Don, Hahn & Rosenberg — Hour 1: Same Old Giants & Kurt Warner

Original Air Date: September 8, 2025
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Guest: Kurt Warner

Episode Overview

This episode kicks off the NFL season by dissecting the disappointing New York Giants opener and drawing early contrasts with the Jets, who provided at least flashes of competent football despite also losing. The crew zeroes in on the Giants’ chronic inability to score touchdowns, the quarterback dilemma (Russell Wilson vs. rookie Jackson Dart), and coaching accountability as themes. Hall of Fame QB Kurt Warner joins to add Xs and Os insights and discuss the broader AFC quarterback landscape.

Main Discussion Themes

1. Giants’ Red Zone Dysfunction — “Same Old Giants” (00:53 – 17:36)

• Don La Greca voices exasperation after yet another Giants opener where they fail to score in the red zone, comparing it unfavorably to the prior years under Brian Daboll.
  • “It looked exactly the same as it’s done over and over... Can’t score in the red zone. Can’t score at all.” (00:53, Don)
• Giants’ offensive woes are dissected:
  • Repeated failures near the goal line (five chances inside the 2-yard line, no touchdown)
  • Offensive line issues, especially with Andrew Thomas out
  • Calls for Jackson Dart (rookie QB) resisted; consensus is not to ruin him behind a broken line

Notable Quotes:

• “Now it’s Russ is cooked.” (04:18, Alan Hahn, on Russell Wilson’s decline)

• “They could’ve started every drive at the 20 yard line and they would’ve never scored a touchdown.” (10:25, Don)

• “When your coach doesn’t know how to get it done... I’m just done. I’m done.” (11:46, Don)

• Coaches vs. Players: NFL is a coaches league; Don argues coaching, not personnel, is the systemic problem, repeatedly citing the failure to scheme effectively in the red zone.

  • Example: creative play-calling he sees from other teams, like the Jets or Steelers, starkly missing from the Giants.

Who Should Start at QB?

• Strong caution against putting Dart in too soon (“selfish decision” per Hahn, 04:18)
• Going to Dart only makes sense if/when team is out of contention and, ideally, after O-line is stabilized
• If wilson fails and team starts 0-4, expectation is pressure will mount for Dart to start, even if it’s not best for his development

2. Jets — “Functional Football!” (22:24 – End)

• In contrast, the Jets, while imperfect, resembled a real NFL team, scoring 32 points and controlling stretches of their game.
• The offense’s progress (especially the running game) is highlighted, though Alan Hahn is quick to note recurring discipline/self-inflicted errors (costly penalties, failed two-point conversions, a fumble, etc.)
  • “Excited is a little strong. Sometimes we’re so used to being bad that mediocre feels like excellent.” (41:01, Alan)
• Hahn notes “baby steps out of dysfunction into function.”
• Don says, “I watched the Jets... It was a football game. Jets: functional football. The Giants: wasn’t football.” (22:50, Don)

Notable Jets Discussion Points:

• Fifth most yards in the league, effective running attack (beating a tough Steelers D)
• Still: let a winnable game slip via mistakes and questionable decisions (quibble over two-point attempts and late-game execution)
  • “I won’t truly start to feel like this thing’s heading in the right direction until those stupid self-inflicted mistakes… are cleaned up.” (44:21, Alan)

Kurt Warner Interview (25:15 – 38:28)

Giants Breakdown

• Warner, a Brian Daboll proponent, says the film showed scheme failures, not just QB or O-line issues:
  • “There wasn’t a whole lot out there to be had for the quarterback... not many opportunities. Not a lot of guys open... disappointing because I expected it to look a lot better than it did.” (25:50, Kurt Warner)
• On whether to start rookie Jackson Dart amid bad O-line play:
  • “If you don’t want to put [the rookie] in there if the things around him aren’t ready to be successful… especially in the beginning of the season with tough games.” (28:40, Kurt)

On Justin Fields and the Jets Offense:

• “He’s an incredible playmaker... his ability to run... to make throws off schedule. But he’s got to get better at seeing and processing the game faster and playing on schedule.” (30:18, Kurt)

