Hour 1: Schoen Stays & Seth Rollins

Summary

Podcast Summary – Don, Hahn & Rosenberg

Hour 1: Schoen Stays & Seth Rollins
Date: January 5, 2026
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Special Guest: WWE Superstar Seth Rollins

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Overview

The episode revolves around two main themes:

1. The ongoing instability and discussion around the New York Giants’ decision to retain General Manager Joe Schoen, with a particular focus on franchise ownership health concerns and the resulting organization dynamics.
2. An in-depth conversation with WWE Superstar Seth Rollins about his career, family, wrestling's evolving exposure, and his experience as a devoted Chicago Bears fan.

Throughout, the hosts maintain their trademark New York banter, offering sharp and humorous insights on sports drama, leadership personalities, and the cross-pollination of pop culture and athleticism.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Giants’ Leadership Crisis: Joe Schoen’s Retention

• Initial Reactions and Context ([03:20]–[09:16])

  • Don opens by explaining the Giants’ decision to keep Joe Schoen as GM, arguing that while there are valid opinions on both sides, recent dysfunction clouds everything:

    “You could really make the case either way, honestly ... If he deserves the job, then keep it. If he needs to be fired, get fired. What I don't like about it is twofold, guys: I want to punch the screen when I hear about continuity.” — Don ([03:20])

  • Skepticism over “continuity” when performance has been poor:

    “If the continuity sucks, you change it.” — Don ([03:54])

• Impact of John Mara’s Illness ([04:49]–[07:28])

  • The group discusses widespread speculation about owner John Mara’s health (unspecified cancer), how it has thrown operations into flux, and why retaining Schoen appears less about football than organizational stability:

    “...you saw John Mara get the game ball and you could see he’s not well ... maybe if John was well, they would make the change. But right now, how do I let him go when I've got an owner that may not be around very much longer?” — Don ([05:28])

  • Alan highlights how, in such situations, business decisions are often secondary:

    “There are things that are more important than football decisions.” — Alan ([06:44])

• Tanking vs. Pride and Growth ([07:28]–[09:16])

  • Don objects to the notion that the Giants should have tanked for draft position, instead taking pride in their win over the Cowboys and believing in quarterback Dart’s development:

    “I love the fact the Giants beat the Cowboys. They've got their quarterback. I love the fact that Dart threw two touchdown passes on third down. I still think there's value to him growing as a quarterback.” — Don ([08:46])

• Chaos and Dysfunction in the Giants’ Organization ([09:16]–[15:55])

  • Peter points out that, despite Schoen’s title, the organizational leader should be the head coach—a position the Giants have mishandled since Tom Coughlin.
  • The hosts debate whether keeping Schoen is a symptom of chaos or a bandaid in uncertain times:

    “There just aren’t a lot of football people in the room right now.” — Don ([15:42])

  • A recurring theme: The Giants aren’t truly choosing a coach—they’re effectively hoping a quality candidate chooses them.

Quotes on Giants Dysfunction:

• Alan:

  “Feel free to be gentle with the Giants on this day ... while also hammering that besides, there may be justification for the lack of change right now ... That doesn't justify the garbage they've been for the last decade.” ([22:48])

• Peter (On head coach hiring):

  “We gotta stop thinking about it in the old way of, like, Joe Schoen’s in charge and he's going to choose the coach. I think they're hoping that the right coach chooses them.” ([10:46])

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2. Callers Respond: Frustration with Giants

• Callers echo growing fatigue with the franchise's leadership void:

  “It's an inexcusable way to run a franchise. It's organizational malpractice, you guys like to say.” — Brett, caller ([20:08])

• Don acknowledges organizational vulnerability but maintains sympathy for Mara’s situation.

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3. Seth Rollins Interview: WWE, Family, and Football

(Begins [24:51]; Wrestling/Behind-the-Scenes Insights at [25:16]; Bears Talk at [33:28])

WWE Unreal and Wrestling’s “Curtain Lifting”

• Rollins discusses the new WWE Netflix docuseries “Unreal,” wrestling’s delicate balance between openness and magic, and the challenge of being real while maintaining mystique:

  “WWE has always been super top secret… this just rips the curtain all the way back. And again, I'm with you, Pete… I resisted. …there are some things that I want to protect and that I will protect. And if you cross those lines, we're going to have problems. But there are things that I'm okay with sharing.” — Seth ([26:16], [26:56])

• On family exposure:

  “This show is going to make my daughter a star. 5 year old Ru is all over this thing… she’s a star. So she's going to steal the show.” — Seth ([27:10])

The Magic of Wrestling Kayfabe

• On the importance of protecting the narrative:

  “I really want to protect my story. …I'm trying to provide a life for my daughter and the way I do that is by making money. And the way I make money is to make people care about my fights.” — Seth ([29:55])

Parenting, Fame & Identity

• Parenting perspective:

  “What’s the one thing she doesn't get is that not everybody's parents are in video games. Not everybody's parents have little dolls that look like them. That—that's weird to her.” — Seth ([30:21])

Locker Room Stories: Keeping a Secret Return

• Alan recalls Rollins’ successful effort to keep a surprise appearance secret—even to his friends and colleagues:

  “I saw him come in a restaurant with like, eight people there with crutches… No part of me thought there was a chance...” — Alan ([31:22]) “The magic now for us is being able to just, just plant that seed of doubt…” — Seth ([32:44])

Crossover: Athletes and Wrestling Personas

• Rollins comments on how sports at large now reflect wrestling’s showmanship:

  “Go back to Muhammad Ali. …He used to watch Gorgeous George promos, and that's where he got all the pomp and circumstance. He understood that's how you promote anything.” — Seth ([44:33]) “Now, you know, I'm hosting Good Morning Football on the NFL Network. And I get a chance to kind of bring that to that world.” — Seth ([45:44])

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4. The Chicago Bears: Optimism, Pain, and Playoff Preview

• Rollins, a die-hard Bears fan, shares his exuberance for the team’s prospects:

  “For the first time… I'm like, we've got it, right? We've got a coach, and we've got a quarterback… I've never felt that way.” — Seth ([33:49])

• Conversation highlights the pain and cyclical nature of sports fandom, especially with comparisons to Giants/Jets fans.
• Playoff preview: Bears vs Packers, emotional investment, and Chicago’s football culture ([47:42]–[50:59]).

  “I would love to be drunk on the field after the game in Santa Clara in February.” — Seth ([47:38]) “It's a hell of a stage… it feels like football. I love it there.” — Seth on Soldier Field ([49:50])

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Don (continuity skepticism):

  “Continuity is like a drug addict. Listen, I could kick drugs, but I do it every day. I want, I want the consistency...” ([03:54])

• Alan (Giants instability):

  “There are things that are more important than football decisions.” ([06:44])

• Peter (Giants’ real leadership):

  “The Giants need a stable leader in the organization, and that is usually the head coach.” ([09:16])

• Seth Rollins (on fan expectation):

  “Seth Rollins is Colby Lopez is Seth Rollins. Like, they're all the same thing. …there’s a different type of fandom that comes along with it.” ([28:40])

• Seth Rollins (on Bears fandom):

  “You could put the level of joy the Bears have brought me this year at an 11, a 12—we're off the charts at this point.” ([33:49])

• Peter Rosenberg (NFL playoffs):

  “We fought, Don. You and I got what we wanted. Parity is sort of dead. This year’s wide open now… every single team is flawed.” ([16:22])

• Seth Rollins (sports/wrestling crossover):

  “All of us… are trained salesmen. …Whether it's a grassroots level or on a big stage. …From Ali to McGregor, they're going to promote themselves, they're going to promote their sport, and they're going to promote their conflict.” ([44:33], [45:44])

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:19 – Don catches up, jokes about dodging illness, show schedule.
• 03:20 – Discussion begins on the Giants' decision to retain Joe Schoen as GM.
• 04:49 – The impact of John Mara’s health, continuity, and uncertainty.
• 07:28 – Why tanking wasn’t plausible and Dart’s development.
• 09:16 – Critical analysis of Giants’ chaotic leadership.
• 24:51 – Seth Rollins joins the show, WWE Unreal and behind-the-scenes wrestling.
• 33:28 – Deep dive into Seth’s Chicago Bears fandom, football talk.
• 44:33 – Sports “promo” culture and the influence of wrestling on modern athletes.
• 47:42 – Bears-Packers playoff discussion and Soldier Field’s aura.

