Don, Hahn & Rosenberg: Hour 1 – Dead Man Walking (Sept 22, 2025)

Episode Overview

Hour 1 of "Don, Hahn & Rosenberg" kicks off the week with a deep, often frustrated discussion about the bleak state of New York football. With both the Jets and Giants off to 0-3 starts for the third time in six years, the trio explores failures in coaching, failed expectations, quarterback controversies, and front office dynamics—especially as they relate to the Giants' handling of their young QB, Jackson Dart. Interwoven are moments of levity—including Don La Greca’s debut as the Devils’ TV play-by-play voice and Peter Rosenberg’s ESPN TV hosting, plus classic New York sports banter and caller engagement.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Era of False Starts in NY Football

• Both the Giants and Jets are 0-3: This is the third time in six years both teams haven’t won by Week 3. The hosts dub this period in NY football as the "Era of False Start."
  • "[It's] 3rd time in the last 6 years... neither [Giants nor Jets] for three out of the last six years can do anything." — Alan (01:54)
• Moral victories and low expectations: The only solace is finding “moral victories” in competitive losses, with no realistic hope for postseason success.
  • "Now yesterday [the Jets] had the moral victory because... they came back from three scores down." — Don (02:07)
  • "Don’t give any expectations. Let the coach get his feet wet." — Don (02:53)
  • "If you put any expectations on them, that's on you." — Don (03:41)

2. Dysfunction in Giants Leadership and Coaching

• Brian Dable’s job on the line: Don and Alan argue Dable and his staff may be out, Joe Schoen (GM) might stay due to the roster talent not meeting its potential.
  • "Every game that's played, it's a step closer to Dable being out of a job." — Don (04:31)
  • "So right now... if I had to make a decision right now, Joe Shane stays. Dable and his coaching staff goes." — Don (04:46)
  • "This is not a well-coached team. It's clear." — Alan (05:03)
• Inability to adjust and maximize talent: Dable called out for lack of in-game adjustments and not utilizing playmakers (Malik Nabers, Wan'Dale Robinson).
  • "The thing that’s really starting to hurt Dable is his inability to adjust." — Alan (05:13)
  • "Malik neighbors. I haven't seen him yet. It's already second quarter. We probably need to get him going right?... That didn't happen until the fourth quarter." — Alan (05:47)

3. The Jackson Dart Quarterback Question

• Debate over whether to play rookies: Coaches and management wrestling with starting unproven rookie Jackson Dart despite doubts about readiness.
  • "If you don't believe he's ready, don't play him." — Don (06:47)
  • "This is why you need John Mara to step in... you go to Joe Shane and says you're staying, and right now we're evaluating Dable and if you don't think [Dart]'s ready to play, don't play him." — Don (06:54)
  • "If Dable wants to play him and Shayna Mara don't, then he doesn’t play." — Don (07:00)
• Organizational pressure and danger to Dart’s development: There’s tension between desperate coaches trying to save jobs and doing what’s best for the team’s future.
  • “You don't want to debut your Maserati... during a blizzard... you want to make sure it's at the right time.” — Don (21:42)
  • “You can’t make a decision like this just because you want to pacify the fans.” — Alan (20:54)
• Fans and media clamoring for change: The crew warns that fans (and even some media) should not dictate quarterback decisions.
  • "I'm a fan... I hate to say this, fans are irrelevant in this decision... I can't rush this kid because the guy in section 312 wants to see good football." — Don (22:27)

4. Strategic & Game Management Failures

• Quarterback mismanagement: Critical questioning of why the Giants didn’t dress three QBs, and critique of Russell Wilson’s play.
  • "Why keep trotting this guy out? ...They are wasting talented players with this quarterback." — Peter (10:57)
• Red zone woes & offensive stagnancy: Seven straight games without reaching 10 points, repeated red zone inefficiency.
  • “Seven games since last season, they haven't gotten to 10 points. 10 points.” — Alan (13:48)
  • “1 for 10 on third down. How... do you give your defense a chance to take a breath?” — Alan (14:13)

