Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 2: Ian O'Connor & That Guy Thursday

Date: January 15, 2026
Podcast Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Key Guest: Ian O’Connor (veteran NY sports reporter)

Episode Overview

This episode features in-depth analysis of the New York Giants’ momentous hiring of John Harbaugh as head coach. The hosts bring on renowned sportswriter Ian O’Connor to provide unparalleled reporting and context on the move—a decision described as one of the Giants’ biggest in decades. The back half of the show shifts into their weekly "That Guy Thursday" segment, delivering a mix of sports banter and playful ribbing about office etiquette.

Main Segment: Giants Hire John Harbaugh – A Franchise-Altering Move

(00:53–17:32)

Key Discussion Points & Insights

• Significance of the Harbaugh Hire

  • Ian O’Connor labels this "the biggest hire the Giants have made in [my four decades in New York]. The first time the Giants have ever hired someone who already had won a Super Bowl." (02:14)
  • Context: The Giants have been "a complete wasteland" and needed a major credibility move.

• Timeline and “Conspiracy” Around the Hire

  • The hosts ask if the Giants had inside knowledge that John Harbaugh would be available before his firing.
  • Ian: "They guessed correctly that it was more likely Harbaugh would be out than [Mike] Tomlin… they did more work on Harbaugh, even before the end of his season… he had the Giants at the top of his list." (03:30–04:38)

• Harbaugh’s Mindset and Fit with the Giants

  • Harbaugh was not seeking a rebuild: "He's looking to win in 2026." (06:34)
  • Atlanta was attractive for its easy division, but Harbaugh was undaunted by NFC East competition and impressed by the Giants’ roster potential.

• Jackson Dart as Franchise QB Candidate

  • Harbaugh has advisors who "really like Dart… he's pretty certain about [Dart] and excited." (07:00)
  • There’s “fatigue” discussed between Harbaugh and Lamar Jackson at the Ravens, speculated to be about commitment and evolving roles.
  • Noted: Dart comes from a 4–13 team—context matters.

• GM Joe Schoen’s Role and Future

  • O’Connor expects a contract extension for Schoen after the hire: "13 and 38 over the last three years has been wiped away with this one hire... I know he was relentless." (09:06)
  • Harbaugh is assured of personnel input, though not total roster autonomy.

• Coaching Staff Construction & Star Power

  • With Harbaugh’s credibility, the Giants can "go after the best of the best" assistants.
  • OC and DC speculation: Todd Monken (offense), Antonio Pierce and Jim Leonhard (defense). (11:25)
  • "When you have someone with the credibility cachet that John Harbaugh carries, that staff is going to be a lot easier to assemble at a high level…" (11:49)

• Comparison to Other Landmark NY Hires

  • Parallels drawn to Pat Riley, Mike Keenan, and Bill Parcells, but "I don’t sense any [‘wanderlust’] with John." He sees the Giants as his final job, “wants to coach another 10 years.” (13:07)
  • Quote: “He wanted to be the head coach of the New York Giants, I can assure you of that.” (13:07)

• Expectations for the Giants in 2026

  • Division is tough: "You’re going to be scrambling for a wild card, if you’re lucky, in year one."
  • Realistic outcome: "The Giants next year at 9–8, but in December having a chance to get a wild card, playing meaningful games." (14:36)
  • Ceiling: 10–7, likely 9–8 or 8–9 as the coach implements his program.

• Brian Daboll's Classy Recommendation

  • Reports that outgoing coach Daboll gave a strong recommendation to Harbaugh for both QB Dart and ownership, which O’Connor calls “remarkable.” (16:12)
  • "That is rare. And I’ll give Daboll a lot of credit for doing that." (16:12)

Notable Quotes

• Ian O’Connor:

  • "This is the biggest hire the Giants have made in [my] time period." (02:14)
  • "He’s not looking to rebuild. He’s looking to win in 2026." (06:34)
  • "He wanted to be the head coach of the New York Giants, I can assure you of that." (13:07)
  • "If you told me the Giants were a wild card playoff team next year, I would not be surprised." (14:36)
  • "Daboll… gave a very strong recommendation for [Jackson] Dart, of course, and for John Mara and Steve Tisch… that is rare." (16:12)

• Don La Greca (Host):

  • "He walked into that building thinking he was going to survive and coach the Ravens for a 19th season. And then of course, that didn’t happen." (04:23, paraphrasing Ian)

Segment: Defining Success for Harbaugh’s Giants Tenure

(20:31, 21:09, 45:33, 46:13, 47:08, 48:28)

Key Discussion Points

• How Should Giants Fans Judge Success?

