Don, Hahn & Rosenberg — Hour 1: "Competitive & Respectable"

ESPN New York | January 6, 2026

Episode Overview

In this lively episode, Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg tackle the state of New York sports with their trademark wit and candor—focusing heavily on the New York Jets’ tumultuous season and the team's efforts to regain competitiveness and respectability. The show features humorous banter, sharp critique, notable updates about the show itself, and impassioned caller reactions. The trio dissects the Jets’ leadership press conferences, explores pressing questions about roster construction and coaching, and gives voice to a frustrated fanbase longing for real change.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. A Year of Don, Hahn & Rosenberg

• The hosts celebrate their one-year anniversary on ESPN New York. Don reveals he recently signed a contract extension, quipping about undisclosed terms and joking about deferred money. They reflect on uncertainty and expectations when replacing "the big dog" and how the show's chemistry has evolved.
  • Alan Hahn: “Gotta be honest with you, I didn’t think I’d make it this far. I thought by sure I’d be done, be out.” (04:10)
  • Peter Rosenberg: “We would have had to have been astoundingly bad to have not made it.” (05:56)

2. New York Sports Banter & Personalities

• Side stories include Rosenberg's run-in with WWE's Becky Lynch and the hosts’ experiences at local sports venues, emphasizing their connection to the NYC sports community.
  • Peter Rosenberg: “Becky lynch had me kicked out from ringside last night… She spots me from the ring. This psycho. And she points to me and then calls over security…” (07:12)

3. Opening Segment: College Hoops and Movie Lore

• The crew briefly discusses the St. John’s vs. Butler matchup, referencing the famed “Hoosiers” field house and Butler basketball history before shifting focus to the Knicks’ struggles—linking both teams with unmet expectations.

4. Jets' Leadership Speaks: What’s Next for Gang Green?

• Don, Alan, and Peter dissect comments from Jets GM Darren Muji and head coach Aaron Glenn made during postseason press events. The central theme: rebuilding respect after an embarrassing year.

A. Muji’s Plan for Jet Competitiveness

• Confidence and Vision
  • Moji (Jets GM): “I believe we can be competitive and respectable right away next year… I’ve got a clear vision.” (09:22)
• Historical Precedents: Don and Peter note past quick NFL turnarounds (Washington, Patriots) often hinge on landing the right quarterback—a challenge the Jets face with the #2 draft pick and questions around Oregon’s Dante Moore.
  • Don Hahn: “Now the difference between the Patriots and the Commanders and the jets... that turnaround came from a quarterback…” (09:44)
• Expectation Setting
  • Alan Hahn: “There’s an urgency now because of how ugly the year was, how embarrassing it was.” (11:53)
  • The group notes front office is now signaling higher expectations for 2026.

B. Smart Offseason, Not Just Aggressive Moves

• Moji: “I think everyone wants to be aggressive, but calculated… You can say it’s an aggressive approach, but it really needs to be a very calculated approach...” (12:47)
• Don interprets mention of “draft capital” as hinting at possible deals or trading the #2 pick for an experienced QB rather than drafting at that spot.

C. Quarterback and Free Agency Solutions

• Moji: “We’ll exhaust every option. Free agency, the league, obviously the draft…” (14:06)
• The panel infers Justin Fields is not in the team’s long-term plans, and the search continues for a true starting quarterback.

D. Handling the Breece Hall Situation

• The team wants Breece Hall back but will seek a reasonable contract, not overpay.
  • Alan Hahn: “They recognize that if we don’t have strong quarterback play, we really are going to need good running game.” (15:30)

E. Who’s Really in Charge? The Muji vs. Glenn Dynamic

• Alan and Don note that Muji, not Glenn, took the central role and exuded authority at the press conference.
  • Alan Hahn: “…when he [Muji] spoke, he spoke with an authoritative voice, authority… Muji came off very impressive today, in my opinion.” (16:47)

F. Head Coach Aaron Glenn on Learning & Accountability

• Self-Reflection and Humility
  • Aaron Glenn: “I put a lot of it on me as far as just the wins and losses… I’m not going to blame the roster, or the coaching staff. I’m gonna blame it on the guy that’s sitting right in front of you…” (19:50)
• Alan calls Glenn’s response “fantastic…exactly what he should have said. Perfect pitch perfect.” (20:14)
• The Need for Development: The hosts discuss how head coaches, like players, deserve room to grow—Glenn admits rookie mistakes and a steep learning curve.

