Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – "Giants Preview" (Hour 3, Oct 31, 2025)
Podcast: ESPN New York | Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg

Episode Overview

This hour centers on the state of the New York Giants as they approach a pivotal matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. The hosts analyze the Giants’ season-to-date, focusing on rookie QB Jackson Dart’s development, the job status of head coach Brian Daboll and GM Joe Schoen, and speculate about potential shakeups on the coaching staff. Insights from 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and defensive coordinator Robert Saleh add an outsider’s perspective on Dart. The hosts weigh scenarios for the remainder of the Giants’ season, touch on trade deadline chatter, and close the hour with their weekly NFL picks. Their signature playful banter and deep New York sports knowledge set the tone.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Luster Fades from Giants-49ers Rivalry

• The hosts lament that Giants-49ers, once a prime-time, high-stakes NFL rivalry, has lost its national appeal due to both teams’ underperformance—especially the Giants.
  • Rosenberg (00:44): "Giants-Niners week, you were talking about something you were obsessed over all week and now…it’s like an afterthought. Giants all banged up…these two teams…have kind of underachieved as of late, especially the Giants."

2. Jackson Dart: League-Wide Impressions

• Both Shanahan and Saleh heap praise on Giants rookie QB Jackson Dart.
  • Kyle Shanahan (02:41): "His vision is pretty elite when it comes to seeing holes in the defense...he knows how to play quarterback and he’s been extremely impressive so far."
  • Robert Saleh (03:19): "He’s dynamic, he’s decisive, he’s accurate…He’s going to be special."
• Hosts note this praise, especially given limited game tape, signals that league minds see real promise in Dart.

3. Wins, Losses & Daboll’s Job Security

• With the Giants sitting at 2-6, the central debate becomes: How many wins are needed for Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen to keep their jobs? The role of injuries and the importance of “how it looks” are debated.
• Jordan Raanan (via clip, 06:57): "You have to produce results…every week you lose more games, it’s going in the negative column of your resume…You went 4 and 13 again, how are you going to sit there and claim you have all these good players?"
• The hosts settle on “five or six” wins as the bare minimum to justify keeping the current staff—with strong development from Dart as an equally crucial factor.

4. The ‘Look’ of the Season: Not Just Results

• Discussion pivots to the qualitative nature of the Giants’ season. It’s not just about win totals, but about how competitive the team appears and particularly Dart’s progress.
  • Don Hahn (12:41): "It’s so about how Dart looks…If Dart doesn’t grow…that’s a problem…do we just have another Daniel Jones?"
  • Peter (13:33): "You sell it as well, he had no talent around him…Those throws are right there…A good NFL receiver would have caught that ball…You make the argument for to defend yourself if you’re going there as an owner."
• If the team trends upward, even modestly, it strengthens the case for extending the coach, but the margin is razor thin.

5. Who’s Next? Replacement Talk & Succession Planning

• The conversation explores what it would mean to fire Daboll, warning against doing so “without a plan”—contrasting with the Jets’ past instability.
  • Peter (32:09): "If you feel like it's somehow chugging up the hill, even if it's slow, you're better off extending for a short term than blowing it up…if you don’t have your obvious next coach that you know can come in and get you right."
  • Rosenberg (33:20): "John Mara…should have spent the last few months compiling a list of people. We don’t have the list, but hopefully he does."
• They vow to bring on NFL insiders soon to “name names” in the coaching search should a move be necessary.

6. Trade Deadline Speculation

• The Giants are “not expected to do anything major,” perhaps shopping Evan Neal, with Jalin Hyatt benched and Kayvon Thibodeaux the only attractive piece—though hosts doubt the Giants move on from him, given his upside and cost control.
  • Jordan Raanan (24:34): "They’re trying to trade Evan Neal…Jalin Hyatt…is available."
• The team’s cap situation (cheap QB contract) is highlighted as an advantage, but the consensus is, with their record and injuries, it’s no time to be buyers. The focus is now on developing Dart.