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Tone & Style

• New York sports radio energy—irreverent, self-aware, at times caustic, but affectionate toward their teams and guest.
• Mix of analytical discussion, storytelling, and outright comedic moments.
• The interview with Seth Rollins is candid, energetic, blending pop culture and sports commentary seamlessly.

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For Listeners

This episode offers a nuanced look at what happens when real-life health and legacy issues disrupt a foundational sports franchise, with panelists who’ve seen it all and aren’t shy about asking the tough questions.
The segment with Seth Rollins is a must for WWE fans and general sports enthusiasts alike, tearing down (and then re-raising) the “curtain” on wrestling, and showing how athlete personas dominate modern sports storytelling.
Plenty here for both hard-core New York sports loyalists and anyone fascinated by the intersection of sports, entertainment, and personality.

Transcript

[Don Hahn]

Don cool, man.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Han Don holding his hammer.

[Podcast Announcer]

And Rosenberg rappug.

[Alan Hahn]

Don doesn't hold a candle to that pumpkin pie haircutting freak. This isn't North Dakota, this is New York.

[Podcast Announcer]

This is Don, Han and Rosenberg.

[Caller]

The best threesome I've ever heard on.

[Podcast Announcer]

ESPN New York and streaming live on YouTube.

[Don Hahn]

3 o' clock in the big city. Don Hahn in Rosenberg with you until 6:30. Then we got Knicks basketball on 880. We've got Rangers hockey on 1050. I dodged it. I shucking jive, man. The kids were sick. My wife was sick all Christmas.

[Alan Hahn]

Not you though.

[Don Hahn]

And I'm like, man, the gods are smiling upon me. I'm able to do all these games. I'm traveling. Yep. Columbus, Toronto. I'm. I'm good. Yep, good. Yep. Until you're not good.

[Alan Hahn]

No, but it's not too bad. I got one quickie.

[Don Hahn]

No, shut up.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Too soon.

[Don Hahn]

I'm talking.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

So we'll see if I can sustain. I'm going to give it a try. Got through the game, back to back game. So it was tough. But you know what? It's first world problem. You can understand what I'm saying. You can hear me. You can hear what's coming out of my lungs. Happy New Year, everyone.

[Alan Hahn]

Did you, did you see, Alan? Did you see what happened? The unfortunate incident that happened?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Luke Hughes scoring twice in his own net yesterday. No. Oh, not that.

[Alan Hahn]

No, I did see that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He made Gracie cry.

[Alan Hahn]

Have a conversation that happened.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, because she loves the Hughes brothers and when they have moments like that, it hurts her.

[Don Hahn]

Made Danico cry. But what happened? I know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Luke cried too.

[Alan Hahn]

I can't. We. I asked Don earlier when Anthony gave me my reads. Yeah, I said, I said, you guys just want me to take the helm here because we got Seth Rollins coming on the show at 3:30 anyway. And generally when we have, you know, like whoever has like the most direct interest in a guest will usually lead the interviews and things like that. So Don goes, sure. And now Anthony goes, sure, sure. So you guys are still out there. Alan and I came in here and I sat down at the big boy seat where the leader usually sits.

[Peter Rosenberg]

See, I did that one day and he didn't like it. You could see it.

[Don Hahn]

It's very symbolic.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He doesn't like when someone else sits there.

[Alan Hahn]

He came right in and goes, yeah, yeah, you know what? I changed my mind. And then. And you could hear his voice is still. Kind of needs a little. Kind of needs to rest it a bit. But his ego said no, Rosenberg, you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Know What I heard back out of here, I heard, go get your shine box.

[Alan Hahn]

It was a big shine box.

[Don Hahn]

Listen, if that's the way he took it, then that's the way he took it.

[Alan Hahn]

I went home and got my shine box.

[Seth Rollins]

I'm not worried about it.

[Don Hahn]

I was not trying to disrespect you. I just, when I was making my tea, I said, you know what, it's a Giants day. Shane's coming back. And I'm like, you know what, I just want to, I want to run point to start the show. I'm the giant guy in the room.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know, it's fair.

[Alan Hahn]

It's just the way it happened though. I think Anthony would agree it was a tough moment. Like it was a back to the.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Bench, you know, tough moment. Tough moment, Ant. This one's had those.

[Don Hahn]

The role of Alan Hahn will be played by Peter Rosenberg today. I thought it was like so Alan Hahn of you. Thank you.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, I spent a lot of time with him. It was like they were like, hey Peter, you want to be captain today? And I went, really? Yeah. Call. It's toss is yours, man? Heads or tails? All you, buddy. And I started running out to the field and as my foot got on the grass, someone just pulled on my jersey. On second thought, back to the back, buddy.

[Don Hahn]

We're going to.

[Alan Hahn]

I got, I'm going to go ahead and be the captain here, but guess what? For better, for worse, it is a Giants day. It certainly isn't a Jets day.

[Don Hahn]

Well, listen, there's a lot of angles to throw at this, but in case you're just joining us or haven't heard, Joe Shane's been retained. Nobody should be surprised by this. Nope, the writing was on the wall for a long time. You could really make the case either way, honestly, because you could say, well, listen, they're 22 and 45 and one with him as the general manager, another embarrassing season. He's got to go. And I think you would have a very good case if you were going to look at the other side of it and say, well, you know, there is some talent here. Traded back into the first round to get Jackson dart. Carter did come on the second half of the season, went out and drafted a young running back late in the draft and he had back to back 1000 yard seasons neighbors. And you can make the case there too. What I don't like about it is twofold, guys. I want to, I want to punch the screen when I hear about continuity. Oh, you want to try to maintain continuity. But if the Continuity sucks, you change it. I don't care what happened before. You don't keep a job because, oh, I just don't want to make changes. I want to keep continuity. It's like a drug addict. Listen, I could kick drugs, but I do it every day. I want, I want the consistency, you know, by the way, I want to be able to keep that in mind. I don't want to have to.

[Alan Hahn]

That is how people get off drugs quite a bit.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, I so want to be consistent.

[Don Hahn]

Stay on, you know, like, I just like the continuity of the Yale every morning, you know, So I find it's ridiculous if he, if he deserves the job, then keep it. If he needs to be fired, get fired. I'm still waiting for the contract extension. Where's the contract extension? Everybody's saying he's coming back. He's in the last year of his deal. Alan, how are you supposed to find a coach? How are you supposed to build a team if you don't have a contract extension? So we'll wait and see how it all pans out here. But here's the scary, scary thing. And that's why I wanted to take the reins on this. Peter, go ahead. You saw John Marek at the game ball and you could see he's not well. And you see guys like, you know, Pat Leonard, saw Ralph Aquiano, some of the people that cover the Giants that are in the know with tweets and articles yesterday basically saying appreciate this man and what John Mara is going through. I could be wrong, but I kind of took it as, you know, appreciate the man because the next time we see each other, maybe he's not here like it could. We don't know. And I pray to God I'm wrong, but it doesn't sound great. He didn't look great. He's obviously going through treatment. He's a 70 year old man and has cancer. We don't know what kind of cancer, but he has been traveling.

[Alan Hahn]

They haven't shared anything beyond the fact that he's sick.

[Don Hahn]

And even the statement today didn't include him. He spoke last year when he decided that Dable and Shane were going to say he did not speak. So it sounds to me guys like Joe Shane's keeping this job for the continuity of he's the adult in the room, he's the football guy in the room and that maybe if John was well, they would make the change. But right now, how do I let him at general manager go, Peter, when I've got an owner that may not be around very much longer. It's all in flux. Who's in charge. I might not be able to find somebody who's gonna want a job not knowing who they're gonna be answering to. So I. Before you criticize and rip and tear apart, let's understand that this might be happening because of what's John is going through.

