Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – "Hour 3: Harbaugh Watch Continues" (Jan 13, 2026)

Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Theme: The ongoing saga of the New York Giants’ pursuit of John Harbaugh, franchise leadership dynamics, and a spirited look at New York sports and NFL coaching carousel.

Episode Overview

This hour is dominated by the evolving story of the New York Giants’ quest to land head coach John Harbaugh amid competition from Atlanta and Tennessee, the implications of ownership succession for the franchise, and how rising salaries for elite NFL coaches could change the market. The hosts also riff on the historical stature of the Giants, touch on hockey road trips, and field lively calls from the New York sports faithful. The tone is energetic, speculative, often humorous, with deep dives into NFL franchise politics.

Key Topics & Insights

1. John Harbaugh & the Giants’ Pursuit (00:14–18:41)

• Mike Tomlin’s Stepping Down Opens a Domino Effect
  • Tomlin steps down from Pittsburgh; TV likely for him. Pittsburgh’s job opens, shifting the market for top coaches.
• Giants’ Harbaugh Chase
  • Giants labeled as slight favorites for Harbaugh per Ian O’Connor’s "golf analogy": “The Giants are 6 under, but Tennessee and Atlanta, they're 5 under...but they're close.” (00:42)
  • Money, Joe Shane’s presence, and the Mara family’s health are possible factors.
• Ownership & Power Dynamics
  • Chris Mara, John Mara’s brother, was the first in-person Giants exec to meet with Harbaugh—a clear signal of succession plans.
  • History examined: When Ernie Accorsi retired, Chris was passed over for GM in favor of Jerry Reese due to family politics and “nepotism” concerns (02:20).
  • Tish and Mara families jointly own the Giants; friction or checks and balances possible if Chris ascends.
• Continuity & Decision Power
  • The hosts theorize Joe Shane remains GM as a strategic move by Tish to balance Chris Mara, or as a stabilizer amid John Mara’s illness.
  • “If Jon were to ever not be the owner...would Chris become Jerry Jones?” (02:57)
• Who Influences Harbaugh?
  • Eli Manning, Brian Daboll, and others have called to recommend the Giants.
  • Despite illness, John Mara is “putting in the work” and directly engaging Harbaugh, which the hosts view as hugely significant.

Memorable Quote:

“Despite his cancer fight, Mara has been putting in the work, engaging in all in person interviews in New Jersey and working the phones on Harbaugh today. Wow, he wants this one.” – Alan Hahn (05:17)

2. How Much is Too Much? Harbaugh’s Price & Market Realities (06:25–18:41; 12:04–15:13)

• Coach Salary Speculation
  • Should the Giants be outbid? “From a court of public opinion, do you really want to be outspent by Atlanta and Tennessee?” (07:21)
  • Coaches have no salary cap; sky’s the limit. Giants rumored to offer $20M/yr, but “at some point you gotta say no, right?” (08:55)
• Limits to Bidding War
  • “If all of a sudden I had to give you 30. No, no. Go walk that. That's ridiculous. $10 million more than Andy Reid, who gets you the Super Bowl every year?” – Don La Greca (14:23)
• Who Else Is in Play?
  • Tennessee seen as “unlikely” to go big financially, but Atlanta possibly could.
  • Falcons job has appeal—especially in stability and potential GM/roster control, but lack of clear quarterback is a factor.

3. What Could Go Wrong for the Giants? (15:13–21:09)

• The only major risk is the Giants bumbling the interviews or Harbaugh being unnerved by Maras’ health or ownership ‘split’ unfavorably for him.
• “The only way they lose out to him is if he sits down with them and they're just bumbling things all over the place. And he's like, oh my God, I do not want to work there.” – Alan Hahn (15:57)
• Stability in ownership is crucial: coming from Baltimore (one owner, streamlined operations), Harbaugh may not want to land where there’s ambiguity.

4. Caller Segment: Giants’ Status, Franchises, Tomlin Theories (26:03–34:43)

• Iconic Franchise Defense
  • Callers defend the Giants’ historic status: “They've been around since 1925... only three teams have had the same owners...” (26:39)
  • Wellington Mara’s role in TV revenue-sharing legacy highlighted.
• Mike Tomlin Conspiracy
  • Speculation if Giants/Jets could swing Tomlin as consultant or eventual coach (swiftly debunked by hosts due to NFL employment rules).
• Front Office Appreciation
  • Credit given to Joe Shane for maneuvering up for a young quarterback, which helps with roster cap flexibility—“the greatest thing that happened in 2025 for the Giants was that they... traded up and got the guy they needed.” (32:44)

5. Beyond Football: Hockey & New York Sports Banter (24:00–26:03; 36:35–40:30)

• Islanders Grueling Road Trip
  • Seven-game road trip covering Nashville, Winnipeg, Minnesota, and the West Coast, called "pretty nuts" and "really going to test them."
• Oldest Arenas & MSG Trivia
  • Engaging trivia on Madison Square Garden being the oldest NBA and NHL arena, discussion of now-closed Joe Louis Arena (“built in 1980... old the second they opened it”).

Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• On Chris Mara’s Role:
  “Chris is running things.” – Alan Hahn (03:54)

• On Giants Ownership and Harbaugh:
  “John Mara is in on the in person interviews…says a lot about him.” – Peter Rosenberg (19:44)

• On Limits of Coach Salaries:
  “But to Peter's point, there is a limit. As much as you want a guy... there is the business of... ‘if I could save myself $18 million a year…’” – Alan Hahn (12:32)

• On How the Giants Could Lose Harbaugh:
  “The only way they lose out to him is if… they're just bumbling things all over the place…he’s like, oh my God, I do not want to work there.” – Alan Hahn (15:57)

• On Harbaugh and Atlanta:
  “The Falcons are a real threat because...there is true stability there and there’s talent on that roster.” – Alan Hahn (20:58)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:14–04:07: Giants coaching search, Harbaugh odds, Mara family dynamics
• 04:07–08:55: Ownership succession, influence, Harbaugh’s endorsements
• 08:55–13:38: Coach salary discussion, market dynamics
• 13:38–21:09: What could go wrong, risk factors for losing Harbaugh
• 24:00–26:03: Islanders’ road trip, NHL scheduling
• 26:03–34:43: Listener calls, Giants’ franchise status, Tomlin speculation, draft maneuvers
• 36:35–40:30: Arena trivia, MSG history, quirky sports moments

Overall Tone & Style

• Lively and familiar, mixing deep football analysis with playful skepticism and New York sports culture.
• Transparent about their Giants fandom, but well-informed and self-critical.
• Plenty of inside-baseball (and football, and hockey) jokes, with accessible explanations for big-picture listeners.

Bottom Line

The hunt for John Harbaugh is the big story, with the Giants poised as favorites—but the franchise’s messy ownership situation, bidding war questions, and outside threats (especially Atlanta) mean nothing is settled. The panel approaches the saga with optimism, pride, and typical New York nervous energy.

If you’re a Giants fan, this is the episode to hear the real-time pulse on one of the most pivotal coaching searches in team history. If you love franchise drama, NFL market economics, or just playful debate, there’s something for you too.