Don, Hahn & Rosenberg — Hour 1: Harbaugh Introduced

ESPN New York | January 20, 2026 | Hosts: Alan Hahn, Don La Greca, Peter Rosenberg | Guest: Rich Eisen

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the introduction of John Harbaugh as the new head coach of the New York Giants. The hosts break down Harbaugh’s introductory press conference, exploring his philosophy, message, and implications for the Giants’ future. The team compares this hire to past preseasons, debates the culture of the Giants, and peppers the discussion with New York humor, digressions about hockey, and a classic “workplace snack heist” whodunit.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Harbaugh’s Press Conference Breakdown

• Theme: Harbaugh’s clear passion for football and authenticity in his message set the tone for his vision for the Giants.
• Tone: The hosts agree Harbaugh’s approach felt genuine, energetic, and confident—unlike some past Giants hires.
• Repetition of “football”: The group counts how many times Harbaugh says “football” as a playful way to underscore his passion.

Notable Quote & Discussion

• John Harbaugh (07:50):

  "We need guys that love everything about football. They love the games, they love the practices, they love the weightlifting, they love the meetings, they love the dining hall. ... If there's guys, you know around that don't love football ... we're probably gonna let those guys go play somewhere else."

  • The hosts quip about counting the number of times Harbaugh says “football” ("That’s one every four seconds!" – Don LaGreca, 08:41).

• Alan Hahn (12:22):

  “He looked like a guy that was genuinely excited, didn’t look like he was putting on an act, had a message. His suit fit. He had a haircut that didn’t look like it was cut with spoons…”

[07:47 – 13:10]

2. Comparative Analysis: Harbaugh vs. Past Hires

• Past Intros: Previous Giants (and NY) coaches often came off as promotional or inexperienced (“Here’s why you’ll like me”), whereas Harbaugh’s press conference answered “why I took this job.”
• Host Grades: Don LaGreca and Peter Rosenberg discuss their knack for “grading” pressers, recalling past predictions.

[09:01 – 09:53]

3. Culture and Rebuilding the Giants

• Love of the Grind: The "love of football" isn’t just for the games; it’s vital for the grind—practice, travel, and daily work.
• Culture Talk: Harbaugh discusses “relentless brotherhood” and building from the inside out.
• No False Promises: The hosts like that Harbaugh refuses to set an instant timeline, showing both confidence and realism.

Notable Quote

• John Harbaugh (15:00):

  "Culture is kind of a crazy word ... It's a worldview. It's a shared understanding. ... In football, it's a bunch of guys that see the game the same way ... A relentless brotherhood."

[14:53 – 16:29]

4. Playful Observations & Style

• Sounding like Biden: Midway, the hosts notice Harbaugh’s delivery and voice is reminiscent of Joe Biden, poking a little fun:
  • “Is he Joe Biden it?” — Don LaGreca (17:34)
  • “When you listen to that clip one more time and think…” — Alan Hahn (18:01)
• Presidential Endorsement: Briefly touch on Trump making supportive comments about Harbaugh pre-hire.

[17:27 – 19:07]

5. Roster, Quarterback & Team Philosophy

• Impact of QB: Harbaugh speaks highly of Jackson Dart, emphasizing both his skill and “love of football.”
• Roster Reality: Harbaugh and hosts acknowledge talent, but depth and filling holes are still major tasks.

Notable Quote

• John Harbaugh (19:45):

  "The quarterback’s kind of important ... But more than that, I like who he is. And what he's about to me, is about football. I mean, this. This young guy loves football. He wants to talk football all the time. And that's kind of what I like doing, too."

[19:34 – 20:24]

6. Organizational Structure & Joe Schoen

• Collaboration: Harbaugh’s choice to work with GM Joe Schoen (and the Giants’ willingness to alter their traditional GM/coach structure) showed mutual respect and adaptability.
• Host Take: If Harbaugh likes Schoen, Giants fans should—at the very least—give Schoen another chance.
• Schoen Speaks: Schoen downplays “final say,” emphasizing teamwork and shared vision with Harbaugh.

