are in it. We could talk about training camp. We'll struggle because there's not a lot going on in July.

[Peter Rosenberg]

If there's no baseball World cup this year, Donnie.

[Don Hahn]

Well, there you go.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We got one year. We got for one year, if the.

[Don Hahn]

Mets and Yankees are both awful, we'll have something to talk about. But football, you can't, you can't just not talk about football. There's too many Cowboy fans, there's too many Raider fans. There's too many Vikings.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like the jets in particular. We were the home of the Jets. So even if you worked here, if you had no interest in that team. All we wanted was a first world problem.

[Don Hahn]

It is a first world world problem. We get paid handsomely for what we do. And you guys actually work for a living out there. A lot of you. So I'll never complain about what I do for a living. But it was difficult at times to talk to these Jet head coaches. Every Monday after another 30 point loss, another season that was going nowhere and.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They won't tell you anything, right?

[Don Hahn]

They won't talk and then they're irritated having to do it and it's like we'd roll our eyes like those Todd.

[Alan Hahn]

Bowles segments, you guys.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, you remember those. At least he was nice. And Todd was at least nice.

[Alan Hahn]

Well then when you got him off topic, he was better gase. Once you guys went there, we had gay.

[Don Hahn]

It was bamboo shoes.

[Alan Hahn]

No Offense. You guys know I was a P1.

[Don Hahn]

You were out. He had nothing to say. He was a Boar and his team stunk.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, I'm good. Don't need to hear.

[Don Hahn]

At least Rex, even when the team was bad, he'd get into it. Even Robert Salah at times, maybe talk about other things. But some of these times and all from. Oh, my God. You know, talking to, you know, Odell once a week when the team's lousy or he's hurt, like, you know, but. But because it's football, you still got to do it. The other sports, we just won't talk about them for this year. Hopefully next year will be better. Let's go to Bill. Bill, he's out in Amityville. You're on ESPN New York.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What's up, Bill? Hey, gentlemen. Good afternoon.

[Alan Hahn]

How are you?

[Peter Rosenberg]

How are you?

[Don Hahn]

Hey, Bill. Excited for the John Harbo, you know, potential hiring. It hasn't been finalized obviously, but you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Guys are talking about coaches that everyone was looking forward to and big names and stuff like that. And you kind of missed an obvious one that was still also had kind.

[Don Hahn]

Of a Maryland flavor to Was Barry.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Trots getting hired by the Islanders.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, same kind of thing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Literally the year after he won the Stanley Cup.

[Don Hahn]

Won a Cup. Had to rebuilt Nashville. No, that's a good one. That's very good.

[Alan Hahn]

Now, Bill, as you know, and he.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Had that team turned around quick.

[Alan Hahn]

Unbelievable. Like, he was fantastic. And for that franchise. Yes, that shook the franchise. It gave it what it needed. All those things that we're talking about, right? Lou lamarillo hiring too. You pair those together. I mean, that was really a franchise changing moment. But just respectfully, when it comes to impact in, you know, in New York sports. Well, yeah, because. Because of where the Islanders are.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But it's.

[Alan Hahn]

We're just being fair. But it is so something you can't ignore for each franchise. What was like the big. The big headline hire. But most recently. Yes. Was that.

[Don Hahn]

Well, how old are you? 41. All right, so you're a little too young to remember when they brought Arbor back.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Now the reason I brought arbor because on the fourth grade Stanley Cups and, and, and, and listen, you didn't know it at the time, but the next thing you know, they're. They're. They're playing Montreal in the conference final. Like they. They did jump back to respectability. Amazing. Again, he wouldn't know because he's only 41. But you were. What was the vibe when they brought Arbor back?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, it was the sense of that that they had to get back. They get that whatever that was back, they had to get it back. And it's amazing how quick it was. It was. It's not like if the giants after McAdoo went back to Coughlin, okay, yeah, kind of that where you'd feel like, okay, he can get back to this. Right. Or kind of get back to being.

[Don Hahn]

Who you are or what might have happened. If you remember them going back to Parcels instead of Fossil, you know that whole story where they just couldn't get the phone call in time. And if Parcels had come back instead of fossil in 97, that would have been.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, that's what that felt like. You knew he was older, you knew. But you also knew what he was bringing back and you felt like that had slipped away.

[Don Hahn]

There are so many people that we follow during the pursuit and eventually acquisition of John Harbaugh, but nobody better than Ian o'. Connor. He was on it. His golf analogy, you know, I feel about golf. But it was spot on and he.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Ended up getting it completely right.

[Don Hahn]

He is terrific and he's going to join us coming up next.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And if he were to bet, I guarantee he would have won. And if he'd bet, he should have betted a FanDuel. Although betting on that wouldn't have made sense because right now you can do playoff mode where all customers get a profit boost pack every NFL playoff game day. Each game day during the divisional round, you'll find a pack loaded with multiple profit boosts waiting for you in the app. More boost means more ways to level up your playoff bets. You pick the matchups you believe in, you take your shot on upset. Maybe if that works for you, build a parlay. If that fits the moment. I love the Bears right now. As a home dog. You just do that.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, that's right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Alan Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't want to know how the.

[Alan Hahn]

Sausage is made, but I just want to know it's good. Hear more of Don Allen and Peter Weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 880 ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers.

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