G. Defensive Coordinator Search

• Glenn seeks an aggressive D.C. with true synergy: “There’s a lot of synergy between me and that coach… That’s not a step that I don’t miss...” (21:31)

H. Message to Fans: Not Tough Talk, Just Win

• Aaron Glenn: “We don’t expect to have another season like this… we’re looking forward to this offseason, looking forward to… continue to build what we’ve been trying to build.” (22:05)
• Don and Alan hammer home: No more bravado, no proclamations, just work.
  • Alan Hahn: “You need that right now. Head down, get to work. No big statements, no big proclamations, nothing like that… just stop being like, take the circus tents down enough. Just low key, head down, just work.” (22:44–23:25)

5. Listener Calls & Fan Perspectives

Notable Fan Segments

• Moose in Jamaica (26:11): Breaks down the Giants' year, accepts low expectations due to youth and injuries, but Don challenges “could-have-won” games and the agony of blown leads.

• Ira Staten Island (29:16): Praises Jets for “eating humble pie,” but won’t believe their messaging until they produce a winning season; points out the repetitive, empty rhetoric heard from the organization.

  • Ira: “…until they start to show they have a competitive, winning product on the field, I don’t care what anybody says…” (30:11)

• Jimmy in LA (32:15): Emphasizes that street credibility is “little to zero”—only consistent wins can restore fan faith.

  • Jimmy: “Win games. I’ll say it again. Win games.” (33:54)

• Mike at Hawthorne (35:15): Vents about rising ticket prices and poor value, questioning the business ethics of the franchise amid a long history of losing.

• Vinnie, Staten Island (41:32): Asks rapid-fire roster construction questions; floats coaching changes including bringing back Rex Ryan, which sparks debate about nostalgia hires vs. forward-thinking solutions.

  • Alan Hahn: “What invigorates the fan base is winning…” (43:02)
  • The crew dismisses the idea of Rex as a head coach but agree he’s a D.C. upgrade if willing.

• Bobby in Westchester (45:21): Wants a proven defensive coordinator and quarterback development strategies discussed.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Jets front office approach:

  • Don Hahn: “The phrase ‘draft capital’…is telling you that hey, we might take the second pick, we might package it…and try to better our situation…or maybe go out and aggressively get an established quarterback…” (13:37)

• On humility after a lost season:

  • Aaron Glenn: “I have to do a better job. And I'm not going to sit here and blame on the roster. I'm not going to…blame on the coaching staff. I'm gonna blame it on the guy that's sitting right in front of you…” (19:50)

• On what the organization needs to do now:

  • Alan Hahn: “No promises, no proclamation, no shortcuts, no nothing.” (23:25)
  • Peter Rosenberg: “Don’t talk. No tough talk.” (23:32)

• Caller Jimmy on what matters:

  • “Win games, games. All the other stuff…I gave up in all their banter during the offseason because that’s all it is…” (33:54)

• Mike at Hawthorne on Jets season tickets:

  • “It's like a restaurant having a crappy steak for 15 years and every year the steak goes up 4 or 5%... Who the heck wants those tickets?” (38:30)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Jets Press Conference Recap & Analysis: 09:22–19:50
• Glenn’s Accountability/Self-Reflection: 19:50–21:00
• What Jets Fans Want: Just Win: 22:05–24:44
• Listener Calls & Fan Frustration: 26:00–40:17
• Nostalgia for Rex Ryan and Coaching Talk: 41:32–45:17

Summary

This episode delivers a full spectrum of what it means to be a New York sports fan in 2026—equal parts passionate, skeptical, and desperate for a franchise to simply do the work and win. The hosts expertly balance humor, personal anecdotes, and substantive sports analysis. Key takeaways are the demand for organizational humility, substantive action (not slogans), smart but not reckless offseason moves, and a clear call from fans: consistent winning is the only thing that can restore faith in the Jets. The show gives voice to the battered but enduring spirit of the NYC sports faithful, promising that honesty and hard work are the only way out of mediocrity.