[Alan Hahn]

And I hate to be. I hate to be the person who, in a time of something very serious about someone who matters a lot to a lot of people would bring up themselves. But I do recall it was me on this same program as much as two months ago or more, saying, don't be shocked if they barely do anything here because of exactly that. There are things that are more important than football decisions. And the fact of the matter is when you don't know. And I would love if the Giants put out a statement and they told us no. In fact, he doesn't look great, but he's going through it and we think that he's going to be all right. That would be amazing. But since we don't know anything, you are forced to maybe assume that the primary issue here is making sure John is okay. And that's all they can worry about.

[Don Hahn]

And I was listening to Michael and I was listening to the morning show with Dave and Rick. You know, Giants beat the Raiders. They beat the Cowboys. They're now going to pick fifth. They had the whole NFL by the, you know, what, first overall pick in the draft and all that. How. First of all, we weren't on the air. The three of us could have beat the Raiders that day. All right, so there was no tanking against the Raider. Raiders stink. All right?

[Alan Hahn]

You couldn't even try to. You could try to tank all you want.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, and they're going to out tank you. Right? It was a mess. And I still see value in dart playing. You can't look veterans in the face and say we're going to start Russell Wilson against the Dallas Cowboys. It just doesn't work that way.

[Alan Hahn]

But whatever.

[Don Hahn]

I'm not going to argue about tanking, but when I saw them give him the game ball, Allen, I said to my. And Mara has been on record saying he would fire anybody. The tank. He does not believe in tank. You wonder if that victory last night was for John. And as much as you hate not having the first overall pick, does that make it worth it? I don't want to be overly dramatic, but you know how I feel about tanking. I hate the Dallas Cowboys. I love the fact the Giants beat the Cowboys. They've got their quarterback. I love the fact that Dart threw two touchdown passes on third down. I still think there's value to him growing as a quarterback. And sitting him for Russell Wilson, to me, would make me sick. And I don't know if anybody's going to be clamoring to give me a Herschel Walker deal for, you know, Mendoza in the first overall pick in the draft.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That.

[Don Hahn]

But I just think as we line up the calls at 1-800-919-3776, and we rip apart the Giants for another miserable season, we rip John Mara for keeping Shane and the complete dysfunction that completely and totally exists with this franchise. I just have a feeling that his illness is 100% the reason why Joe Shane still has a job.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, I'm sure there's a lot there. Right. When you talk about the continuity part of it, they're going to have help at doing this search. But also, can I just. I mean, can we also acknowledge something, too? The Giants need a stable leader in the organization, and that is usually the head coach. Like, we. We got to stop making Joe Shane out to be the leader of the organization. He is not. He's an employee. He. He runs the front office. And the family, as we know, is involved in the front office. So there's enough influence there from the family that they know what's going on behind the scenes. But you still have to find somebody that will be the face of the franchise. When it comes to the head coach at the podium every day talking and, you know, we always talk about how much they've missed Tom Coughlin since he's gone. Right. So while, like, guys like Jesse Minter, who's supposed to be, like, the next mentor, is supposed to be the next. The next big, hot, you know, coordinator that everybody wants to hire as a head coach. And I don't know if a guy in 42 years old is the right guy to bring him. I think you got to bring an experienced guy. And so whether it's Joe Shane, not that he's interviewing to see if I like you or not, I think it's more like we're making a presentation to see if we can get somebody to like us and want this. Don't you agree?

[Don Hahn]

Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like, we got to stop thinking about it in the old way of, like, Joe Shane's in charge and he's going to choose the coach. I think they're hoping that the right coach chooses them.

[Don Hahn]

That's what this is about. And I wonder, too, Alan, since there has been no word and he's got.

[Peter Rosenberg]

To sell the franchise. This is all the things we have. This is what we've done. This is. This is what we're doing in scouting. This is what we're planning on doing. Here's our roster. Here's our cap situation. Do you think that we. That you could come here and get us on track? They just need to get a coach. Brian Dable knows football, but he can't handle people. And he was too emotional to be in charge of everyone. He took. He had grudges. He always took things personal. He had a problem with being a leader. They've got to find somebody that is a smart football guy that also can handle being the leader and not take things personal, not be emotional. That's why I personally like the minute Kevin Stefanski was fired by the Browns. That guy is exactly the guy you need. Six years experience, two time coach of the year, has lived through some epic losing, has coached for an abomination of a franchise. Like, you don't think that guy can deal with a mess on a daily basis. He won't be overwhelmed. But when he's got talent, he showed you that he actually can. They can have success.

[Don Hahn]

And Ian o' Connor has said that he's got the inside track.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Makes sense.

[Don Hahn]

Definitely somebody that has a pulse on it. You were talking about having a big boy in the room. This is what Darius Slayton said on who he'd like to see be the next head coach.

[Darius Slayton]

Somebody, you know, that's Tom Coughlin esque. I feel like, you know, he brought a lot of things, his organization. I think it's. It's no mistake. Why he won when he was here was his personality and the way he went about his business. And I think it takes a certain type of person to be a head.

[Seth Rollins]

Coach in New York.

[Darius Slayton]

It's a tough job, you know, obviously comes with a lot of scrutiny, but, you know, I think you need to have a certain disposition to get the job done effectively. You know, I feel like he probably embodies a lot of the qualities that.

[Seth Rollins]

You know, we require now we Slayton.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Around for TC has he been here that long? How would he know?

[Don Hahn]

I think he did catch the tail end. I got to take a look at. Look that up for me. Anthony Quick.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

When his first year ahead of me might have crossed over.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's pretty remarkable.

[Don Hahn]

I'm just going back, doing the math. Right. So this was four years of Dable. So that. 20. Yeah, 20, 19. So, no, he would not have gotten Coughlin, but he probably saw you Know, or he talks to people about. Right. Coughlinski that, you know, I don't know. When Tom Coughlin got here, he had gone to back. He gone to championship games twice with Jacksonville, had some big college years in Boston College. And then of course, he won super bowl with the Giants as a wide receiver coach, but not as a head coach. But that's, you know, that's what we're talking about is just trying to bring in.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right. But I just wanted to. What I want to make clear is that we. We've got to stop looking at Joe Shane in the prism of he's going to choose a coach. I think he's a representative of the franchise in meeting coaches to see what. What. Who is going to be interested in what we do and who can. Who thinks that they could help turn this around. And then we see, like, who has the best plan that fits what we're doing and then you go from there. This is not what you think. This is not a typical way to hire a coach. They're looking for somebody to take control of the French.

[Don Hahn]

And is it possible, even though he is leading the charge and I heard Michael talk about this in the open when I was driving here about, well, obviously Shane's not going to interview somebody that is going to relieve him of his duties. Right. But the reason I brought up no contract extension is that is it possible that you're going to help the search, but if we find somebody that doesn't want you, then you might be gone.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, but that guy doesn't exist.

[Don Hahn]

I don't. Probably not. But just in case, all of a sudden, you know, they decide to go to somebody who says, I love this job.

[Alan Hahn]

I could take this job.

[Don Hahn]

But I. Joe Shane. That doesn't seem like, well, what happens there.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So, so, like, John Harbaugh suddenly becomes available.

[Don Hahn]

He could.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And then he just is like, if I'm coming, I'm bringing my people. And then you say, all right, fine.

[Don Hahn]

Like, is that in Jacksonville?

[Peter Rosenberg]

It would take. I think so, yeah. It would take something significant to make that kind of move happen. But I just.

[Don Hahn]

I don't.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't. Well, maybe that's. Maybe that's just how they view this off season, though, is it's. It's unlikely we're going to find the person that is the future of this franchise. We have a lot of stuff going on, so we're going to keep Shane if the right thing comes along. Sorry, Shane's actually out. But it happens. We changed our mind. And I think that's all they can kind of do right now.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I just feel like we had this conversation.

