Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Thanksgiving Eve (Hour 1)
ESPN New York | November 26, 2025
Episode Overview
This pre-Thanksgiving episode is a celebration of gratitude, football, and New York sports culture. Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg, and Don La Greca reflect on their journey as a show, share their genuine appreciation for each other and their audience, and dive deep into Thanksgiving football storylines—particularly the NFL landscape heading into the holiday. The show balances warmth and humor with spirited debate about football, fan rivalries, and the state of New York teams, while engaging with their YouTube community and reminiscing about classic Thanksgiving NFL moments.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. A Year of Gratitude & Team Chemistry (00:46–06:51)
- Alan Hahn opens with a heartfelt message of thanks to Don and Peter, marking nearly a year since the new show was announced at the ESPN holiday party.
- Peter Rosenberg echoes the sentiment, noting that while the fit was uncertain at the start, the chemistry and ego-less nature of the team has been deeply rewarding.
- Don La Greca reminisces about his transition from working with Michael Kay for over two decades to forging a new dynamic with Hahn and Rosenberg.
- Quote (Don, 05:01): "They enjoyed me, and they knew that the way to my heart was my... stomach."
- The trio laugh about old behind-the-scenes stories and “spread” metaphors at their radio days, setting a relaxed tone.
2. Thanksgiving Football Preview & AFC Drama (06:51–15:17)
- Thanksgiving NFL games previewed—none featuring New York teams, but loaded with playoff implications.
- Biggest storyline: Chiefs vs. Cowboys. Can Kansas City reassert dominance in the AFC wildcard race?
- Echoing national NFL narratives, they ponder if the AFC is "wide open" or if the Chiefs will still emerge.
- Rosenberg raises the point that because the AFC is so unpredictable, this season has added intrigue—"not just the Eagles and the Chiefs."
- Alan questions Don and Peter: Is the desire for “fresh blood” in the Super Bowl outweighed by the consistency—and fatigue—of seeing the Chiefs every year?
- Don reveals he'd actually root for the Cowboys (a hated rival as a Giants fan) to knock off Kansas City, which shocks the group.
- Quote (Don, 11:19): "I'm rooting for the Dallas Cowboys to end this national nightmare. Go, boys."
3. Fan Loyalty vs. Hatred: Who Do You Root For? (15:17–15:32, 27:43–31:20)
- The classic dilemma: Do you root for a divisional rival if it helps your team? The hosts debate whether hatred for a rival can ever outweigh loyalty to your own team.
- Quote (Don, 30:05): "But I do think, and I think Peter will agree that sometimes your hatred for a team surpasses your love for your own team."
- The conversation spills into chat engagement, with the hosts addressing live YouTube negativity, defending their loyal audience, and leaning into humor over trolls.
4. State of New York Football (15:32–22:07, 34:50–41:40)
- The miserable state of the Giants, Jets, and Rosenberg’s “Commies” (Washington), leads to gallows humor about “dead inside” fandom.
- Discussion on Giants QB Jackson Dart’s injury and importance of “reps” for evaluation.
- Quote (Don, 38:03): "If he's going to get hurt, he's going to get hurt. You can't wrap him in bubble wrap."
- Thoughts on the future: Jets seem to have coach/GM security but no QB, Giants may have a QB but not coach/GM stability.
- Picks for Monday night: Both Don and Peter love the Giants over the Patriots, betting on the underdog vibe and history.
5. What Is a Winning Culture? (41:00–44:03)
- Caller Sam (Rams fan) asks: What constitutes a winning culture, especially given NY teams’ woes?
- Alan: It starts with ownership setting a win-first tone, making bold moves, and not forcing square pegs into round holes.
- Don: Consistency and expectation—always playing and building to win, every year.
- Quote (Don, 42:33): "Yankee fans might not want to hear this... They have a winning culture, because the culture is every year they're among the favorites to win."
- Peter, distracted by real-life dad duties, jokes about the messy reality of hosting your first family Thanksgiving.
6. NFL Binge: Thanksgiving Moments & Football Headlines (45:21–53:39)
- Peter Rosenberg hosts a ‘binge’ segment highlighting key NFL headlines and classic Thanksgiving football memories:
- Updates on injuries and return of key players (e.g., Giants’ Jackson Dart likely to play, Josh Jacobs back).
- Thanksgiving Memory Lane:
- 1982: Lawrence Taylor’s 97-yard pick-six.
- Quote (Don, 50:03): "I was at grandma's house watching my dad and Uncle Bob. That was an amazing play."
- 2012: The infamous Jets "Butt Fumble" and a contrasting happy Washington win (Niles Paul touchdown).
- Quote (Peter, 50:52): "Little did Bob know, 13 years later, it's still the butt fumble."
- Nostalgia and humor about rooting for "the misery" as long-suffering fans.
- 1982: Lawrence Taylor’s 97-yard pick-six.
7. Show Format & Listener Engagement (22:07–23:55; throughout)
- Upcoming segments previewed—jam-packed “cornucopia” show, fusing regular weekly bits into the Thanksgiving Eve special:
- 3:45 – The Binge
- 4:00 – Gary Myers Hall of Fame talk
- 4:30 – The List
- 4:45 – Talk About It Wednesday
- 5:00 – Fraud Alert Friday on a Wednesday
- 5:30 – “That Guy” (the segment)
- 5:45 – NFL Picks
- Active engagement with callers—Danny from Long Island and others share what Thanksgiving means, family plans, and old-school rooting logic.
Notable Quotes & Moments
- Don (05:01): "They enjoyed me, and they knew that the way to my heart was my... stomach."
- Don (11:19): "I'm rooting for the Dallas Cowboys to end this national nightmare. Go, boys."
- Peter (12:54): "Because the Chiefs have been counted out, I'm now having fun seeing if they can pull this thing."
- Alan (13:39): "That in a league right now that doesn't have a lot of sexy stories... That would be box office."
- Don (30:05): "Sometimes your hatred for a team surpasses your love for your own team."
- Don (38:03): "If he's going to get hurt, he's going to get hurt. You can't wrap him in bubble wrap."
- Don (42:33): "Yankee fans... They have a winning culture, because... every year they're among the favorites to win."
- Peter (50:52): "Little did Bob know, 13 years later, it's still the butt fumble."
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 00:46–06:51: Team gratitude and origin stories
- 08:10–15:17: Thanksgiving NFL game storylines & the AFC picture
- 15:32–18:13: Giants/Jets/Commanders existential woes
- 22:07–23:55: Show schedule and upcoming segment preview
- 27:43–31:20: Dealing with negativity in live chat, 'rooting for your rival' ethics
- 38:03–39:30: How teams should handle injury-prone QBs
- 45:21–53:39: NFL Binge—injury updates and greatest Thanksgiving moments
Tone & Style
The conversation swings comfortably between heartfelt sincerity, inside-joke banter, football nerd analysis, and New York sports sarcasm. The show stays true to its roots—a Thanksgiving Eve “hang” for sports die-hards, where love of the game and affection for each other (and their audience) take center stage.
For First-Time Listeners
This episode delivers a snapshot of authentic sports talk radio—unfiltered, fun, knowledgeable, and community-oriented. You’ll feel like you pulled up a chair at your favorite bar to talk New York sports, football, and life on Thanksgiving Eve.