5. The Giants Front Office Dilemma

• Role of Joe Schoen and future of the rebuild: Strong belief that the Giants’ GM should lead the next iteration, not necessarily the coaches.
  • "If you want to let Shane go, I get it... But I just keep circling back the same answer... poorly coached." — Don (12:38)
• Fan Caller: Future of Dart if Dable is fired: If a coach leaves, will the next one trust Dart or start from scratch? The guys argue that any hire should want to work with Dart if he’s talented.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|---------|-------| | 01:54 | Alan | "3rd time in the last six years that both teams haven't won a game, three weeks into the season." | | 02:53 | Don | "Let the coach get his feet wet. It's all about, you know, ships turn slow, your home wasn't built in a day..." | | 04:46 | Don | "So right now... if I had to make a decision right now, Joe Shane stays. Dable and his coaching staff goes..." | | 05:13 | Alan | "The thing that's really starting to hurt Dable is his inability to adjust." | | 06:47 | Don | "If you don't believe he's ready, don't play him." | | 13:48 | Alan | "Seven games since last season, they haven't gotten to 10 points. 10 points." | | 14:13 | Alan | “1 for 10 on third down. How... do you give your defense a chance to take a breath?” | | 20:54 | Alan | “You can’t make a decision like this just because you want to pacify the fans.” | | 22:27 | Don | "Fans are irrelevant in this decision... I can't let you influence my decision. I can't rush this kid because the guy in section 312 wants to see good football." |

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Era of False Start / Jets & Giants lose again: 01:29 – 03:45
• Jets “moral victories” / Setting expectations: 02:07 – 04:00
• Giants coaching issues / Dable’s struggles: 04:31 – 06:47
• The Jackson Dart debate / When to start him?: 06:47 – 22:20
• Red Zone & Offensive Ineptitude: 13:44 – 14:59
• Coaching stability and the front office dilemma: 21:00 – 22:20
• Callers on Giants’ coaching and Dart: 32:43 – 34:39, 43:12 – 46:12
• Historic Giants failures—Odell’s catch as a turning point: 40:02 – 42:51
• Lighter segment: Don’s Devils debut & Peter’s ESPN TV hosting: 24:13 – 32:20

Other Highlights

Don La Greca’s MSG Preseason Devils Debut

• Both Alan and Peter praise Don’s effortless chemistry on the Devils broadcast and joke about his awkward on-air handshake.
  • “If you didn’t know Don had just gotten hired, you would think this guy’s been the voice of the Devils for a decade.” — Alan (25:50)
  • "Once you got past the troubling handshake situation at the top of the show, Don has. There's something going on with Don and handshakes." — Peter (26:42)

Peter’s Big Weekend Ride

• Peter reflects on his excitement and nerves as ESPN TV host and the fun of seeing his face on TVs across the country.
  • “It was exciting to be nervous... Radio, I don’t get nervous for radio broadcast. It was fun to be sitting there, pumped up, ready to go...” — Peter (29:34)

Classic Sports Nostalgia and Cynicism

• Alan and the group mourn how Odell Beckham Jr’s iconic catch on SNF was a “beginning of the end” for Giants stability.
  • "I'm just telling you as a Giant fan, that catch makes me sick." — Don (40:55)

Tone & Takeaways

The tone is alternately exasperated and analytical, with dashes of classic NY wit and sarcasm. The frustration of repeated failures, particularly of the Giants’ coaching staff, is palpable. The group is adamant: quick fixes and fan appeasement (especially with rookie QBs) are a trap; patience and sound leadership must prevail—though evidence of that leadership is sorely lacking in current NY football.

For fans seeking hope, the takeaway is stark: progress starts at the top, and plugging in a young QB to appease the crowd or save jobs can ruin the rebuilding process. If you want to understand the psyche of the NY sports fan (and media) in 2025, this episode delivers in detail.

For Further Listening

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• Catch Don, Hahn & Rosenberg, weekdays starting at 3pm ET on ESPN New York.