  • Is a Super Bowl required, or is perennial playoff relevance enough?
  • Don: "What defines success for Harbaugh if he does give you the 10 years that Ian said, this will be his last job?... Does there have to be a Super Bowl there for it to be a success?" (21:09)
  • Alan: "To last 10 seasons... you gotta at least get to one [Super Bowl] because it means halfway through... you've got to get to one." (46:26)
  • Peter: "If you were to lower that number for me to five seasons, it doesn’t include a championship. It means righting the ship and a few playoff appearances. That’s to me what—and consistency and not being a joke." (45:54)

• Historical NY Coaching Comparisons

  • They note that coaches/managers like Parcell, Coughlin, Torre, and Holtzman are revered because of championships.
  • Pat Riley, despite making the Finals, is not held in quite the same regard because he never won with the Knicks.

Segment: That Guy Thursday – Bart Scott, Trail Mix Bandit, and Cultural Debates

(24:35–35:16)

Key Discussion Points

• Bart Scott’s Take on Harbaugh’s Legacy

  • Bart downplays Harbaugh’s “culture builder” status, arguing he inherited a winning culture in Baltimore.
  • Alan pushes back: “When you’re trying to find something, Bart… While everybody’s celebrating… Bart is trying to say, ‘We made him.’ But my response is, okay, so he learned from a great franchise and now knows what to do.” (26:32–27:35)

• Coaching Trees & Inherited Cultures

  • Don: “Everybody is going to get it from somewhere else… But, I'll take exception to what Bart said… [Harbaugh] started to ratchet it back up again… He rebuilt it.” (28:27–29:41)
  • The debate extends to legends like Tomlin, Belichick, Shanahan – most coaches inherit and adapt the cultures that came before them.

• Comic Relief: Office Trail Mix Mystery

  • Hahn accuses Bart Scott of pilfering his Trader Joe’s trail mix from the office snack cabinet:
    • "America’s guest—wherever he is, he’s there, he’s got access." – Alan (33:35)
    • "He thinks nothing of leaving the shoes on and putting them right on the couch." (33:53)
  • Don and Peter join in ribbing, comparing Bart’s bottomless snacking habits to the DeLorean from Back to the Future (feeds off anything).
  • “No, he’s beating health. Health can’t beat him.” – Peter, on Bart’s supernatural ability to process junk food. (34:59)

• Shout-outs to Model New York Athletes

  • The group praises Carl Banks and Victor Cruz for their post-career presence and New York connection: “Carl Banks would never be on That Guy Thursday…A guy from Flint, Michigan, just becomes quintessential New Yorker.” (37:31–38:37)

Final Thoughts: Tempering Giants Hype & More NFC East Talk

(42:46–47:08)

• Don cautions Giants fans to pump the brakes on wild optimism:

  • "All of a sudden you start setting the expectations way too high... it becomes a wicked failure." (42:46)

• The hosts break down the NFC East landscape, suggesting the division remains highly competitive and that Harbaugh’s instant credibility may not immediately translate to 10-win seasons.

Standout Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• “He wanted to be the head coach of the New York Giants, I can assure you of that.” – Ian O’Connor (13:07)
• "He’s not looking to rebuild. He’s looking to win in 2026." – Ian O’Connor (06:34)
• "If you told me the Giants were a wild card playoff team next year, I would not be surprised." – Ian O’Connor (14:36)
• "If [Harbaugh] spends a decade with the Giants, what would define those 10 years as successful?" – Don La Greca (21:09)
• "America’s guest—wherever he is, he’s there, he’s got access." – Alan Hahn (33:35) [re: Bart Scott’s office snacking]

Structure & Flow

• Start: Giants coaching hire takes center stage with expert reporting from Ian O’Connor, examining all angles: rationale, implications, and insider nuggets.
• Middle: Spirited debate about what defines coaching greatness and the structures enabling or limiting new head coaches like Harbaugh.
• End: Recurring segment “That Guy Thursday” lightens the mood with playful criticism of sports personalities and colleagues, before returning for closing expectations-setting and division outlook.

Conclusion

For any Giants fan or NFL observer, this episode offers both high-level analysis and authentic, behind-the-scenes perspective on the John Harbaugh hire. Ian O’Connor’s reporting is essential listening for those seeking to understand the decision’s magnitude and what it means for the future in New York. The second half showcases the hosts’ chemistry and love of New York sports culture, mixing serious football talk with office camaraderie and humor.

Timestamps for Key Segments:

• Harbaugh hire discussion: 02:14–17:32
• "Defining Success" debate: 20:31, 21:09, 45:33, 46:13, 47:08, 48:28
• That Guy Thursday & trail mix mystery: 24:35–35:16

Ads, intro, and outro sections have been omitted for clarity and relevance.