[Don Hahn]

I don't know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We have 12 months ago. It feels like we just keep doing.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. But now there's that lack of stability because of John's health. And you just wonder if Shane is just coming back because they just don't want to add more chaos to the situation. Yeah, I agree. So that's why I'm, that's why I wanted to open the show with it. Guys. Obviously it's the biggest story of the day, but just file that in the back of your mind. I'm not telling you not to rip the Giants. They deserve to be ripped.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, yeah.

[Don Hahn]

But I'm just wondering when you add to all the dysfunction, is bringing Joe Shane an act of that dysfunction or is it an act of. We don't have many football people in the room right now.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

John's going through it. That. And we all hope he comes out on the other side. But you know, he's in. He's in his 70s. It's. It's not. It's not a great situation. For sure. 1-800-919-3776. Seth Rollins is going to be in studio coming up next. He's a huge football fan. What a time to be a Bears fan. What a time to be a football fan. If you're not in New York. So we'll talk to him.

[Alan Hahn]

Isn't it crazy too. And we'll save this for the next segment because we want to talk to the people now. But the Giants. But it's such an interesting playoff. We fought, Don. You and I got what we wanted. Parody is sort of dead. This year's wide open now. We still have the ego. I know. We know Alan loves greatness. He just wanted. He just was. No, he was just waiting for the Chiefs to run through everything again. He doesn't want to see anyone do an exciting pompo.

[Don Hahn]

But I would like somebody to emerge.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's why give me somebody good. Because right now every single team is flawed.

[Don Hahn]

I don't love seeing an 8, 9 team back into a division title.

[Alan Hahn]

Don. Oh, please. Let's not pretend like it wasn't the NFC south to. That's what they are. The 8, 9 division. They invented it.

[Don Hahn]

Let's rename the NFC South. We're known the kids.

[Alan Hahn]

The AFC south has done their share too.

[Don Hahn]

But, but the. This year the NFC south is Thursday Night Football.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, yeah.

[Don Hahn]

That's how we describe the league.

[Alan Hahn]

Should just be the division should be called Thursday. Thursday. No, it Listen, that is Saturday afternoon.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Of Thursday Night Football.

[Alan Hahn]

That is Repug. And I could argue there. There shouldn't be as disgusted a fan base in football as the Tampa Bay Bucks fan baseball. They should be that they handed that division away this year. Granted, I know they had injuries, etc. But I don't know. I'm excited to talk playoffs because there's so much. There's so many different random teams involved. I'm very excited about it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, we'll find out in the super bowl when the trophy's raised, right? Anytime the trophy is raised, it can feel like the season's over. But on the ESPN app, it never really is. Because with more than 47,000 live events, plus originals, highlights and coverage from every corner of the sports world, there's always something to dive into. From College Football Playoff to all NBA action. No off season, just everything a fan needs to keep going. All in season. Get all of ESPN all in one place. Download the ESPN app on your TV or phone today.

[Don Hahn]

All right, let's get to the busy phones. Peter and Bayonne gets us started here on Don Han and Rosenberg. How are you?

[Caller]

Hey, guys, how are you?

[Don Hahn]

What's up, man?

[Caller]

Happy New Year. Wish you all the break. I just want to just go on.

[Alan Hahn]

Your point now, Don, regarding, you know.

[Caller]

Have an extra year with Joe Shane and, and just specific on that. So I was trying to say it's like, you know, like, like, like, like Aaron Glenn. Why are we giving these coaches five year contracts, like these massive contracts, so they could just, you know, like you're just giving them like a golden parachute. Let them earn it. Like, like, why not give someone, a rising star, a two year contract? Give it to me.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Prove it.

[Caller]

Because it's just like money being spent.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You want to tell them, well, Peter, there's an easy answer to that because no agent would ever let his client take a job, especially at a place that has done nothing but lose for years, and not have some security in the job so that they have some time to get it right. That's a, that's just a reality that you wouldn't be able to hire anybody that has any, any ability.

[Don Hahn]

And Peter, you're going to give him an extension not because you feel he earned it, but if you're bringing him back, you can't have him be a lame duck general manager. How are you supposed to find a head coach? How are you supposed to hire free agents when they're going to ask you who's going to be the general manager in 2026 and 20, 27 and beyond. And why do you think the jets gave a five year contract to Aaron Glenn? Because he probably wouldn't have taken anything else. He wouldn't have taken a job.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He was told, asked for five years because look at that place. They turn over so much, they're a mess. That takes a couple of years to fix.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And that's why you want that five year deal. So you get exactly best four of those years.

[Don Hahn]

That's it. And that's why they didn't have any competition for Iron Glenn, nobody else ringing his belt.

[Alan Hahn]

That is true.

[Don Hahn]

He wasn't going to take the job unless. We'll get to the jets in a little bit. Brett in East Hanover. You're on espn, New York.

[Caller]

Hey, Don. Hope all's well. I don't think you guys are giving the Giants enough credit for how dysfunctional the decision they're making is. I'm trying to do this without being disrespectful. Health always is first and foremost, and I say that somebody who lost their mother to cancer. But to have your organization in a position where you cannot make any decisions if one man is out of the office. It's an inexcusable way to run a franchise. It's organizational malpractice, you guys like to say.

[Don Hahn]

And then that Marrow wanted, when he. When. When they sold half of the franchise, that they still handled the football operations. Brett, I'm not defending it. I'm just trying to be sensitive to the situation. But I think that's why Shane is back. But you're 100% what we have Jordan Ron on a couple of weeks ago say that we're not sure what the plan is. They've got to file something to the league on what the plan is if John were to pass away. So there must be some sort of a plan, Brett, that we're not privy to. But you're right. It doesn't look good that they're forced maybe to keep a general manager because of this. You're 100% right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What are they supposed to do?

[Don Hahn]

What do you do with this?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like what? Like if there's another way to do it. What would that be?

[Caller]

I don't know. All I know is I'm 25 years old. I've been watching garbage football all my life. I'm not going anywhere. But like, they. They've killed me. I don't care anymore.

[Seth Rollins]

I don't care who they hire.

[Caller]

I don't care who they draft. I don't care what they do.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wait, wait.

[Seth Rollins]

How does it matter?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wait a second.

[Seth Rollins]

Matter?

[Peter Rosenberg]

They don't have the.

[Caller]

They don't have the organization in place.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're 25. You said so.

[Alan Hahn]

You were a conscious fan when you were a kid.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It was the glory years for you, right?

[Caller]

I was 7 and 12 years old. I was barely old enough to appreciate it.

[Alan Hahn]

How about. How about this, buddy? How about this, buddy? I was your age when my Redskins won two Super Bowls.

[Don Hahn]

12.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm 46, pal. We ain't sniffed it since. You're doing all right.

[Don Hahn]

I get the seven.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I feel your pain. I understand you're frustrated. But I also, again and again, everybody has the right to be pissed off right now. Because it's unacceptable, right? It is. It should be. But again, what Don explained when it comes to the owner, whose family has owned this team since day one, is what do you do? Do you then fire everyone and have a independent company come in and help you find your next leadership? The jets have done that for the last 10 years. How's that worked out?

[Alan Hahn]

Can we agree on this, though? Maybe Brett, the caller will feel we can agree on this. Maybe because we're being kind to John Mara.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Who deserves to hammer the.

[Alan Hahn]

No, no, who deserves it? Maybe because we're being kind, he feels like we're separating these two things. In other words, feel free to be gentle with the Giants on this day when we're clearly aware that things are not great on this day, while also hammering that besides, there may be justification for the lack of change right now because of what's going on. That doesn't justify the garbage they've been for the last decade.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, it doesn't.

[Alan Hahn]

That's two separate things, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right now situation is a right now situation. But it has nothing to do with what has led to this. But you have to understand that the right now situation is going this way. And if you can come up with a better way to do it, tell me. And by the way, get his mic some Cialis.

[Don Hahn]

It would be nice if you had a plan B. Nevermind cancer. You look what happened to the Biffle family a few weeks ago. Like things happen, there has to be some sort of other plan. But I do think that these circumstances are definitely something to at least bring into the conversation when you're debating exactly why Joe Shane is coming back.

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[Podcast Announcer]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg Podcast.

[Alan Hahn]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Podcast Announcer]

Catch this show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, that. This music has provided great joy to mine and many other lives.

