Don, Hahn & Rosenberg - Hour 2: Jets, NFL Binge, Ohtani

Date: October 20, 2025
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Podcast Description: A lively trio of Don La Greca (NY/NJ legend), Alan Hahn (Knicks broadcaster), and Peter Rosenberg (hip-hop/WWE personality) dissect New York sports, the NFL, and wider sporting culture with their trademark charisma and honesty.

Episode Overview

This episode dives into:

• The Jets' continued quarterback turmoil and organizational dysfunction
• NFL Week in review: notable games, team trajectories, and MVP chatter
• Shohei Ohtani’s historic playoff performance and his unique status in baseball history

1. Jets Quarterback Debacle & Team Dysfunction

[00:43] – [13:20]

Main Discussion Points:

• The hosts lament the Jets' inability to "learn how to win," focusing on poor quarterback play and lack of offensive weapons.
• Tyrod Taylor's potential to have turned games around is debated, but the consensus is that the team's problems are deeper than QB.
• Justin Fields is singled out for not being "NFL game ready," appearing completely lost, with minimal offensive production.
• The blame extends to the Jets' coaching and front office for ill preparation and lack of offensive strategy tailored to their players.

Key Quotes & Moments:

• Don Hahn [00:43]: "The Jets...are just another game in which it's winnable, but they just can't win it. They don't know how to win."
• Peter Rosenberg [01:31]: "Anybody that said...you got to go to Tyrod Taylor...you're not paying attention...they didn't really find anybody else to play wide receiver."
• Alan Hahn [04:11]: "The frustration again, to me about this team is how it was ill-prepared going into the season, clearly."
• Peter Rosenberg [10:45]: "The Jets are lethal injection to quarterbacks...you get sentenced to the Jets, it's the death penalty."

Statistical Low Points:

• Fields’ passing stats in multiple games are cited as "painful," with a net gain of about 10 yards.
• Since Week 1, only 4 offensive touchdowns in 6 games—zero first-half TDs, one TD in the third quarter (garbage time).

Broader Reflection:

• The show discusses broader systemic issues: failed drafting (Darnold, Zach Wilson), poor free agency, and a decades-long struggle to develop or protect QBs.
• They sardonically wonder if any QB ("even Josh Allen," "Lamar Jackson," "Joe Namath") could succeed here.

2. Giants: Coaching Failures & Rumors

[15:53] – [21:34]

Main Discussion Points:

• Giants coach Brian Daboll is grilled for not considering coaching staff changes after an epic defensive collapse.
• The hosts discuss the fallout from pushing out Wink Martindale and whether there's any value in internal defensive changes at this stage.
• If the season implodes, they predict the entire regime goes, not just assistants.

Notable Quotes:

• Don Hahn [16:34]: "I'm glad he took responsibility for it because at the end of the day it is his responsibility."
• Alan Hahn [17:48]: "If they do make a change at the end of the season...everybody goes. Nothing's worth saving."

Dream Coaches Segment

• The guys have fun hypothetically shopping for next Giants coach—Mike Tomlin, Mike McCarthy, John Harbaugh, Pete Carroll, and jokes about Belichick and Brian Kelly.
  • Peter Rosenberg [18:52]: "If Tomlin ever shook loose in Pittsburgh...just the stability of it."
  • Don Hahn [20:57]: "Bringing in an experienced coach in New York is going to be very important."

3. NFL Binge: Week in Review

[24:46] – [36:57]

Main Discussion Points:

• Segue into the "NFL Binge"—recapping key Week 7(8) matchups, MVP candidates, and shifting power rankings.
• Rams humiliate the Jaguars in London; Stafford and Devonte Adams shine.
• Eagles’ steady dominance, Cowboys’ offensive explosion, and Commanders’ season on the brink after Jaden Daniels’ injury.
• NFC West has multiple playoff contenders; MVP talk—Dak Prescott’s first-half heroics but past second-half struggles.

Key Segments & Quotes:

• Don Hahn [25:55]: [Play-by-play voiceover for a Rams touchdown, enhancing the binge experience.]
• Alan Hahn [29:04]: "You could be over before...your season can be over in one second."
• Peter Rosenberg [32:07]: "Is there any more parody than...there really doesn't feel like a team that, if I had to put all my money on this team...there's no one."
• Don Hahn [33:32]: "All you got to do is just kind of hang in there...then you get yourself in the wild card...and everybody's like, oh, there they are again."

Fun Stats & Trivia:

• Two teams with 200+ points scored: Cowboys (NFC) and—surprisingly—the Colts (AFC).
  • Peter Rosenberg [38:01]: "Yes. Well done. 232 points."

4. Shohei Ohtani: Legendary Playoff Feat

[39:53] – [50:55]

Main Discussion Points:

• Ohtani throws 6 shutout innings with 10 Ks and hits 3 homers in the same playoff game, carrying the Dodgers to the World Series.
• The episode contrasts Ohtani's two-way dominance with the greats of other sports—Bill Russell, Lamar Jackson, George Blanda. None compare.
• Speculation: Should Ohtani win this World Series, does he enter the "greatest of all time" debate?

Memorable Quotes:

• Don Hahn [40:06]: “One of the greatest playoff performances, I think, in the history of any sports, is what Ohtani did.”
• Alan Hahn [41:28]: "I want to go back and do it again. Give him the MVP every year. It’s just so psychotic when it all comes together like that."
• Peter Rosenberg [46:28]: "Most DHs never pitch. In fact, never do. This is... you don’t see this."
• Alan Hahn [47:24]: "At what point do you say, is he the greatest player that’s ever lived?"
• Don Hahn [50:15]: "If I go out there and make 35 starts... that has to be better than anything Judge can do defensively. But Ohtani hasn’t done that yet."

Contextual Analogies:

• They reach for football and hockey metaphors—a goalie recording a shutout, then skating as a forward and scoring a hat-trick in a playoff clincher.

5. Notable Quotes - Highlight Reel

• Peter Rosenberg [10:45] (on Jets QBs): "The Jets are lethal injection to quarterbacks...you get sentenced to the Jets, it’s the death penalty."
• Don Hahn [40:06]: "One of the greatest playoff performances, I think, in the history of any sports, is what Ohtani did."
• Alan Hahn [41:28]: "It’s just so psychotic when it all comes together like that. It’s truly unlike anything else in pro sports."
• Alan Hahn [47:24]: "At what point do you say, is he the greatest player that’s ever lived?"

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Jets QB Discussion/Dysfunction: [00:43] – [13:20]
• Giants Coaching Change Debate: [15:53] – [21:34]
• NFL Binge—Week’s Biggest Games: [24:46] – [36:57]
• Ohtani’s Historic Night & GOAT Talk: [39:53] – [50:55]

Tone and Atmosphere

• The episode is packed with signature blend of sarcasm, passionate sports agony (especially re: NY teams), quick wit, and hilarious analogies.
• Each host brings his expertise and cynicism to dissect failings and rare athletic greatness, while poking fun at each other and at persistent sports narratives.

Summary Takeaway

• The Jets and Giants remain mired in institutional chaos, defined by poor quarterback and coaching choices.
• NFL's parity reigns, with few surefire favorites—except, perhaps, Kansas City’s relentless competence.
• Shohei Ohtani’s two-way mastery is so singular, the hosts can't even find a fitting cross-sport comparison, and openly question if he’s now the greatest to ever play baseball.