Don, Hahn & Rosenberg Podcast

Episode Title: Hour 3: Eli, Jets & Picks
Date: January 2, 2026
Hosts: Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg, Don La Greca (voice appeared in pick segment)
Theme: A lively, candid discussion of New York sports, focusing on Eli Manning's Hall of Fame candidacy, the problems surrounding the New York Jets' coaching situation, and NFL Week 18 picks. The show is interspersed with classic New York sports banter, spirited debate, and listener calls for an all-encompassing snapshot of the state of NY sports fandom.

Episode Overview

Hour 3 dives deep into:

• The case for and against Eli Manning as an NFL Hall of Famer
• An excoriating look at Aaron Glenn's first season coaching the Jets
• Frustrations with Jets ownership and organizational direction
• A spirited Cuddle/Marry/Trash about Knicks rivals
• Listener calls about Giants, Jets, and Knicks passions
• Week 18 NFL picks with classic “pick against your friends” logic

The tone is full of humor, local passion, playful ribbing, exasperation, and honest, insightful sports analysis.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Eli Manning: Hall of Famer? (02:08–12:20)

• Case for Eli:

  • "Do I think Eli Manning is a Hall of Famer? I do...But do I think it's crazy or a hot take for someone to suggest he isn't a Hall of Famer? I don't." – Rosenberg [02:08]
  • Rosenberg highlights the nuance in Eli's candidacy: undeniable playoff highs vs. pedestrian career numbers (500 record, no MVP votes).
  • Eli’s playoff heroics: Two Super Bowl runs, both as underdogs, both with game-winning drives against dominant Patriots teams.
  • Local fans consider his induction a “slam dunk,” national discussion is far less enthusiastic.
  • Hahn discusses the logjam of eligible QBs. “It will take Eli some time. Not because he’s not a Hall of Famer...that’s kind of how it works.” [03:49]

• Notable Context:

  • If Eli had two league MVPs instead of two Super Bowl MVPs, he’d be “first ballot,” says Rosenberg, showing how regular season awards carry more weight than postseason heroics.[06:19]

• Durability:

  • “What never gets discussed with Eli too is the durability. The fact he always plays—that’s amazing.” – Hahn [10:53]
  • Rarity of a 2x Super Bowl MVP/QB with a .500 career record sparks debate about Hall of Fame benchmarks.

• Notable Quote:

  • “You can't tell the story of this sport without Eli.” – Don Hahn [12:16]

Notable Moment

Best Eli throw:

• “The best throw you’ll ever see in any Super Bowl maybe ever is Eli to Manningham on the game-winning drive in the second Super Bowl against the Patriots.” – Hahn [08:44]
• Rosenberg: “And beating Favre in their building. That stuff matters.” [08:29]

2. Jets' Dysfunction & Aaron Glenn Debate (12:58–23:43)

• Biting Critique of Glenn’s Leadership:

  • Aaron Glenn uses garbage time from a blowout (Jets losing 40–13 to the Jaguars) to define their "brand" of football: “Could you imagine being Jermaine Johnson...the head coach wants the show plays from a drive in garbage time...It's laughable.” – Hahn [15:09]
  • Glenn’s lack of “X’s and O’s” expertise, poor in-game leadership, and questionable personnel decisions cited as persistent problems.
  • “There’s nothing Aaron Glenn could point to that he does well as a head coach. You can't name one thing.” – Hahn [17:09]

• Ownership’s Role:

  • Rosenberg and Hahn agree that owner Woody Johnson’s loyalty, not football acumen, will keep Glenn in place. “Woody Johnson’s a terrible owner. No one could dispute that. The record’s the record. I do think he wants to win.” – Hahn [19:39]
  • Discussion: Whether Johnson will act out of ego to defend his own hires, or intervene (“We wanted him out of the way. Now we’re asking him to intervene.” – Rosenberg [19:41])
  • Comparison to other owners (e.g., Cal McNair firing two coaches in two years), suggesting a lack of urgency in the Jets’ front office.

• Coaching Hot Seat:

  • “Everyone’s saying Glenn’s on the hot seat going into next year. Does anyone actually think this is going to turn around? They’re playing the AFC West next year.” – Hahn [22:40]

• Arguments against “Give him another year:”

  • “The only justification people use for not firing him is saying, oh, who would want the job? Or they say, well, it’s only been a year. No one can actually give you a tangible football reason why this guy deserves to be the head coach.” – Hahn [17:09]
  • “Who would want the job is silly. ... Woody Johnson’s not firing this guy. It’s not going to happen.” – Rosenberg [17:47]

Notable Moment

• “If we could just complete a pass, it would look good.” – Don Hahn, deadpan on the state of the Jets’ offense [20:35]

