Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Super Bowl Recap (Hour 1)

Air Date: February 9, 2026
Podcast Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg

Overview

The first hour of Don, Hahn & Rosenberg dives into a candid and unfiltered recap of the 2026 Super Bowl, where the Seattle Seahawks defeated the New England Patriots in what the hosts call an "unexciting" and "fine" conclusion to a lackluster NFL season. The trio dissects the game quality, the impact of team parity, the halftime show, and the narrative struggles facing the league as it enters a generational transition. Listeners are also treated to calls from fans reflecting on both the football action and the entertainment surrounding the big game.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Halftime Show Takes: Love, Overreaction, and Cultural Context

• The hosts open by poking fun at the national discourse around the halftime show featuring Bad Bunny, Lady Gaga, and Ricky Martin.
• Peter Rosenberg laughs at the overreactions:
  "Whether you loved it, whether you thought it was fine, you couldn't come away from halftime thinking any more than 'cool.' It was halftime, cool." (03:00)
• Acknowledgment that for some viewers, particularly those of Latin descent, the show may have hit on a more personal level.
• Critique of polarized reactions:
  "The people that want to hate it, the people that want to love it... they had that opinion before it even happened." – Don La Greca (04:39)
• Consensus: It was a good, not extraordinary, halftime show, and that should be enough.

The Super Bowl Game & 2025 NFL Season: "It Was Fine"

• The hosts agree the game (Seahawks 19, Patriots 7) and the season as a whole were average.
• Don La Greca:
  "It was an okay season. It wasn't great. There's nothing really great about it. There were no storylines. There were no superstar performances really, to speak of that we're used to." (02:22)

Parity & Star Power Problems

• Discussion on NFL parity leading to "boring" Super Bowls when neither team has a superstar quarterback or transcendent storyline.
• Parity is good in theory, but without star power or brand-name teams like the Chiefs or Bills at their best, public interest suffers.

Missed Opportunities & Dull Teams

• NFL and NBA are in "transitional periods" as young QBs and stars develop but haven’t yet replaced outgoing legends (Brady, Mahomes, etc.).
• Consensus that this Super Bowl lacked a marquee storyline or truly great team.
• Alan Hahn:
  "We just happened to get two teams that are not that interesting. If you don’t have a dog in the fight, they're just not." (17:50)

Seattle Seahawks: Resilient, Not Legendary

• Props to Seattle for capitalizing on a year without a dominant team:
  "It's the type of year where you go, but we can get one. And a team like Seattle was able to do that." – Alan Hahn (22:16)
• Sam Darnold praised for managing the game but not for an all-time performance:
  "200 yards and one touchdown... he did what he needed to do." – Don La Greca (10:43)
• The emotional post-game moment involving Darnold and his parents resonated with the hosts.

New England Patriots: A Year Too Soon

• Patriots described as young and well-coached, but their offensive line (especially the left side) was "not ready" (14:04).
• Drake Maye: Despite flashes, he struggled due to inexperience and injuries—sacked 21 times in the postseason (13:52).
• Both teams were described as "vanilla" and not offering transcendent performances or personalities.

NFL Viewership & Entertainment Value

• Even with an underwhelming game, ratings remain massive due to football's dominance on TV.
• Discussion on whether the halftime or dull play led to post-halftime drop-off in casual viewers.

Broader Sports Landscape: Transition Mode

• NBA and NFL are both adjusting as icons age out.
• MLB and the NHL offer lessons—with name brands and thrilling stars keeping the energy up.

Coaching & Taking in the Moment

• Mike Macdonald (Seattle head coach) is applauded for, in a rare move, “stopping to smell the roses” and soaking in the win (31:31).
  • "He stopped and watched and took it all in. It was awesome. And I think that's a talent... I may never be here again." – Don La Greca (31:47)

Fan Calls: On-the-Ground Perspectives

• Will in Sacramento: Provided firsthand impressions as a Super Bowl field security guard, highlighting the show’s intricate production and cultural significance for the Latino community (40:18–41:38).
• Tessa in West Caldwell: Praised the elite execution of the Seahawks' defense and wished her Giants could at least be a "little bit of shade" compared to Seattle’s “dark side” (44:07–45:46).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Don La Greca on the season overall:
  "Fine. Is the way I would describe the 2025 season. Hopefully things better in 2026." (28:24)
• Peter Rosenberg, on superstars missing from the big stage:
  "We can’t say, like, [Sam Darnold] absolutely solidified his quarterbacking legacy last night. We didn’t even get that." (12:38)
• Alan Hahn on Sam Darnold’s journey:
  "He’s been through so much since he got into the league... The first thing he said was, because of my parents." (11:21)
• Taking in the victory, Don La Greca:
  "He stopped and watched and took it all in... I may never be here again." (31:37–31:44)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Halftime show reactions & overreactions: 00:30–05:05
• Season/game was 'fine' debate, lack of storylines: 02:00–03:00, 13:21–13:25
• Parity, star power, and transitional period in NFL: 06:00–09:45
• Sam Darnold’s postgame and emotional story: 10:12–12:42
• Both teams criticized for lack of excitement: 13:39–14:35
• Mike Macdonald 'stops to smell the roses': 31:31–32:03
• Fan call: Will's on-field Super Bowl experience: 39:25–41:38
• Fan call: Tessa on Seahawks defense and Giants hopes: 42:04–45:46

Tone & Style

Consistently conversational, self-aware, and wryly humorous. The hosts riff on both the superficial and substantive aspects of football culture, current players, and their own personal biases—never shying from emotional resonance or sarcastic banter.

Summary Takeaway

This Super Bowl recap is a "warts-and-all" conversation about a year in football that lacked fireworks and focus, but still captivated the nation—if mostly out of habit. The Don, Hahn & Rosenberg team serves up equal measures of tough love for the NFL, appreciation for underdog stories, and a sense that change (and hopefully, new stars) is coming for American sports’ most iconic event.