[Don Hahn]

Don Han and Pipsqueak, Pipsqueak Pete.

[Alan Hahn]

We'll get to that in a moment. We'll get to that in a moment.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We have a new nickname, everyone. Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, well, we'll get to that. But you won't. You will not hear this music, sadly, tonight at the Barkley center at Monday Night Raw because the rightful man on the throne, Seth freakin Rollins, is still on the shelf. But Monday Night Raw at the Barkley center tonight, Unreal is back on January 20th on Netflix, and Seth is here with us right now. Seth, are you and Becky, like, a big part of the new Unreal?

[Seth Rollins]

Yeah, I think so. I mean, it's an ensemble cast, as it is with WWE, but I think both of our stories from WrestleMania to SummerSlam, I believe, seem to be major parts. I haven't seen any of it. You know, they don't, like, let us see any of it at all. So all I've seen is the preview that came out, I think today or whatever, and maybe some additional footage or clips that they've put online, but that's it. But yeah, I think. I think we're in. I mean, we did interviews and there were cameras and microphones.

[Alan Hahn]

Is it any different? You guys are already around cameras all the time. How much more does it put, like, cameras around you? And for people who haven't seen it before, Unreal is a show that I have mixed feelings about, as all hardcore wrestling fans do, but I do really enjoy it. And if you're curious to see the inner workings of this insane business called the wrestling business, Unreal season one is already up on Netflix and season two is coming. It's a behind the scenes of the whole thing. It's. It's lifting up the curtain more than we've ever seen in the history of pro wrestling. Yes. So how much are they around you? Like, do they, do they go home with you guys? The whole nine?

[Seth Rollins]

Yeah, it's like, it's like Hard Knocks for wwe. So, like, if you love the ins and outs of training camp and in season, Hard Knocks or whatever, it's just like that for wwe. I mean, but I'd say even more detail because WWE has always been super top secret before professional wrestling in general, very much, you know, kayfabe, protector of secrets, all that sort of stuff. And so, yeah, this, this just rips the curtain all the way back. And again, I'm with you, Pete. I'm like super uncomfortable with it to the point where, like, I resisted. I didn't want anything to do with the first season. I'm like, keep me out of it. Don't put me in it. I didn't want to do anything in the second season. But they asked, they asked, they asked and I said, look, here's. There are some things that I want to protect and that I will protect. And if you cross those lines, we're going to have problems. But there are things that I'm okay with sharing. So if you want to talk about my family and my stories and stuff like that, and you know, the real person behind Seth Rollins and Becky lynch, then we can get into all that stuff. So this show is going to make my daughter a star. 5 year old Ru is all over this thing, really, from what I've seen, she was in the preview, on the preview, she's, she's a star. So she's going to steal the show. But yeah, I think, I don't, it's, it's more because you all, you don't know who's miked all the time. And like, you know, we're like a, you know, Wrestle Palooza, right? So we have this mixed tag team match and like, there's just cameras all over the place and like, there's just some things I don't want filmed. There's just some things I don't want you to see. And so, and that, because I think it kills the magic a little bit. Like, I love, I love the idea of peeling the curtain back and giving a fresh audience on Netflix an appreciation for what it is that we do because I think it allows the audience to see that wrestling is an art form and it's not just a bunch of oafs and idiots bouncing around in a ring. You know, that there's a real thought that goes into every single word that comes out of our mouths and every move that we do in the ring. So that's amazing. But like, I don't want to lose the magic. I don't want to lose the magic of.

[Alan Hahn]

It's a very fine line.

[Seth Rollins]

So yeah, it makes it a little more difficult. But again, I just, I just raise an eyebrow at the crew and they know when to put it away and, you know, press the button, turn the microphone off, and I'll have my, have my moments. So I try to walk that fine line and, you know, maybe I'm too old school, but that's just how it is.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That part of it, like when you think about having your family part of it, like, that's probably where you're the most protective, right? Because, you know, once you open that up, it's open to the world, sort of.

[Seth Rollins]

But I mean, wrestling's so weird because, like, we're not like George Clooney where, like, they just, they think of us as actors who play roles. Like, we are our characters. So, like Seth Rollins is Colby Lopez is Seth Rollins. Like, they're all the same thing. And so, like, this is this different connection that our audience has to us that they, that they had, that they don't have to. Actors who play roles in movies that they're obsessed with, you know, it's just there's a different type of fandom that comes along with it. And part of that is them appreciating who we are as people and attaching themselves to the well being of our lives. So, like, there's some lines I don't want to cross with my family, but I mean, my wife does it too. I do it. You know, our daughter is, you know, it's. We're all public. Like, there's nothing. You can't hide. All of it. You know what I'm saying? So it's not like I, I'm not, I don't buckle down on that too much. Didn't want the cameras in my house. There was that, but, you know, other than that, you know, there's, There's a lot, I think there's a lot that you'll see that. You know, I think they're in the, on the bus and you see a lot of footage. I think they used some footage from when Ru, like right after Rue was just born. I think that we had filmed kind of on our own that we allowed them to have. So we'll see if that makes it in there. But yeah, I mean, you know, I think we gave them a pretty candid look.

[Alan Hahn]

In other words, listen, don't get me wrong, Seth wants to protect his family, but he really wants to protect the.

[Don Hahn]

Rest of the business.

[Seth Rollins]

I really want to protect my story. You know, I'm trying to provide a life for my daughter and the Way I do that is by making money. And the way I make money is to make people care about my fights.

[Alan Hahn]

That's right.

[Don Hahn]

And you said she's five.

[Seth Rollins]

She's five now. Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

So my twins are eight, so they're starting to understand what I do.

[Seth Rollins]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Does she completely understand what you're doing yet?

[Seth Rollins]

Definitely doesn't completely get it. She has no idea. Not no idea, because she's been with us on the road for years.

[Don Hahn]

Everybody's parents wrestled.

[Seth Rollins]

Now that she's. Yeah, that's the thing is what's the one thing she doesn't get is that not everybody's parents are in video games. Not everybody's parents have little dolls that look like them. That. That's weird to her. Now she's starting to figure that at school, like, Dante's mom doesn't have an action figure. So nothing against Dante's mom.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, no.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm sure she's great.

[Seth Rollins]

Yeah. So she's. She's. She's figuring it out a little bit, you know, what we do and that we're on TV and she's, you know. You know, now that I'm off, I'm watching Raw every week to see what Becky's doing, and she's seeing mom and, like, is that Mama right now? Is she on right now? So, like, she's kind of understanding the live aspect versus the tape aspect. It's. It's all a work in progress, but I'm sure she'll be. She'll be smart to it soon enough.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, it was funny, you know, I think I told you guys. We talked about it quite a bit when Seth had the, quote, injury that was going to keep him out of SummerSlam. And, you know, I had dinner with him the night before he came back, and he shows up to the restaurant, lovely restaurant in New Jersey we went to.

[Don Hahn]

It was delightful.

[Alan Hahn]

I meant to shout them out, and I've forgotten the name of them, but they were great. And he shows up on crutches. And one of the things I love about my role at WWE is I still get to be a fan. I'm like, I don't ask inner workings stuff. I just sit there and observe it like everybody else. But I have to admit, when I saw him come in a restaurant with like, eight people there with crutches and sits down and has a whole meal with us, no part of me thought there was a chance that he was gonna come back and win the championship the next night. And that's sort of that line of magic that he's talking about of like even if you're close to it. I the next day freaked out. Like I was sitting at the desk where we do the post show with one of Seth's good friends, my colleague Biggie. And we're sitting there watching and he goes, I think Seth's coming back. And he's a former champion, former wrestler, but now he's just a fan too. He doesn't ask questions. He goes, I think Seth's coming back. And I was like, I think I'm so cool. I'm like, e, sorry buddy, I know he's your friend, but had dinner with him last night, don't think he's coming back. And Big E was like so? And I'm like, well, he had crutches at the restaurant. Big E's like so. And I was like, oh my God, could he come back? So like that is. And how proud were you of the secret getting kept that well, cuz in this era we don't have moments like that where the whole world is completely fooled, you know.