3. Knicks, Rivalries & Cuddle/Marry/Trash (27:31–29:37)

• Knicks vs. Rivals:
  • Discussion on Knicks’ games, Trae Young’s villain role, and fan chants. “I’ve been leaving games this year at the Garden, and, like, it’s like a funny thing for the Knick fan to do. They just start chanting, f Trae Young. I’m like, he’s not even in the game.” – Don Hahn [28:08]
  • Cuddle/Marry/Trash: Embiid, Halliburton, Young—debated who Knicks fans detest most.
    • “Embiid is a dirty player, and Trae Young is just annoying and not as good as Halliburton. ... If I’m doing it in reverse of who I dislike the most...” – Don Hahn [28:49]

4. Listener Calls: NY Fan Perspectives (30:34–35:44)

• Callers Nick & Vinny:
  • Nick, a passionate Knicks and Giants fan, reinforces panel’s Eli arguments: “You literally cannot [write] the history of the NFL without Eli Manning. ... He played his best football in the playoffs against the biggest names and beat the greatest, literally the greatest team ever assembled in New England in 2007.” [33:30]
  • Vinny from Staten Island: Praises hosts for truth-telling on Glenn; says firing coaches after bad first seasons can lead to success. “This guy just has...no clue what he’s doing...Just they got to get rid of the GM too.” [35:04]
  • Frustration with ownership: “The owner doesn’t set offensive schemes, make defensive schemes. The owner just has to pick a head coach...That’s all he has to do.” [35:40]

5. Jets: Coaching Turnover Isn’t a Setback (35:48–39:21)

• Don’s NFL Coaching Carousel Point:
  • Firing 1st-year coaches hasn’t been a setback for other franchises—often leads to improvement or playoff appearances:
    • "Steve Wilks fired, replaced by Kingsbury—playoffs. Kitchens replaced, Stefanski—playoffs. Urban Meyer replaced, Doug Pederson—playoff win. Cully/Lovie led to DeMeco Ryans—playoffs. Hackett led to Payton—improvement. ... It’s utter nonsense to say firing a coach sets the franchise back.” [36:45]
    • Only two other Jets coaches have lost 14+ games—puts Glenn’s performance into historical context. [38:14]

6. NFL Week 18 Picks Segment (39:51–45:56)

• Hilariously overthought picks, with “go the other way if all three agree” logic.
• Pick details (supporting evidence, lines, reasons for and against each pick)
• Notable Quotes:
  • “You want to be hot at the right time!” – Don Hahn on playoff picking momentum [40:52]
  • “Sam Darnold and the Seattle Seahawks laying the two and a half..." – Don Hahn, picking against the consensus [42:31]
  • “I love the Bills in the spot. ... It could be 10, it could be 14. I think they lose by at least 20.” – Don Hahn, on Jets' prospects against Buffalo [44:12]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Eli’s Giant Moments:

  • “That’s a Hall of Fame like resume. He had Hall of Fame moments and he played at his best in the clutch.” – Don Hahn [08:32]

• On Local Fan Bias:

  • “Pretending as if it’s some hot take that he shouldn’t [get in] is being disingenuous. That’s rooted in, like, the Giant fan bias.” – Rosenberg [11:28]

• On Jets Dysfunction:

  • “Every time [Glenn] opens his mouth, I feel like it’s like what Joe Judge said at the end of his tenure where he basically got himself fired by just sounding clueless.” – Don Hahn [15:58]

• Fan Love:

  • “I literally have only Giant tattooed on my back because I love Eli that much…” – Nick, caller [33:30]

• Desperation & Humor:

  • “If we could just complete a pass, it would look good.” – Don Hahn [20:35]

• Knicks Fans on Trae Young:

  • “The Knick fan will never forget Trey Young...They just start chanting, f Trae Young. I’m like, he’s not even in the game.” – Don Hahn [28:08]

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Topic | Notes | |---------------|------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:08–12:20 | Eli Manning: Hall of Fame case | Deep debate, durability, and memorable moments | | 12:58–23:43 | Jets analysis, Aaron Glenn critique | Organization dysfunction, garbage time “brand” anecdote | | 27:31–29:37 | Knicks, rivalries, Cuddle/Marry/Trash | NYK passions, anti-Trae Young, Embiid, Halliburton | | 30:34–35:44 | Fan Calls: NY fan perspectives | Eli’s Giants legacy, Jets frustrations, coaching turnover | | 35:48–39:21 | Coaching carousel: firing isn’t a setback | Don’s argument supported with NFL examples | | 39:51–45:56 | NFL Week 18 Picks & banter | Logic, self-mockery, in-depth reasoning |

Section Summary: Language & Tone

• The hosts and callers blend honesty, authenticity, and classic NY media humor—mixing sharp critique (of Glenn, Johnson), statistical rigor (on Eli’s career), and warm, passionate fandom. Quips and running jokes about relationships, picks, and coaching ineptitude are weaved in, giving the show its “local hangout” feel.

For New Listeners: Why This Episode Is Essential

If you want to understand the heart and angst of NY sports fandom—the pride and the pain—this episode is a perfect sample. It’s honest about what makes Giants (and Eli’s) legacy complicated. It’s outright exasperated with the mess of the Jets. And it’s full of the affectionate, ribbing camaraderie and deep sports knowledge that makes Don, Hahn & Rosenberg a fixture for New York sports fans.