Notable Quotes

• John Harbaugh (36:05):

  "You see he's a football man. This guy lives and breathes football. ... So I was impressed. Very impressed."

• Joe Schoen (44:39):

  "...That's just, you know, something on a piece of paper doesn’t matter. We need to work together ... It’s always going to be about what’s best for the New York Giants."

[36:05 – 45:03]

7. How Fast Can the Giants Turn It Around?

• Vegas Odds: Over/under set at 8.5 wins—hosts discuss whether that's realistic for a team coming off a 4-13 season.
• Coaching Impact: Conversation shifts to the idea that a great coach is, in the NFL, almost as important as a great quarterback.

[46:24 – 48:49]

8. Sidebars & Memorable Moments

A. New York/Canada Hockey Road Trip

• Don updates from snowy Edmonton, Alberta; random banter about “Alberta beef,” airport turbulence nightmares, Canadian beer, and hockey routines:
  • “It was a Bomby 39 in Calgary. Last night we landed on the surface of the moon. It was just a blizzard ...” — Alan Hahn (00:56)
  • “This is the outpost of outposts in professional sports. I mean, it was quarter to nine this morning and the sun still wasn’t up.” — Alan Hahn (03:45)
• The group jokes about a Canadian night out and Don potentially “going full Mark Sanchez.”

[00:23 – 05:07]

B. Snackgate: The Pilfered Trail Mix

• The second half shifts into a hilarious segment as Rich Eisen and the crew try to identify who keeps stealing Rich’s trail mix from the communal cabinet.
• Joking escalation: plans for a hidden camera, references to “To Catch a Predator” (Chris Hansen style), and speculation about office etiquette.
• “If you’re going to grab a man’s nuts, you give him a warning first.” — Don LaGreca (35:30)

[26:10 – 35:35]

C. Backyard Hockey Rink Revelations

• Alan Hahn admits to having a backyard hockey rink at home, surprising the panel.
• Don jokes it finally rivals the oft-discussed “indoor pool” claims.

[40:23 – 44:18]

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• John Harbaugh on culture:
  "It’s a relentless brotherhood, having each other’s back, being unwilling to give up because that guy next to you is unwilling to give up... we’ll decide what the culture looks like together." (15:00)

• Rich Eisen on Harbaugh's message:
  “He’s not trying to give you a soundbite. He’s speaking very plainly. And I think that’s because he’s very confident in who he is.” (12:13)

• Don LaGreca on press conference style:
  “He shows up suit and tie, still trying to prove… I bring cachet to this organization you don’t currently have. But I still want to impress everybody here.” (13:10)

• Peter Rosenberg on workplace etiquette:
  “It’s true of everything in life, if you’re going to grab a man’s nuts, you give him a warning first.” (35:30)

Conclusion

The episode delivers a fun, insightful breakdown of John Harbaugh’s arrival as Giants head coach. The crew praises Harbaugh’s authenticity, dissects his “love football” mantra, and debates whether his presence signals a swift turnaround for the franchise. Lively sidebars blend New York, hockey, and classic office gripes, giving listeners both sports insight and classic trio chemistry.

Timestamps:

• 00:23–05:07: Canadian travel/hockey banter
• 07:47–13:10: Harbaugh’s press conference, tone, “love of football”
• 14:53–16:29: Rebuilding Giants’ culture
• 17:27–19:07: Sounding like Biden, political quips
• 19:34–20:24: Harbaugh on Jackson Dart
• 36:05–45:03: Harbaugh and Schoen collaboration
• 46:24–48:49: Vegas odds & Giants future
• 26:10–35:35: Snackgate saga
• 40:23–44:18: Backyard hockey rink talk

For fans: This episode offers both reassuring football insight and the banter you love — “doing football, every day, all the time.”