7. Fan Call-In: Daboll as Coach vs. Coordinator

• "James from New Jersey" calls to express faith in Daboll, while also noting that quarterback play alone can’t save his job.
  • James (28:30): "I don't know whether Jackson Dart's just a really good quarterback and he's making Brian Dable look good…"
• Hosts discuss the “coordinator vs. head coach” dilemma and remind that head coaching requires far more than just developing a quarterback or calling plays.

8. NFL Coach Selection — It’s About the Shortlist

• Emphasizing the need for a ready shortlist, the hosts stress that firing a coach without a replacement in mind is perilous, likening it to how successful executives always have prospective names ready.
  • Rosenberg (34:29): "I have to think that there is a list on John Mara's desk right now…"

9. Weekly NFL Picks Segment (36:49–45:14)

• The hosts each make their picks for the NFL weekend, displaying both friendly rivalry and frustration with their records.
  • Rosenberg: Panthers (+13.5), Bears (-2.5), Chargers (-9.5)
  • Peter: Broncos (+1.5), Bears (-2.5), Cowboys (-2.5)
  • Don Hahn: Patriots (-5.5), Lions (-9.5), Commanders (+3)
• Quips and ribbing abound as they hope for this week’s fortunes to turn.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Shanahan on Jackson Dart, 02:41:
  "His vision is pretty elite…he knows how to play quarterback and he's been extremely impressive so far."

• Saleh on Jackson Dart, 03:19:
  "He's dynamic, he's decisive, he's accurate. He's been a joy to watch…he's going to be special."

• Rosenberg on external Giants perception, 03:56:
  "You get Giants emails as spam unless you're playing them, right?...outside of New York, why would you be interested in a perennial loser..."

• Insider Jordan Raanan on job security, 06:57:
  "Wins matter here and the way it looks down the stretch matters... Six wins feels like...you've got to have something along those lines."

• Don Hahn on rookie QB growth, 12:41:
  "If Dart doesn't grow...do we just have another Daniel Jones? A guy who's talented, but will be much better with someone else."

• Peter on coaching succession, 17:32:
  "You can't fire somebody and then go, let's just do a search. You can't do that. You've got to know who you can just bring in...I don't know if that's available right now."

• Rosenberg on Giants’ coaching contingency, 33:20:
  "I would hope [Mara] has spent the last few months compiling a list of people...just in case he has to make the decision."

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Giants-49ers rivalry & current state: 00:44–02:41
• Shanahan & Saleh on Dart: 02:41–03:50
• The “win total” for keeping jobs: 06:15–11:56
• The ‘look’ of the season, not just record: 12:41–17:32
• Coaching hot seat: succession & planning: 17:32–19:39, 32:09–36:05
• Trade deadline & roster moves: 24:34–27:24
• Fan call, Daboll as head coach: 28:30–30:42
• Coaching search, the need for a list: 32:09–36:05
• NFL Weekly Picks: 36:49–45:14

Tone & Flow

The episode is candid and analytical, with the hosts’ trademark mix of directness, sarcasm, and self-aware New York sports fatalism. There’s a thread of hope — if guarded — in Dart, but strong realism (bordering on cynicism) about the challenges facing the Giants’ leadership. Throughout, the hosts keep the discussion accessible to both die-hard fans and casual listeners, explaining context as they go and always punctuating serious talk with humor and personal interjections.

Summary Takeaway

Hour 3 gives listeners a sharp, no-nonsense diagnosis of the Giants’ 2025 struggles: There’s hope in the rookie QB, skepticism about coaching, and urgency for change—but only if that change is truly ready. The Giants’ next nine games will set the tone for the franchise, but the future hinges on progress, not just on paper but in spirit, discipline, and the eye test. The debate is open and urgent: Develop, or detonate? The pressure is on, both on the field and in the front office.