[Seth Rollins]

And the thing is, I don't think you can like fully fool any like everybody anymore, you know, you can't pull the wool over everybody's eyes. But the magic now for us is being able to just, just plant that seed of doubt where people start to ask questions. And some people like, I mean you and he were perfect examples. He fully expected a return and you were like, absolutely not. And that's what we had, I think, going into SummerSlam. Is this question of is it totally out of people's minds? Is it. There's no chance that it's going to happen. And some people were convinced it was going to happen, but some people just didn't know. And that gray area is what makes wrestling magic because it's this place where anything can happen and you can feel like the magic of surprise that you just can't get in any other form of storytelling.

[Alan Hahn]

Although I will say your Chicago Bears this year have provided a lot of magic. How much can you describe? And I feel bad for the Giants and Jets fans listening today after another season ends of complete and utter misery.

[Seth Rollins]

Sorry, New York, Sorry. Sorry.

[Alan Hahn]

But like what can you do? What number one to ten can you put the level of joy the Bears have brought you this year?

[Seth Rollins]

I mean it's been a, it's been a on 11, a 12. I mean we're off the charts at this point. I mean I'm, I'm so excited to feel like for the first time and really in my adult life as a Bears fan. I'm like, we, we got it. Like, we've got it, right? We've got a coach and we've got a quarterback, you know, and we've got a team that can compete in this division for a decade. And that is the. I've never felt that way. I mean, the Nagy, the first Nagy year with Trubisky maybe was close, but that was still.

[Alan Hahn]

You knew that Trubisky was still.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You weren't sure. You weren't sure. But what you're doing right now. And again, I God bless you because I know as a Bears fan, you've been through it, right? Because there's certain fan bases where you're like, dude, you were bad for two years to calm down like any Patriots fan right now. Don't talk to me, but you've been through it. But you sound so much like Pipsqueak Pete last year. Only a year ago, he had the quarterback, we got the coach, we finally got it. And then things happen, right? Things happen.

[Alan Hahn]

But I still believe you got to.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Feel like if you're going to hit, it's got to hit. Like you got to hit now.

[Seth Rollins]

Yeah, that is.

[Alan Hahn]

That's a great point.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

You're not going to get a better year.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, it's right there to maybe do this.

[Alan Hahn]

Like it won't be easier next year.

[Seth Rollins]

No, it won't be easier next year. But you have. So the Jaden Daniel skill set, if we're going to go talk about commanders for a minute, his skill set wasn't diminished this year. That wasn't the issue. Right. The issue is that he couldn't stay healthy. That was the issue. So that is a non issue with Caleb Williams. And you saw him take a huge leap with Ben Johnson in that scheme, in that offense from year one to year two. So I have no reason to suspect that year three is going to be worse. It might. It be more difficult, sure. But it also might be easier because he. He's becoming more and more efficient and he's a guy that just does not. He doesn't get hurt, knock on wood. And he doesn't turn the ball over. He just doesn't do it. And for a young quarterback, that's an incredible thing to have. And as you see his efficiency and this offense start to come together and.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The connection with the coach and the connection with the Ben Johnson aspect of this thing is big. Now, I have to ask you, though, because for me, as a suffering jets fan and so many people, you had Justin Field brutal and he wound up with the Jets. And there was a sense this year of, you know, they can get him. Right. That the Bears gave up on him because they got the number one pick and Pittsburgh gave up on him because they went through everything they got right. Like, this is going to work. It's going to hit. When. When do you even pay attention to Justin Fields? Do you watch it all and did you watch this year and go see, like, everybody keeps believing him, but that.

[Seth Rollins]

We saw that I was a Justin Fields guy. Okay, Chicago, because I watched him slowly get better in the few years that he was there and the team was competitive in the final season before he was gone.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Seth Rollins]

And it was tricky because we had Matt Eberfluss, who was a head coach. Probably not built as a head coach, better as a DC we'll see if he survives that in Dallas. But at the end of the day, like, you saw little increments of Justin, and Justin could. I mean, he could make explosive plays with his legs. Now, obviously, passing on time from the pocket was his big issue.

[Don Hahn]

Big.

[Seth Rollins]

You were like, if you get him in the right situation, it could happen. And I remember thinking when they. They got rid of Eber flu, I was like, if you're going to fire the coach and bring in somebody new, you just got to. You got to get rid of all of it. You got to be done with it. You know what I'm saying? So, like, I was a little. I was. I felt good because the Bears were getting better season by season. And then I was like, if we get a rookie, it's going to go backwards. But once I saw the skill set that Caleb brought to the table, even in his first year, he's taking a bunch of sacks, I was like, oh, this is going to be the guy. Then they get rid of Eber flutes. And I'm like, okay, if we can get somebody in there, what Justin Fields needs. And look, maybe he just doesn't have it. Maybe he's just not a starting quarterback in the NFL. Just go put him in, like, L. A with McVay for like a year or two. You know what I'm saying? Back up, back up.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Kansas City. Back up with the Rams.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes. Like, gets it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

San Francisco, all the places that bad quarterbacks go to get good.

[Seth Rollins]

Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know, Green Bay.

[Seth Rollins]

Yes. Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Malik Willis now all of a sudden looks functional. So I'm wondering. You're right. But I don't know if you can teach him at this point. The accuracy part.

[Seth Rollins]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because to me, that's the killer.

[Seth Rollins]

Well, he just doesn't play on time. He does not play on time in the pocket. And that's. That's it. He can't. So he can't make the easy throws and everything.

[Alan Hahn]

He has a big arm.

[Seth Rollins]

He's got a huge.

[Alan Hahn]

That's the skill set on both sides is so high. That's what I believed. Don and I were both of the. Like. Justin Fields has a. There's a ceiling.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Do you remember it? The kid from the Colts, Richardson.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He threw 70 yards on his knees.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, sure.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So what?

[Seth Rollins]

But Anthony Richardson and Justin Fields are two different. Justin Fields was one of the highest ranked quarterback prospects in history of that statistic. Him and Trevor Lawrence were like 1, 2. And you saw all the struggles that Trevor Lawrence had until he got Liam Cohen and the second half of the season he would. He played MVP football. He played like that for a few more weeks. He'd be up there with Stafford, he'd be up there with Drake May.

[Don Hahn]

I felt like when the jets got him because he was 26, I'm like, that's kind of like a draft pick adjacent.

[Seth Rollins]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

And I'm of the belief that all of these quarterbacks are kind of the same. It just depends on who drafts you and who coaches you. And Fields looks like a kid that just broken now.

[Seth Rollins]

Yeah, I know. And that's sad because he seems like a nice kid with like you said, paid a huge ceiling. Like it's.

[Alan Hahn]

You just see it. I remember here.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I saw it.

[Seth Rollins]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

We definitely didn't see the complete turn that it took.

[Seth Rollins]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

This season with the jets for you.

[Seth Rollins]

Guys in New York, man. God, my heart breaks for.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Seth Rollins]

I could see Giants and Jets. I feel that pain now.

[Don Hahn]

But you. You saw this coming. We were talking off the air. You had told Rich Eisen that this is the exact record they were going to have.

[Seth Rollins]

I predicted the Chicago Bears, I believe to finish the season at 12 and 5.

[Alan Hahn]

I can't believe that.

[Don Hahn]

Crazy.

[Seth Rollins]

It was crazy in the north.

[Alan Hahn]

Well. And they took the commander season.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

I feel like something weird happened because like the Commanders killed the Bears last year. The Hail Mary killed the season.

[Seth Rollins]

Killed.

[Alan Hahn]

That was the end of the Bears season last year.

[Seth Rollins]

They lost.

[Alan Hahn]

And if you recall, the Commanders were one snap this year from kneeling on the ball to go to 4 and 2.

[Seth Rollins]

Yep.

