Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 2: “Jets at 2 & NFL Binge”

Episode Date: January 12, 2026
Hosts: Alan Hahn, Don La Greca, Peter Rosenberg
Podcast: ESPN New York

Overview

Hour 2 of the show dives deep into:

• The Jets’ NFL Draft dilemma, particularly what to do with the No. 2 pick and whether to take quarterback Dante Moore after his lackluster postseason performance.
• Broader issues of quarterback development and organizational patience—all colored by the Jets’ checkered history.
• Lively breakdowns of wild card weekend action, including standout performances by Matthew Stafford (Rams), and the historic Chicago Bears comeback.
• Candid debate on sports journalism, prompted by a viral exchange between a Jacksonville Free Press reporter and Jaguars’ coach Liam Cohen.

The tone is classic Don, Hahn, and Rosenberg: passionate, debating, equal parts cynicism and sports fandom, and always poking fun at each other.

NFL Draft & Jets QB Debate (00:00 – 21:33)

Setting the Scene

• The episode opens with recaps of the wild card weekend and focus on the Jets’ NFL Draft conundrum.
• Alan Hahn spotlights the stakes: “This is the year when the Jets need a quarterback… except we don’t know what Mendoza is going to be in the NFL. So now you start to say the Jets have the number two pick. It looks more and more like Mendoza is the runaway to go number one…” (03:27)
• The hosts launch into whether the Jets should draft Dante Moore or trade down.

The Dante Moore Quandary

• Alan Hahn: On Moore’s disappointing playoff game, “There's nothing he can do in a pro day that's going to make up for what he looked like in that game early in that game.” (04:01)
• He leans hard toward trading down and accumulating picks, not grabbing a “project” QB at 2.
• Don La Greca pushes back: If the Jets love a guy, why not take him—even if he sits? Cites Chiefs sitting Mahomes as a precedent.
• Peter Rosenberg and Don both raise the reality that, as Don says, “Pressure is all relative to how much you accept the pressure. Mendoza is going to come in as a star… Moore is the kid that got blown out by Mendoza… so there may not be a lot of pressure. But if you believe in him and believe he can mature… you can’t pass on that just because you don’t start him right away.” (07:31)

Notable Quote

• Alan Hahn: “I have PTSD about Zach Wilson. If you want to… it’s the number two pick. You don’t have to take him at two. You can trade out, get more picks, make your roster better…” (05:02)

The Jets’ Development Dysfunction

• Hahn: “I don’t trust the Jets to have the ability to develop a quarterback. Let’s start there.” (06:47)
• Don: “If I can’t develop a quarterback… then it doesn’t matter. You can have a billion picks. You can have the greatest football team in the history of earth with no quarterback. Where are you going?” (10:37)
• Hahn: “What I’m doing is compensating for the biggest negative this franchise has had in 50 years: the lack of developing a quarterback. You’re trying to jimmy-switch the situation, right? You’re trying to find a back door...” (11:21)

Historical NFL Context & Data

• Rosenberg brings up the risk with QBs with “fewer than 20 college starts,” recites a string of names including “Trey Lance, Mac Jones, Kyler Murray, Dwayne Haskins, Mitch Trubisky… The only star is Cam Newton.” (05:54)

Solutions & Philosophies

• Don argues: “If Kansas City had the same logic with Patrick Mahomes, well, he’s not ready and I already got a veteran quarterback, let’s not pick him. He ends up dropping to 10 and becomes what he’s become.” (13:16)
• Alan reflects: “I just don’t feel like this is playing the lottery every year and hoping to hit.” (12:57)
• Don: “You see the quarterback, you must draft him.” (14:23)

Damian Woody Weighs In (14:37)

• Woody’s Key Point: If you believe in the prospect and most importantly have a plan (include a veteran starter), draft Moore—but don’t play him right away. The Jets haven’t had “infrastructure and a plan” in a long time. (15:50)

NFL Wild Card Recap – NFL Binge (24:02 – 37:15)

Rams vs Panthers – Stafford’s Heroics (24:18)

• Don: “Matthew Stafford… 12 of 15 in the fourth quarter and led his fourth career game winning drive in the fourth [quarter] in the playoffs. All of which have come since he joined the Rams in 2021.” (25:05)
• Memorable Moment: “I think it was Parkinson who said what he said in the huddle… ‘Let’s go snatch their hearts in the huddle.’” (25:35, confirmed by Alan at 27:19)
• Peter: “He’s a killer.” (27:41)

Bears Historic Comeback (27:41)

• Largest comeback in Bears playoff history, erasing a 21–3 halftime deficit.
• Bears HC Ben Johnson in the locker room: “Bleep the Packers!” (28:14)
• Alan: “The Bears pull off their largest comeback in franchise playoff history, outscoring the Packers 25–6 in the fourth quarter after trailing 21–3 at the half…” (28:16)
• Notable debate about Johnson’s language and decorum in the locker room. Don questions if he should have known the cameras were rolling (29:19), Peter is more forgiving (29:57).

