Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 1: Jets Turnaround?

ESPN New York with Don La Greca & Alan Hahn (Peter Rosenberg Off)
Date: December 1, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the state of New York sports, focusing heavily on the New York Jets' recent slight turnaround under new head coach Aaron Glenn. With Peter Rosenberg absent, Don La Greca and Alan Hahn analyze NFL parity, question whether Jets fans should feel optimistic, and discuss what real progress might look like for a long-downtrodden franchise. They also touch on the Giants’ quarterback situation, the NFL’s muddled hierarchy, and rumors swirling about Steelers coach Mike Tomlin.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. NFL “Parity” – Is It Really Good For the Game?

(00:46 – 07:08)

• Don’s Parity Rant:
  Don expresses discontent with claims that NFL parity (competitive balance) has improved the quality of the league, arguing most teams are “mediocre, very average,” rather than genuinely good.

  "We haven't been able to figure out good parity. All we really have is bad parity." (02:37, Don Hahn)

• Hahn’s Parity Stats:
  Alan notes, statistically, twelve teams are at least four games over .500 (05:07), tying a record since 2000, yet the league still feels unimpressive and lacks a dominant Super Bowl favorite.

• Memorable Moment:
  The panel reflects on the 2000 Giants-Ravens Super Bowl—a stark example of parity producing unmemorable championship games:

  "Was that a Super Bowl that you’re like, I’ll never forget the 2000 Super Bowl?" (05:52, Alan Hahn)

2. The Chicago Bears as NFC’s Top Seed – and What That Reveals

(07:08 – 09:03)

• Coaching Matters:
  Alan credits the Bears’ acquisition of top coordinator Ben Johnson for their surprising season and uses it as a lens to critique the Jets’ own coaching search.

• Rebuilding Models:
  They contrast the Jets’ and Giants’ coaching situations with those of the Bears, questioning if hiring the "hot coordinator" is a smarter move than recycling veteran coaches.

3. Jets' Incremental Progress Under Aaron Glenn

(09:03 – 25:44)

• Lukewarm Optimism:
  Despite a close win over Atlanta, Alan finds it hard to celebrate, feeling the season is too far gone and the win means little ("I watched the game end and I just like, all right, that's cool." 09:20). Don, however, argues why Jets fans should care:

  "The only way to move in the right direction is to win. ...I'm sorry, people, don’t pretend that you know football more than you actually do." (10:49, Don Hahn)

• Culture Over Draft Picks:
  Don strongly opposes "tanking" for a higher pick, claiming wins matter more for changing culture and attracting free agents.

  "You want to change your culture, you want to change the image of your team. It’s not about, Oh, playing well and losing games. It’s about winning games. And they are." (12:14, Don Hahn)

• Detroit Parallels:
  Alan draws comparisons to the Lions’ slow but steady progress under Dan Campbell and Aaron Glenn, suggesting the Jets could follow a similar path.

  "That 3-13-1 turned into 9-8 the next season… but you gotta remember that season started 1-6." (13:38, Alan Hahn)

• Player Motivation:
  The duo spotlights running back Breece Hall’s effort as proof players still care, pushing back against cynics who assume stars mentally check out in bad seasons.

  "Does Breece Hall look like a guy that's quit?... He wanted to get traded. He didn't get his contract. And yet I saw him on the sidelines devastated in Baltimore when he fumbled the game away." (16:32, Don Hahn)

4. Progress is Not a Guarantee—But It Matters

(21:17 – 25:44)

• Hahn’s Relationship Analogy:
  Alan likens the Jets’ incremental progress to “the courting stage” in a relationship—not the Super Bowl honeymoon, but first dates and baby steps that might, eventually, lead to something real (21:17).

• The Hope vs. Progress Debate:
  Alan confesses apathy from years of heartbreak (“Hope will drive a man insane” – 24:14), but Don pushes the need for even small steps forward:

  "Can you at least get a little bit—a little smile on your face? Can I see it? Like a smirk, something?" (24:13, Don Hahn)

5. Live Calls: What Does Progress Really Look Like for the Jets?

(30:34 – 39:33)

• Caller Charles (New Jersey) urges Alan and fans to “smell the roses” and appreciate even small wins as necessary for change.

  "I am, in fact, a Lions fan and I've been one my entire life. So I know what it feels like to be on that downward skid and eventually it does turn around. Well, I kind of got to embrace every moment." (30:34, Charles, caller)

• Other Fans Echo the Need for Patience:

  • “They have all the cap space in the world… a ridiculous amount of draft picks… and they have time.” (36:57, Mike, Caller)
  • Don notes, regardless of future moves, the two indispensable building blocks are a coach and a quarterback; these wins are about finding out if Aaron Glenn is the first piece.

6. The Mike Tomlin (Steelers) Rumor Mill—Should the Giants Pounce?

(43:46 – End)

• Steelers Fans Turning on Tomlin:
  For the first time, “Fire Tomlin” chants erupt in Pittsburgh. Don and Alan lay out the staggering reality: three coaches in 56 years; not a single Tomlin losing season.

• Would the Giants Jump?
  Both agree—if Tomlin becomes available (via mutually agreed exit, not firing), he’s the can't-miss target for the Giants as head coach.

  "If Tomlin's available, tell me who you would want above him that has that kind of a resume." (50:51, Don Hahn)

• Adam Schefter’s View:

  "If that were the case, [Tomlin] would be going away the number one head coaching candidate. ...He could do whatever he wants." (48:38, Adam Schefter, via Alan Hahn)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Don, on NFL Parity:

  “All we really have is bad parody.” (02:37)

• Don, on ‘good’ wins over tanking:

  “The only way to move in the right direction is to win…You root for them. They're working their ass off and they're playing for [Aaron Glenn].” (10:49–12:14)

• Alan, on progress vs hope:

  “Hope will drive a man insane. It's a dangerous thing.” (24:14)

• Don, on why incremental steps matter:

  “It's small little increments of success, Alan. Nothing to get excited about, but you're stepping forward.” (23:58)

• Alan, on coaching searches:

  “If Tomlin's available, tell me who you would want above him that has that kind of a resume.” (50:51)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• NFL Parity Critique: 00:46 – 07:08
• Bears' Coaching Success: 07:08 – 09:03
• Jets Mini-Turnaround & Meaning: 09:03 – 13:38
• Lessons from Detroit’s Rebuild: 13:38 – 17:02
• Player Engagement & Team Culture: 16:32 – 18:40
• Progress, Hope & Relationship Analogy: 21:17 – 25:44
• Live Callers on Jets’ Progress: 30:34 – 39:33
• Steelers/Tomlin to Giants Speculation: 43:46 – End

Overall Tone & Flow

• The banter is sharp, honest, with trademark New York straight-talk and a bit of dry humor. Don is somewhat more optimistic (but realistic), while Alan’s skepticism (grounded in years of fan suffering) keeps the optimism grounded. The tone is neither effusively positive nor overly negative—it's the mindset of battle-worn New York sports followers searching for real, sustainable progress.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode:

• Expect a candid, nuanced exploration of what small steps mean for a rebuilding franchise—and a plea not to let apathy or tanking mindsets dominate the narrative.
• The discussion upends simple narratives (“just lose for picks!”), exploring how culture, coaching, and attitude set up for more meaningful long-term change.
• If you’re a Giants fan, the Tomlin rumor discussion is must-hear.
• Great episode for fans who want to understand why incremental culture shifts—and not just big moves—matter so much for struggling teams.