[Alan Hahn]

Instead, the ball on a wet night at in D.C. slips out of Daniel's hands. The Bears win the game. Commanders complete. I'm telling you, it's a weird car MC thing. And now the Bears have been on fire since that game.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Seth Rollins]

I think they were like one and two coming into that game because it was like week four or something like that. They lost their first two games. Say heartbreaker in Minnesota, get blown out by Detroit, they come back and win. I don't remember against a crappy, like, Raiders team or something like that maybe, which was on like a blocked field goal or something. And then you have a moment like that, and then that happens. And then they just went boom. And then every week it was cardiac Bears. Every week come back, Caleb, in the fourth quarter. It was insane. The amount of close finishes. Even these last two weeks, they get beat by San Francisco, beat by Detroit. It comes down to the final play. It's. It's been a crazy season to be a Bears.

[Podcast Announcer]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Alan Hahn]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Podcast Announcer]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes, tonight, Barkley center, the season premiere of Raw. It's also a collaboration with Stranger Things. Stranger Things, if that means anything to you. We're going to enter the Upside down, apparently. Seth Rollins. Turn on your microphone. Turn it there. Seth, your mic's on. Oh, you will not enter the Upside down tonight.

[Seth Rollins]

I will not be in the Upside Down. No, no, no.

[Alan Hahn]

There will be no appearance for Seth Rollins.

[Seth Rollins]

No, not at all. Zero. I'll be backstage rooting on my wife.

[Alan Hahn]

You were, by the way.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You were.

[Alan Hahn]

You were backstage at John Cena's.

[Seth Rollins]

I was. John. John is a good friend and I went there to support him and.

[Alan Hahn]

But you didn't go out on camera.

[Seth Rollins]

No, no, no.

[Alan Hahn]

You stayed backstage.

[Seth Rollins]

It's not for me. I'm not. That's not why I was there.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

You just wanted to. And it was very interesting. I observed this. John noticed you guys being there. He only saw that you guys were there moments before his match.

[Seth Rollins]

We only got there moments before his match. We flew in, but it was insane. We had delays, traffic getting into D.C. it was nuts. So we didn't get even get there till like 7:30 or something like that.

[Alan Hahn]

So you guys only went there to just to just support him and see the last moment.

[Seth Rollins]

That's it. Just for. I just, you know, I love John as a person. John's been an incredible friend to me. Like, he's still a great friend to me. He's going to be for the rest of my life. I mean, but. So I just went there to be like, hey, man, I love you. And so he was.

[Alan Hahn]

From day one when you got There. John always, always looked out, was always a supportive.

[Seth Rollins]

Yeah, 100%. He was a guy that, I mean, it, like, it took me warming myself up to him. I was like, you know, look, when I came in, I was a guy full of. I don't know if I can say piss and vinegar.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, that sure can.

[Don Hahn]

You said it.

[Seth Rollins]

I was. And I was like, I want to change everything and I want to tear down the. The top of the card. And, you know, John Cena was the top dog there. And I had no appreciation for what John did for the business and what he did for the company. And John was so patient with me and understanding and appreciating that attitude that I wanted to come in and be the top guy that he understood. Like, you know, there was going to be some push and pull there. And at the end of the day, like, I, I would win him over or he would win me over, however you want to slice it. But he was super generous with his time. I have some great stories about John, but he's always been an incredible friend. And I mean, he's done more for the business in the last 20 years than anybody.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Fair.

[Alan Hahn]

Fair point. And you are. And you are like all the wrestlers. I've spoken to a fan of how it all ended.

[Seth Rollins]

Yeah, of course.

[Alan Hahn]

You guys all are the same. Every one of you. That you loved it.

[Seth Rollins]

You wouldn't, you wouldn't be asking this question if there was no controversy to the ending, if he had just won the match.

[Alan Hahn]

No, he couldn't.

[Don Hahn]

Won the match. But I guess tapping out for a guy that never gave up, that's. That was the, that's the only question.

[Alan Hahn]

Look at, look at you, doc.

[Seth Rollins]

That, that part. So I, I can understand that. I can understand that. But in our line of work, it's always about what's. What's going to be the most talked about thing we can do. And I think John did it with a smile on his face. It didn't feel like he was like, oh, I have been beaten into submission. It was like, I'm happy with this. This is my time.

[Alan Hahn]

And you lied. You're good with it?

[Seth Rollins]

I'm good with it. 100 good with it.

[Alan Hahn]

The boys loved it.

[Don Hahn]

And you know my brother Dave over.

[Alan Hahn]

At the Lulu, Dave Legrette.

[Seth Rollins]

Lulu, Dave. I know Dave.

[Don Hahn]

You're gonna be on his show tomorrow.

[Seth Rollins]

He.

[Don Hahn]

He's. He was a big sports fan. Now he's all in on the wrestling with the channel and everything that's going on. And he had told me, he's like, take A look at other athletes in other sports and how they're now kind of becoming wrestlers. It's almost like in the media, they're doing promos. Are you seeing, as a sports fan, do you see a lot of theatrics in wrestling, in professional sports, outside?

[Seth Rollins]

Go back to Muhammad Ali. I mean, that's where he got it from. You know what I mean? He used to watch Gorgeous George promos, and that's where he got, you know, all the pomp and circumstance. He understood that that's how you promote anything, you know, that's how you sell anything. I mean, I see it in other sports, I see it in entertainment, I see it in politics, for better or worse, you know, and so that it's just a part of what we do. We've all, I mean, all of us are, and most of us, I should say, are. We're trained salesmen, you know, that's what we have to do from start to finish, whether it's a grassroots level or on a big stage. And so we've always had to figure out how to self promote. And so I see it everywhere. And now, you know, I'm hosting, helping host Good Morning Football on the NFL Network. And I get a chance to kind of bring that to that world. And I see other athletes who are like, oh, wow, this energy is different. This energy that, you know, I'm not going to bring the analytics. Like, I'm not a guy that's going to give you X's and O's, but I'll give you energy and I'll give you some, you know, good fun, hot takes that we can talk about. But that's one thing that I noticed that like, people like Amanta Teo or I was with Brandon Marshall on the Netflix show, like, these guys are like, they, they vibe off that energy. You know, they can talk exes in. I mean, Brandon Marshall, one of the greatest receivers of all time, he can tell you everything about COVID twos and cover fours. But that, that can get boring. You need to do it with some pizzazz. Sometimes you need to fire some things up. And so, yeah, I do see that. It's always been that way. It'll always be that way. And the best, best athletes, wherever they're at, from, you know, Ali to McGregor, they're going to promote themselves, they're going to promote their sport, and they're going to promote their conflict.

[Alan Hahn]

How many big wrestling fans are there on the Bears? And how happy secretly do you get when any of the Bears, like, mark out because they see You.

[Seth Rollins]

I'll tell you what happened when I went. So I was in Chicago for the last Bears packers game. The one that was just insane.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes. Oh, that was. That was a hell of a game.

[Seth Rollins]

And there was. There were two moments. Two moments. I'm in the suite, like, somewhere in the second or third quarter, and Kevin Warren, the Bears president, comes in, comes right up to me, shakes my hand. I mean, I'm in the middle of introducing myself, and he's like, I know who you are.

[Alan Hahn]

Wow. That's the Bears press.

[Seth Rollins]

The better one, though. This was the better one for me. I'm on the sideline, pre game. The Bears are coming out, you know, crowds going nuts. Ben Johnson, who I've never met or spoken to, he's like, probably, I don't know, 30ft away from me as he's going by, but for whatever reason, he just looks over and sees me in the mix of. I'm talking to. I don't know, my wife's there. I took my mom and my daughter there, whoever. We're talking to people, and he just sees me. We make eye contact, and he just gives me this point.

[Don Hahn]

Wow.

[Seth Rollins]

And I was like, yes, that's my guy. And I didn't. I'd never met the guy. Didn't know. He knew who I was. But it is very cool. It is very cool to be. I feel very fortunate to be able to talk about a thing that I love and to be able to, like, help, you know, give that fandom to the world and that excitement.

[Alan Hahn]

You're also becoming Chicago. You're becoming one of the. You're, like, becoming one of the marquee Bears fans.

[Seth Rollins]

There we go.

[Don Hahn]

You.