On Aaron Rodgers’ Revenge Win:

• “There was a part of Aaron… saying, ‘what happened in New York is not who I am’... I want to show the world I can still play.” (31:49, Kurt)

AFC Quarterbacks and Chiefs/Ravens/Bills:

• Chiefs’ “down” week was missing key WRs; expects improvement
• Raves about the Ravens: “Best roster in football… Lamar is special… Derrick Henry’s a beast.” (34:29, Kurt)
• On Buffalo: “Josh [Allen] is really good… but a lot of things had to go right for them to win – still, resilience and talent.” (37:25, Kurt)

Key Timestamps

• 00:53 — Don: “Did I wake in a vortex? Same old Giants… can't score in the red zone.”
• 04:14 — Giants’ failed goal-line attempts dissected.
• 10:25 — Don’s indictment of coaching, “couldn’t score if you started on the 20 every drive.”
• 15:23 — On Lions’ post-coordinator drop-off: “That’s coaching.”
• 17:36 — Major pushback on starting rookie QB before he’s protected
• 22:24 — Contrast: “Functional” Jets vs. “World League” Giants
• 25:15 — Kurt Warner interview begins
• 25:50 — Warner: “Not many opportunities; not a lot of guys open.”
• 27:52 — Warner: “You don’t want to put him in if things aren’t ready around him.”
• 30:18 — Warner praises Justin Fields (“incredible playmaker”) but says room to grow.
• 31:49 — Warner on Aaron Rodgers’ mindset vs. Jets
• 34:29 — Warner on AFC pecking order: Chiefs have flaws, Ravens “the best roster.”
• 41:01 — Hahn: “Excited is a little strong. Mediocre can feel like excellent when you’re used to dysfunction.”
• 44:21 — Hahn pushes for cleaning up Jets’ “self-inflicted mistakes.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Don’s despair:

  • “It looked exactly the same as it’s done over and over… Can’t score in the red zone. Can’t score at all.” (00:53)

• On Wilson:

  • “Let Russ cook? Now it’s Russ is cooked.” (04:18, Alan)

• On Coaching:

  • “This is why I think it’s coaching, guys.” (09:52, Don)
  • “When your coach doesn’t know how to get it done... I’m just done.” (11:46, Don)

• On Giants’ Offense:

  • “They could’ve started every drive at the 20 yard line and they would’ve never scored a touchdown.” (10:25, Don)

• On QB Patience:

  • “If anything’s going to come out of this season, it’s got to be that that kid’s the one. You put him out there now, you might ruin it.” (05:26, Alan)

• On the Jets:

  • “I watched the Jets… It was a football game. Jets: functional football. Giants: wasn’t football.” (22:50, Don)
  • “Excited is a little strong. Sometimes we’re so used to being bad that mediocre feels like excellent.” (41:01, Alan)

• Kurt Warner on Giants film:

  • “There wasn't a whole lot out there to be had for the quarterback... not many opportunities. There were not a lot of guys open.” (25:50)
  • “You don’t want to put [the rookie] in there if the things around him aren’t ready to be successful.” (28:40)

Tone and Style

• Candid, sometimes exasperated New York sports talk—plenty of emotional, no-nonsense commentary, with humor (Don’s “paper mache football” rant), witty one-liners, and robust debate
• Focused, but conversational; each host brings a distinct perspective—Don as the frustrated fan, Alan the (sometimes jaded) analyst, Peter as color and banter, Allen Bestwick chiming in as needed

Summary: For Listeners

If you missed the Giants opener hoping for a fresh start, the crew tells you not to bother: it was déjà vu. The show is a must-listen for anyone trying to understand why the Giants keep spinning their wheels (hint: “it’s coaching!”), why rookie hope should be protected, and whether the Jets’ flashes of competence are enough. Kurt Warner’s analysis elevates the QB debate. All delivered in that signature, sharp-tongued NY radio style.

In short: The Giants look stuck; the Jets show signs of life—but both remain far from where fans want them to be.