Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 1: Dart Starts

Episode Date: September 23, 2025
Podcast: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg (ESPN New York)
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Main Theme:
The Giants have named rookie Jackson Dart as their starting quarterback, benching veteran Russell Wilson after only three weeks. The hosts dissect the decision from every angle: whether Dart is truly ready, the organizational motivations behind the timing, the lingering questions about Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston’s roles, and what the move means for a frustrated but hopeful Giants fanbase. Listener calls and classic New York sports banter energize the hour.

Episode Overview

The conversation kicks off with lively discussion and inside jokes, before diving deep into the most pressing topic in New York football: the starting QB switch for the Giants. The “Jackson Dart era” begins under controversial circumstances—was this a move based on hope, desperation, or Dart’s undeniable readiness? The hosts analyze the quarterback room, the roles of coaching and team ownership, the psychology of New York fans, and parallels to past Giants rookie QBs. Calls from passionate listeners and a few media tangents round out an engaging hour.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The "Jackson Dart Era" Begins

• Don Hahn insists he had to be in-studio the day the Dart era truly begins, indicating the major buzz in New York sports circles. (01:27)
• The move comes after a dismal three weeks for Russell Wilson as the Giants’ offense stagnated, especially in the red zone.
• Alan Hahn: “The belief has to be that you think the offense will run better, despite the fact that [Dart]’s inexperienced.” (05:20)

Is Dart Ready – and Why Now?

• Hosts debate if this is genuinely about Dart being ready or about Dable trying to save his job.
• Don Hahn: “I’m cool with it if it’s because he’s ready, I’m not cool with it if jobs are trying to be saved or John Mara’s trying to make his football team...relevant.” (01:27)
• Concern about rushing a young QB to the wolves without the right support structure, citing Darius Slayton’s warnings to fans and media.
• The timing is questioned: Why is Dart "ready" now when he wasn’t in week one? Did anything change or did desperation set in after poor team performance? (06:22)

Ownership and Organizational Influence

• The hosts dissect Giants owner John Mara’s influence—suggesting he doesn’t formally intervene, but everyone in the building knows what he wants: fan engagement and hope restored.
• Don Hahn: “Did Mara ever say play him? No, but I’m sure Dable thought John wants to play him because I know John Mara...He can’t stand a fan base that doesn’t care.” (07:04)
• Adding a layer of intrigue, they discuss how Mara’s presence and desires subtly shape big decisions.
• Collaborative organizational decision emphasized; this wasn’t coach-only.

The Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston Angle

• Russell Wilson’s struggles are dissected; his lack of effectiveness and possible locker room dynamics if relegated to backup/mentor are discussed. (10:54)
• The curious case of Jameis Winston as the forgotten option is raised by both callers and hosts. Was Dart’s elevation more about Dart or an indictment of Winston?
• Peter Rosenberg: “He’ll throw some picks, he’ll throw some touchdowns. If the guy’s funny...” (20:42)

Fan Psychology: Hope, Expectations, and Patience

• The hosts and callers zero in on the eternal push-pull of hope vs. pain for Giants fans.
• Don La Greca: “Hope means people will come to watch and they’ll care. But to have hope is also that frustrating, they pull you back in just when you thought you were out on a season.” (10:12)
• Warning to fans not to expect immediate miracles from Dart, referencing scars from past NY quarterback failures (Zach Wilson, Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones), and pointing out the dangers of crushing a rookie’s confidence too soon. (13:10)

Historic Parallels & Learning Curves

• Multiple comparisons to Eli Manning’s rookie struggles—how sometimes losing seasons are necessary for franchise QB development.
• The “only learn from playing” vs. “can learn from watching” QB development philosophy is debated.
• Don Hahn: “But you also don’t want to create bad habits, not be ready and play terrible and lose your confidence. I saw it happen to Carr in Houston.” (15:46)

Athletic and Locker Room Dynamics

• How does the team rally around a rookie QB? How will established veterans like Russell Wilson handle the demotion?
• Team chemistry and locker room buy-in are cited as crucial to rookie QB success.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Alan Hahn on Ownership Pressure
  “I hope to God as a Giant fan Dable’s not throwing a kid to the wolves to save his job. That he honestly and truly believes this kid is ready.” (07:43)

• Don La Greca on Red Zone Woes
  “The Giants are second to last in the NFL in red zone percentage...seven times now since last year, they’ve scored less than 10 points in a game.” (08:55)

• Peter Rosenberg on Fan Expectations
  “Don’t build it up to be something where if he doesn’t look like Joe Montana in his first couple of weeks, you call him a bust. Don’t do that.” (30:25)

• Don Hahn on Bad QB Habits
  “I saw it happen to Carr in Houston...it broke him. I still think, I don’t think Zach Wilson’s a good quarterback, but it’s on the table that the Jets broke him because they threw him in and maybe irreparable damaged him.” (15:46)

• Listener on Hope and Optimism
  “All I ask you to do, Don, is soften your heart...don’t have blind faith, but have unwarranted optimism that this could be the turn for your New York Giants.” (36:23)

• Peter Rosenberg on Dart’s Swagger
  “The chain that he wears on game day says he believes he’s the guy...you cannot be a scrubby backup and wear the big ass, iced out Cuban link.” (39:44)

Multi-Caller Reactions & Giants Fan Pulse

Selected Calls:

• Vinnie from Staten Island (19:13): Skeptical of rookie learning on the job without coaching/OL support; prefers Winston for fun points.
• Flavio from Brooklyn (21:38): Fears for Dart’s safety and long-term confidence with shaky OL—prefers to see Jameis Winston start.
• Nick from East Meadow (32:17): Warns against expecting Eli-like fairytales from Dart—roster isn’t strong enough to protect a rookie.
• Frank from West New York (33:50): Compares prepping a rookie QB to “dropping your kid on the first day of school and hoping he comes back in one piece.”
• Kadeem in the Car (36:02): Pleads for fan optimism and “softened hearts”—champions the value of hope, even after heartbreak.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Jackson Dart Era Announcement: 01:27-02:37
• Readiness Debate & Organizational Motives: 05:09-07:43
• Fan Hope and Darius Slayton Comments: 10:05-13:56 & 29:13-31:58
• Historical Parallels & Learning on the Job: 14:07-16:21
• Russell Wilson’s Decline & QB Room Chemistry: 10:54-11:29, 47:13-49:39
• Calls and Public Sentiment: 19:13-23:37; 32:11-36:02
• Swagger, Personality, & Player Perception: 39:44-40:34
• Coaching, Ownership & Decisional Power: 06:41-07:43; 21:09-21:33

Tone & Style

• Relentlessly New York sports radio—fast-paced, passionate, a bit self-deprecating and always ready with pop culture humor (“Sopranos” and WWE references).
• Critical but hopeful; honest about a bleak football situation but energized by the unknown and the possibility of genuine excitement.
• Direct language, inside fandom jokes, and a blend of hard analytics and emotional appeals.

Conclusion

“The Dart Era” begins with as much skepticism as excitement. The hosts agree on the stakes: this isn’t about saving a lost season, it’s about finding out if you have “a guy.” They urge fans to be patient and avoid scapegoating the rookie at the first sign of trouble. Whether inspired by hope or desperation, the move is the only way forward for a Giants organization—and fanbase—hungry for relevance, entertainment, and a spark of optimism.

For those watching Giants football this fall, the only certainty is uncertainty—but at least, as the hosts say, the games will be worth watching again.