Bills Edge Jaguars – Kindness and Critique (31:36)

• Josh Allen scores a go-ahead touch on a QB sneak with 1:02 left.
• Remarkable stat: Allen is the second player with a go-ahead passing TD and go-ahead rushing TD in the fourth quarter of a playoff game. (31:55)
• Viral Moment: Jacksonville Free Press reporter Lynn Jones offers coach Liam Cohen heartfelt praise instead of a direct question post-game:
  • “You hold your head up, all right? You guys have had a magnificent season… Duvall, you the one. All right?” (32:16)
• The trio debate journalistic norms and the changing nature of access and fandom.
  • Alan: “It was a sweet moment that should have been private, right?” (32:44)
  • Don: “Are you a member of the team or are you covering the team?” (34:07)
  • Peter: Suggests small-market context but acknowledges it was a break from journalistic tradition (35:50).

49ers Knock Off Defending Champs (37:54)

• San Francisco beats the Eagles in a nailbiter.
• George Kittle goes down with an Achilles, WR Gabe Davis ACL—highlighting attritional toll on playoff teams.
• Chargers’ season ends as Justin Herbert is stifled by the Patriots.

Sports Media & Fan Calls (44:00 – 49:23)

• Caller “Jose from Connecticut” agrees with Pat McAfee: “Sports writers… act like they're in the war zone… This is why print media is dying. Like, people like McAfee… are adapting to what's happening. So it's okay to have one there for a lady with 85, 90% of the regular [questions].” (44:00)
• Don pushes back: “That's not what it's for. That's not the forum. This is not a chance to compliment… in that particular forum, it's to ask questions about the game. That's what it's for.” (45:44)
• Rosy debate about whether adapted, more ‘human’ moments belong at the press conference mic or strictly outside of official team media time.

Notable Quotes

• Alan Hahn (On Jets drafting Moore):
  "I have PTSD about Zach Wilson… You don't have to take him at 2. You can trade out, get more picks, make your roster better and take a quarterback later." (05:02)
• Don La Greca (On failing to develop QBs):
  "If I can't develop a quarterback… then it doesn't matter. You can have a billion picks. You can have the greatest football team in the history of earth with no quarterback. Where are you going?" (10:37)
• Matthew Stafford (per Devonte Adams):
  "Let's go snatch their hearts in the huddle." (27:19)
• Alan Hahn (On sports journalism standards):
  "It was a sweet moment that should have been private, right?... That's not the place for it, it's just not. And you have to have respect for those around you to understand that." (34:44)

Tone & Chemistry

• Lively, adversarial—but affectionate—debate among Alan, Don, and Peter on strategy and philosophy, both on field and off.
• Frequent ribbing about each other's musical tastes, with Don feigning outrage at being left out of song references (40:18).
• As always, the show weaves in pop culture, humor, and inside jokes with deep football analysis, making for a rich listening experience.

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |-----------------------------------------------------|------------| | Jets Draft & Dante Moore discussion | 00:00–21:33| | Rams’ clutch win, Stafford’s leadership | 24:18–27:41| | Bears’ comeback & Ben Johnson's F-bomb | 27:41–31:11| | Bills-Jags finish & viral reporter moment | 31:36–35:48| | Don vs. Alan vs. Peter: Sportswriting & fandom | 44:00–49:23|

Memorable & Funny Moments

• Don accuses Alan of “trying to invent fire” by wanting to change the usual Jets draft approach (20:43).
• Stafford’s “snatch their hearts” moment in the Rams huddle gets the hosts fired up (25:35, 27:19).
• Don laments, “They’re spitting up and wetting themselves at the same time,” referencing the Jets’ dysfunction (20:07).
• Peter joking about small-market press: “You're not going to hear that in New York. But like it was Jacksonville.” (35:50)
• Don mock-objecting to music choices and feeling left out (40:18).

Summary Conclusion

In another classic “Don, Hahn & Rosenberg” hour, the trio applies their unique blend of sports savvy, New York cynicism, and lively banter to the key questions facing the Jets’ future—and the wild action of NFL wild card weekend. The episode features sharp, sometimes heated, analysis of team-building philosophies, a keen eye for the human side of football (and sports journalism), and plenty of playful chemistry.

It’s an essential episode for Jets fans, football junkies, and anyone invested in how teams (and media) build for the future.