[Alan Hahn]

You could be like, Kevin Hart. Remember when the Eagles won in 2017? Kevin Hart was, like, drunk on the field after the game.

[Seth Rollins]

I would love to be drunk on the field after the game in Santa Clara in February.

[Alan Hahn]

Amazing.

[Seth Rollins]

That will be me.

[Alan Hahn]

So. So Saturday, you. The Bears host the Packers.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This is.

[Alan Hahn]

We could get into a conversation, guys. On. Best wild card opening wild card night games of all time, maybe. Packers at the Bears. Bears, one and a half point favorites.

[Seth Rollins]

Bears are underdogs, sir. Read that right.

[Alan Hahn]

No, you're not. No, not as of right now.

[Seth Rollins]

Did they change it?

[Alan Hahn]

Chicago is on espn. You could tell me what the other websites say, but on ESPN it says Chicago minus 1.5.

[Seth Rollins]

Okay. All right, I'll take that. I'm shocked by that, actually.

[Alan Hahn]

So you're minus 1.5. 8 o'.

[Don Hahn]

Clock.

[Alan Hahn]

It'll be. I mean, frozen tundra. I mean, it's going to be frozen. It's going to be Lake Michigan.

[Seth Rollins]

It's going to be awful.

[Alan Hahn]

How do you not. Not as a fan, but as a guy. As a guy who just knows football. Are you going, by the way?

[Seth Rollins]

I am going to go.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay.

[Seth Rollins]

Yes.

[Alan Hahn]

Do you. Do you. You like you guys in this game?

[Seth Rollins]

I do. I. I'm very nervous about it because of the way the defense has played the last two weeks. But if you look back at the. I mean, they're going to. This is going to be a close game. I think it's going to come down to it. The last two matchups this season, they've both been pretty close. Green Bay had dominated a little bit in the first part of the first game, but obviously the Bears made it close. Second game, sort of a stalemate, you know, And Jordan Love, he got knocked out and people make a big deal. I actually thought Malik Willis was a tougher matchup for Chicago than Jordan Love. Was Jordan, like, they were kicking field goals. It wasn't a big deal. The Bears have to figure out how to get that offense moving before the fourth quarter. That's. That's going to be the key for me in this game. Like, defense is going to play tough. It's going to be cold as hell. It's going to be. How can you run the ball? And you run the ball and you have to get points early. You cannot play this game of catch up and expect to win. So I feel good about it only because we're at home. But it's still. I mean, his love 100, by the way.

[Alan Hahn]

He's good, right?

[Seth Rollins]

I think so.

[Alan Hahn]

I think he's now 100%. I don't think. Another week. It's been a few weeks.

[Seth Rollins]

It wasn't a bad concussion, I don't think.

[Alan Hahn]

Right. They just let him take extra time.

[Seth Rollins]

Yeah. Yeah. They were already locked into the seventh spot. It wasn't.

[Don Hahn]

I know they redid Soldier Field. Does it still have the same old vibe to it?

[Seth Rollins]

It's still got a great vibe. Yeah. I know they're trying to move the team out to Indiana or whatever, but, yeah, it is wacky, the whole thing. And I understand it from a, like, logistical standpoint. I mean, it's on the lake, so it's awful to get in and out of if you've ever been there or not. But it's. It's awful to get in and out of. But, man, it just feels so good. It's such a. It feels like football. I love it there. I love the Vibe. I love the atmosphere. The city's right there, the views, amazing. It's. It's a hell of a stage.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And then just having a dome also would change things too. Right? There's something that's not right.

[Seth Rollins]

I know about that. There's a midway, but I'd love to have a WrestleMania there so we can.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I can't believe that is true. Oh, wow.

[Alan Hahn]

That is true.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I can't believe that this is. What is this the third time only that they've met.

[Seth Rollins]

I know. Isn't that crazy?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Ever been around for a hundred million years and they've only fa. It also tells you just how bad both have been in a different.

[Don Hahn]

No, it's true. Because, like, the other thing that always blew me away, I tell these guys, too, like Dick Butkus. Right. Never played a postseason game.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's nice, right?

[Don Hahn]

You think Everybody knows he's a household name.

[Seth Rollins]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Never. Because they were bad for a long time.

[Seth Rollins]

Yeah. That's wild. Yeah. I mean, it's. It always. It goes in cycles. Right. The Bears are good, the packers are bad. They're very rarely good at the same time.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Seth Rollins]

It's been 30 years of great packers teams, and so that's only trying to turn that clock.

[Don Hahn]

There you go.

[Seth Rollins]

Let's go.

[Alan Hahn]

No, it's. It's going to be a fun one. Plus you have, you know, 49ers Eagles on Sunday, which is a good one. Pretty fascinating.

[Seth Rollins]

The whole weekend.

[Don Hahn]

It's.

[Alan Hahn]

The whole weekend usually is, though.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wall to wall.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, there's only one. There's only one. There's smells like a Thursday.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We know.

[Alan Hahn]

And that's, of course, the Panthers hosting the Rams.

[Seth Rollins]

They played once this season.

[Alan Hahn]

And what happened in that game?

[Peter Rosenberg]

The Rams lost.

[Seth Rollins]

That's right.

[Alan Hahn]

So that's. That's that. That gives it some appeal. And the Rams on the road are not the same as the Rams in Los Angeles, although they did.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The Rams lost in Carolina. Right. That was early in the season.

[Seth Rollins]

I'm not sure about where it was.

[Peter Rosenberg]

At, but it was at Carolina. I was good at home.

[Seth Rollins]

I do know Carolina won the game. And so there's something there. I don't know.

[Alan Hahn]

It was at the Panthers.

[Seth Rollins]

How healthy is the Panthers?

[Don Hahn]

I know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It cost me.

[Alan Hahn]

It was 3128 Panthers in Carolina when they first played. But I have to admit, I did find it weird that the Eagles totally gave away yesterday. Like, Don, we always talk about draft picks. It's one thing. It's one thing to give things up when it comes to draft picks. It's another thing when it's still about who you're going to play in the playoffs. I thought that was a weird decision by Sirianni to not worry about. I wouldn't want San Francisco. Sorry. I just. I'd like staying away from teams who have a history of just winning playoff games. Yeah, those are the teams I want to avoid assiduously. Right. And it may be the problem that you guys have. Although this iteration of the packers hasn't won a whole lot of playoff games. Tonight, Raw at the Barclays center And on the 20th, I'm. Well, yeah, so you're not allowed. Don brought it up at the beginning of the show. Seth's beautiful wife.

[Seth Rollins]

Amazing wife. Perfect.

[Alan Hahn]

She tweeted. She tweeted yesterday. Here's Ecky lynch, ww. I have asked my lawyers to ensure crooked report and so called wrestling media be barred from Barclays center tomorrow.

[Don Hahn]

Awful.

[Alan Hahn]

Ariel Helwani, Scam Roberts DeLulu, Dave Legreca and pipsqueak Peter Rosenberg are not welcome.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Marvelous.

[Alan Hahn]

Megan Morant, who has pledged her loyalty to me as a Becky believer, is the only news source the WWE Universe can trust respect. So I have been banned from the arena, but I still may show up. We'll see. If not, I'll watch it on.

[Don Hahn]

He's right about the politic comparison.

[Seth Rollins]

Be careful not to.

[Alan Hahn]

You're sensing something there.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're sensing all caps.

[Alan Hahn]

A lot of caps. A lot of parentheses. I'm excited. Becky has a championship match tonight.

[Seth Rollins]

She does. She does. She is going to regain possession of her rightful intercontinental championship.

[Alan Hahn]

That's right.

[Seth Rollins]

She has been screwed out of it and now she's going to repossess it tonight.

[Alan Hahn]

And if you want to see more of Becky and Seth, the new season of WWE Unreal comes to Netflix on the 20th. Seth, you're always welcome. Thank you, buddy.

[Seth Rollins]

Thank you, guys. Good times, man.

[Podcast Announcer]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't want to know how the.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sausage is made, but I just want to know. It's good.

[Podcast Announcer]

Hear more of Don Allen and Peter weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers.