Don, Hahn & Rosenberg — Hour 1: Harbaugh Latest & Draft QBs

Date: January 9, 2026
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Network: ESPN New York

Episode Overview

The first hour of "Don, Hahn & Rosenberg" dives right into the latest drama surrounding potential NFL coaching changes—specifically John Harbaugh's future and the implications for the New York Giants. After some signature banter about music, birthday plans, and office odors, the hosts get serious about the Giants' head coaching search, Harbaugh’s rumored candidacy, and how this impacts the franchise. The conversation then pivots to NFL playoff predictions and the rapidly shifting landscape of college quarterbacks entering the draft, including a discussion of previously under-the-radar prospects whose stock is soaring. The hour ends with lively listener calls about music and Giants speculation.

1. Warm-Up & Banter (00:00–12:13)

Key Discussion Points:

• Morning Check-Ins & Office Humor: The hosts start with playful barbs about Don’s "fight" with obesity, Peter's trip to Florida, winter in Winnipeg, and Alan’s complaints about a smelly microphone in the studio—prompting a philosophical debate on the "whoever smelt it dealt it" concept. (00:00–03:09)
• Late-Night Knicks Duties: Alan discusses the grind of covering late Knicks games remotely while his crew is in Phoenix, describing the challenges of “working in real time” on an Eastern schedule. (04:14–05:06)
• Yacht Rock Concert Recap: Alan reminisces about a fun Yacht Rock Revue concert, recounting a minor setlist faux pas (“We Will Rock You” by Queen). He proposes a team outing to a summer show, which devolves into humorous bickering over summer availability and Peter’s commitment to watch the U.S. Men’s Soccer Team in the World Cup (calling Peter an “event guy” rather than a true fan). (05:27–10:07)
• Birthday Plans & Concerts: The hosts muse about celebrating Alan and Peter’s birthdays at various classic rock concerts (Toto & Christopher Cross, Chicago, Styx, Rod Stewart, Skynyrd, Foreigner), with Alan pitching a live broadcast from the venue. (10:09–12:13)

Notable Quote:

• Alan (re: concert at Jones Beach): “That’s gonna hit different.” (09:16)

2. Harbaugh, Dolphins, Giants & NFL Head Coach Carousel (12:13–25:21)

Key Discussion Points:

• Harbaugh to Giants?
  • With Miami’s hiring decisions moving in a different direction (John Eric Sullivan, not Chad Alexander), the threat of the Dolphins luring Harbaugh away from New York diminishes.
  • Don argues that, as he had speculated, much of the Harbaugh-to-Miami buzz was “just reporters reading the tea leaves.” (13:11–14:19)
  • The focus returns to the Giants. The consensus: the Giants are interviewing for Harbaugh as much as he’ll be interviewing them; he’s in the driver’s seat.

Expert Insight on Harbaugh’s Prospects:

• Contract speculations: $100M over 5 years for Harbaugh is the expected ballpark.
• The hosts discuss the financial calculus, with Alan stating: “You’re giving him a blank check... that’s what you’re doing, because that’s how desperate of a franchise you are.” (14:24)
• Debate on whether other teams (e.g., Tennessee, Cincinnati) would pay as much as the Giants might need to—Don and Alan agree most won’t, but the Giants “can’t lose the PR battle here.”
• The looming specter of Mike Tomlin’s future with Pittsburgh is discussed: if Pittsburgh blows things up, Tomlin could suddenly be on the market, potentially shaking up the hiring process. (16:29–17:38)

Memorable Moment:

• The recurring joke about “shakes loose” as code for a head coach getting fired:
  • Peter: “Let’s be honest. If what really happens is you’re getting tossed on your head, it’s not so much that you’re slipping away. They’re throwing you out like Jazzy Jeff on Fresh Prince.” (16:41)

Pressure on the Giants:

• The Giants are “selling” themselves to Harbaugh, not the other way around.
• Joe Shane’s precarious situation as GM is analyzed: he must pitch the franchise and himself to Harbaugh while his own future is on the line.

Notable Quote:

• Don (re: selling Harbaugh): “John Harbaugh is going to interview the Giants next week, not the other way around... If he hears what he wants to hear, he’ll be the next head coach.” (13:57)

3. College QBs & NFL Draft – The Chambliss Story (27:58–36:46)

Key Discussion Points:

• Spotlight on Trinidad Chambliss:
  • Alan highlights the story of Trinidad Chambliss, a QB who played Division II football last year and nearly won a national semifinal after transferring to Ole Miss.
  • Chambliss was denied a sixth year of eligibility, making him eligible for the upcoming NFL Draft.
  • The hosts marvel at how, despite all early-year talk of a “weak quarterback draft,” Chambliss and others may force four QBs into the first round.

Debate Over Draft Boards & Hype:

• Don and Alan agree: actual game performance under pressure (like Chambliss’s in a national semifinal) can be more meaningful than combine metrics, but actual draft movement often happens after workouts and interviews. (30:07–30:49)
• Kuiper’s rankings: Alan reports Mel Kuiper now has Chambliss as the fourth-ranked QB in the class.

Draft Implications for the Jets:

• Alan suggests, with two first-round picks, the Jets have flexibility: they don’t need to reach for a QB at #2 amid the new depth, and can move around the board.

Notable Quotes:

• Alan: “We could have four [QBs] in the first round. And you know how the hype starts to work...”
• Peter (on QB hype): “The line between ‘super expert’ and complete yo-yo who knows absolutely nothing—it feels very close when it comes to things like where’s the coach going?” (19:10)

4. Listener Calls: Music & More Giants Talk (38:43–47:05)

Caller Highlights:

• Javier in Queens: Offers praise for the show, provides a street pronunciation for "Harbaugh," and asks about the Yacht Rock Revue band. Alan describes them as “very versatile... the ability to kind of hit the different sounds... that’s hard to do.” (39:03–40:15)
• Dan in Saratoga: Makes a quick Giants point ("like John Harbaugh and I want him"), then pivots to ranking the Commodores, Earth, Wind & Fire, and the Bee Gees. Don puts Bee Gees as #1, Alan picks Earth, Wind & Fire on top.
• Jose in Connecticut: Explains why Chambliss went under the radar (few games as starter), then urges Giants fans not to see the world ending if Harbaugh isn’t hired: “There’s other good coaches... It’s not the end of the world, guys.” (42:31–43:35)
• The hosts agree: if the Giants “pivot” to Mike McCarthy, it isn’t a “complete fail,” given the similar resumes between McCarthy and Harbaugh.

Notable Quotes:

• Don (on coaching resumes): “Their resumes are almost equal. The only difference is McCarthy was in Green Bay and Dallas... Is the second place finish that far behind in McCarthy? I don’t think so.” (46:11–46:55)
• Alan (on fan expectations): “You want the best. You expect the best. We couldn’t get the best guy, so now we’ve got to settle for second best or even third best.” (45:27–45:48)

5. Tone and Memorable Moments

• Freewheeling Banter: The first 10 minutes establish the playful, honest camaraderie between the hosts, blending sports, pop culture, and personal gripes (including a persistent joke about chronic halitosis and offensive Febreze flavors).
• ‘Event Guy’ Riff: Peter’s self-identification as the kind of sports fan who “shows up for USMNT games but won’t watch MLS”—lampooned as “Bobo Soccer Guy.”
• Armageddon vs Deep Impact: Breezy debate on which disaster movie is better (Don prefers Armageddon, Alan and Peter joke about Deep Impact).

Key Timestamps

• 03:56: Alan “shot out of a cannon” on playoff Friday, describing the late-night Knicks grind.
• 06:23: Alan pitches the Jones Beach birthday gig; Peter’s "event guy" US Soccer excuse.
• 09:54: Peter suggests celebrating both birthdays at Toto & Christopher Cross; Don: “That’s way bigger than a Yacht Rock review.”
• 13:11: Dolphins hire John Eric Sullivan, not Ravens-connected candidate—Harbaugh-to-Miami threat lessens.
• 14:19: Discussion of what it might cost to hire Harbaugh—Don floats 5yrs/$100M.
• 16:29: Peter’s “Jazzy Jeff” analogy for fired coaches.
• 25:21: Speculation about the Giants’ sales pitch to Harbaugh and Joe Shane’s job security.
• 29:49: Alan on Chambliss’s NFL draft appeal: “there’s not a desperate NFL team out there that wouldn’t take him...”
• 33:44: Chambliss now 4th among QBs on Kuiper’s draft board (Mendoza, Moore, Simpson ahead).
• 39:03: First caller (Javier) lauds the hosts and asks about Yacht Rock.
• 42:31: Caller Jose in Connecticut on the Chambliss/Harbaugh topics.
• 46:11: Evaluation of McCarthy as a “second-place” coaching option.

Summary Takeaways

• The Harbaugh-to-Giants smoke may lead to real fire: with Miami seemingly out, the Giants have to pull out all the stops, but fans shouldn’t panic if they “only” land a McCarthy or Stefanski.
• The NFL quarterback draft picture is anything but settled—late risers like Trinidad Chambliss exemplify how quickly fortunes change, and the Jets’ flexibility is highlighted.
• The hosts’ dynamic blends sports insight with pop culture, self-deprecation, and New York attitude, making for a lively, unpredictable hour.

Notable Quotes Collection

• Don (13:57): “John Harbaugh is going to interview the Giants next week, not the other way around...”
• Alan (14:24): “You’re giving him a blank check... that’s what you’re doing, because that’s how desperate of a franchise you are.”
• Peter (16:41): “They’re throwing you out like Jazzy Jeff on Fresh Prince.”
• Don (19:10): “The line between ‘super expert’ and complete yo-yo who knows absolutely nothing—it feels very close when it comes to things like where’s the coach going?”
• Alan (45:27): “You want the best. You expect the best. We couldn’t get the best guy, so now we’ve got to settle for second best or even third best.”

For Giants and NFL fans, this hour offers a candid, informed, and at times hilarious look at the high-stakes coaching carousel, the unpredictability of the NFL draft, and classic New York radio energy.