Podcast Summary: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg

Episode: Hour 1: Daboll's Future
Date: November 7, 2025
Hosts: Don La Greca (B), Alan Hahn (A), Peter Rosenberg (C)
Main Theme:
A deep dive into the future of New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll: Should he remain as head coach amid the emergence of rookie QB Jackson Dart and persistent team struggles? The trio debates the intertwining fates of coaches and QBs in New York, broader Giants organizational issues, possible future head coach candidates, and winning culture vs. tanking for better draft picks.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Is Brian Daboll’s Job Saved by Jackson Dart?

• Quarterback/Coach Dynamic:

  • Hahn: Emphasizes that while the Giants finally have a promising QB (Jackson Dart), who is putting up impressive offensive numbers (24.1 PPG in 6 starts, 27.5 last 4), Daboll’s future shouldn’t solely depend on this performance. The offense now looks "how it’s supposed to" (00:55).
  • Memorable stat: "This kid’s giving you 24.1. In the last four games, 27.5 points a game...Giants haven’t seen this kind of offense in 10 years." – Alan Hahn (01:37)
  • Don: Questions whether it’s Daboll’s offensive scheme or just Dart’s raw talent. Asks why Daniel Jones struggled in NY but is now thriving in Indianapolis (04:10): “Now Daniel Jones goes to Indianapolis and might win the MVP. So doesn’t Dabel take a hit for that?”

• Should Dart and Daboll’s Fates Be Tied Together?

  • Rosenberg: Doubts Daboll’s actual role, positing that he’s just “tailoring a pretty simple plan at this point that works for the kid.” (05:08)
  • Don: Cautions that, like with Daniel Jones, defenses will eventually figure Dart out, and then it’s on the coach to keep innovating (05:42): “What happens when there’s a book on him?...we’ve seen this act before.”

2. Giants’ Broader Issues: Organization, Defense, and Leadership

• Failure Beyond Offense:

  • Don: Points out Giants’ defense has regressed, personnel decisions have faltered (hiring Shane Bowen after failing with Wink Martindale), and that the franchise lacks “leadership of men,” with Daboll too focused on offense and not acting as "CEO" (08:03).

• General Manager Joe Schoen’s Part:

  • Hosts: Argue that even if there’s talent on the roster, inability to win still reflects on the GM. “We're not handing awards for who goes to the most Pro Bowls...We hand awards to the team that wins the most games.” – Alan Hahn (11:26)

• Team Culture & “Blow it up” Mentality:

  • Hahn: Ultimately advocates for a full reset: “Honestly, I don’t even know why we’re having this conversation. They just both have to go, you got to blow it up.” (10:54)
  • Rosenberg: In favor: “If you're going to blow one out, blow it all out.” (12:31)
  • Hahn hit: “You're still the New York Giants. You've got a quarterback that I think everybody's going to want to coach. Go out there and flex and bring in a new general manager and head coach and get it right.” (12:36)
  • Memorable: “You keep making changes until you get the damn thing right.” – Alan Hahn (13:02)

3. Giants Winning, Tanking, and the Culture Debate

• To Lose or Not:

  • Rosenberg: "Your New York football cheat sheet is: you root for the Giants to lose and the Jets to win.” (13:16)
  • Hahn: Pushback against tanking, warning it “erodes” culture but concedes: “if you want this blown up, the only way is if they lose out.” (13:48)
  • Nuance: Giants history of not committing to coaching staff even after success (Coughlin only got 1-year extension after a Super Bowl; 14:48)

• Developmental Danger:

  • B: Worries long-term losing could “wear on” Dart, risking his competitive spirit (16:52): “If they win one game and he has to go through seven more losses, it’s going to wear on him, man.”

4. Jets Side Debate: What about Winning Culture?

• Building Attractiveness as a Destination:
  • Hahn: For NYJ, winning games late is about proving to potential veteran QBs that the “organization is attractive” (18:57)
  • Don: Looks for evidence of culture change akin to what happened with the Lions under Dan Campbell (19:13): “You need tangible evidence that there is real leadership with the organization…”

5. Coaching Futures: Big Swings, Retreads, and Hot Names

• Fan Calls (from 28:44 on):
  • Ted: Argues Daboll deserves loyalty for selecting and developing Dart, but hosts respond, “The offense is performing well and I will give Dable credit. But...that’s not the end all be all...” (31:25)
  • Ryan in San Diego: Floats Sean McVay as a big-swing Giants HC candidate (38:48). Hosts consider, but stress that the organization must target “somebody that has some experience that can get you back on track.” (42:31)
  • Retread Debate: Pros and cons of experienced but perhaps uninspiring “retread” coaches like Mike McCarthy; tension between the “known commodity” and the seductive mystery of the up-and-comer (47:50).
    • “We’re okay with the unknown, but the more we know, we’ll find some holes and talk ourselves out of it.” – Alan Hahn (47:50)
  • “Just win” mantra: “I'd win with Marco's best friends from second grade if I could win. Fine. I'd have the cheapest roster. I'd make a ton of money. I just want to win.” – Alan Hahn (35:20)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Daboll’s coaching acumen:

  • “Is this the mind of Brian Dabel doing great things as much as tailoring a plan that works and a pretty simple plan at this point that works for the kid?” – Peter Rosenberg (05:08)
  • “He verbally abused Daniel Jones a lot on the sideline. He doesn’t do that to this kid. He bearhugs him. He nearly kisses him on the mouth.” – Peter Rosenberg (34:48)

• On expectations for Giants leadership:

  • “The head coach supposed to be a CEO...make sure that they’re all in.” – Don La Greca (08:03)

• On organizational resets:

  • “You keep making changes until you get the damn thing right.” – Alan Hahn (13:02)

• On why wins matter:

  • “Do I get a trophy for having a great quarterback, or do I get a trophy for winning? I'd like to win.” – Alan Hahn (35:20)

• On veteran HC vs. unknown:

  • “It feels like there’s a higher ceiling. If you’re a football fan, you hear the name Mike McCarthy. Sorry, there’s no movement...but if it’s a name you never heard of you go, ooh, maybe we found the next Kyle Shanahan or Sean McVay.” – Peter Rosenberg (47:57)

Timestamps for Key Topics

• Jackson Dart’s emergence and impact on Daboll’s job: 00:55 – 05:42
• Daniel Jones, Giants offense history, and coaching credit: 04:10 – 05:42
• Caution/Defense: Future of Dart & “Defensive Book”: 05:42 – 07:11
• Daboll's leadership failures and CEO critique: 08:03 – 09:10
• Should Giants "blow it up"?: 10:54 – 13:02
• Giant/Jets tanking & culture discussion: 13:16 – 18:57
• Jets leadership/culture-building needs: 19:13 – 21:28
• Fan caller Ted on Daboll’s fate: 28:44 – 33:11
• Big swing coaching candidates, retread vs. unproven: 38:48 – 48:24

Tone and Energy

Casual, fiery, and full of New York bravado. The hosts blend statistical analysis, inside info, and signature banter ("bear hugs, nearly kisses him on the mouth"), with passionate, sometimes combative, calls and spirited back-and-forth.

Takeaways

• The hosts remain unconvinced Daboll should stay, despite the emergence of Jackson Dart. Winning is the only metric that matters; credit for player development is only part of the equation.
• The Giants face an organizational crossroads—strong arguments are made for wiping the slate clean, from GM to coach, especially to stop bad habits from hardening.
• The coaching debate is nuanced: retread “proven” candidates versus the allure of the next big up-and-comer; neither path guarantees success, and both have their appeal.
• For both Big Blue and the Jets, building a winning—and attractive—culture is essential, whatever moves are made off the field.

This episode is a must for Giants (and Jets) fans looking for smart, emotionally invested, and wittily combative talk radio—the perfect blend of stats, stories, and unfiltered New York sports passion.