Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 3: Jordan Raanan & Damien Woody

ESPN New York | September 11, 2025 | Hour 3

Episode Overview

This hour dives deep into the New York Giants' ongoing identity crisis and future prospects with Giants reporter and author Jordan Raanan, whose new book "The Franchise: How the Giants Became the Giants" is out, and offers expert analysis from former NFL lineman Damien Woody. The hosts—Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg, and Don La Greca—mix insider knowledge, sharp humor, and passionate sports talk, shifting from Giants nostalgia to forward-looking questions about the team, player legacies, coaching philosophies, and pivotal roster decisions. The discussion also covers NFL trends, the state of the New York Jets, and closing game picks.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Giants’ Lost Standard and Jordan Raanan’s New Book

[03:08–07:37]

• Giants Identity: From Glory Days to Present

  • Raanan describes writing his new Giants franchise history, initially intending to cover the "Odell Era," but realizing the most compelling stories stop at 2011.
    • "Once we had those five, like, sections and all those chapters, they're like, you know what? I don't think, like, the Odell era kind of even fits anymore. So, like, we're just going to end it at like 2011." (Jordan Raanan, 03:31)
  • Discussion on Victor Cruz as the "last great homegrown Giant," given Odell Beckham Jr.'s short tenure and lack of playoff success.

• The Giants’ Standard Has Changed

  • Coughlin vs. Dable:
    • Raanan notes Tom Coughlin had to "grovel" to keep his job after going 8-8 and making the playoffs. Contrast that with retaining Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen after a 3-14 season, reflecting a lowered expectation.
      • "The Giants just went 3, 14. They retained the coach and general manager. They just went 3 and 14... That was off of 8 and 8 and a playoff, and a playoff appearance. This is 3 and 14. And you’re right, the standard has changed dramatically." (Jordan Raanan, 05:49)

• Giants Fan Frustrations and Culture Shift

  • La Greca and Rosenberg lament that the franchise feels rudderless, the old standards and expectations lost post-Coughlin.

2. Giants Player Legacy Discussions

[07:37–09:48]

• Saquon Barkley’s Potential Legacy
  • Will Saquon be remembered as a Giant or an Eagle if he has more success in Philadelphia?
    • "If he plays even four years with the Eagles and has that year last year on his resume, like the six with the Giants is just going to be, you know, a little like... an epilogue basically." (Jordan Raanan, 08:20)
  • Lack of current or recent Giants stars highlighted by their absence from NFLPA's top jersey sales (except rookie Malik Nabers, their only entry).

3. The Quarterback Quandary—When to Play Jackson Dart?

[09:51–22:09]

• Should the Giants Start Rookie QB Jackson Dart Soon?

  • Consensus: Don’t rush Dart; protect him from a broken O-line and especially wait for LT Andrew Thomas to return from injury.
    • "You can’t put the kid out there… You can’t throw him out there and do the baptism by fire thing because it could end up ruining what you think you might have." (Peter Rosenberg, 10:10)

• Andrew Thomas Injury Update

  • Raanan isn’t optimistic for Thomas’ imminent return. His complicated Lisfranc injury and multiple surgeries may sideline him past Week 2.
    • "It doesn’t look like Andrew Thomas is going to play this week.… This is a pretty serious injury from everything you hear." (Jordan Raanan, 10:56)

• Malik Nabers & Locker Room Culture

  • Nabers already wields big influence in only his second year, having input on free agent QB selection.
    • "They asked him for input on what quarterbacks they were going to get in free agency. Like… I think it’s more just Dable and the Giants, just trying to make him feel like he’s involved." (Jordan Raanan, 13:39)

• Brian Dable’s Coaching Shift

  • Dable’s style has softened, trying to avoid problems previous coaches faced with locker room leadership voting them out.
    • "Dable is buddy-buddy with players… but the power they’ve kind of given Malik Nabers already, like in his second year, is telling." (Jordan Raanan, 13:21)

• When Will Dart Start?

  • No clear timeline—coaches want Dart to learn by shadowing Wilson and Winston. If the team continues to struggle, Monday Night vs. the Chiefs or the Saints game are speculated entry points.
    • "They already opened Pandora's box… He could come in in the middle of a game, which to me makes no sense." (Jordan Raanan, 19:15)
    • "Jackson Dart’s coming. You just... it’s gonna happen sooner than later." (Jordan Raanan, 20:33)

4. Behind the Book: Shocking Giants History

[22:17–24:38]

• Most Surprising Story from Raanan’s Book
  • QB Jeff Hostetler claims he played the rest of the 1990 NFC Championship and won the Super Bowl with a torn ACL.
    • "He had a torn ACL, and he played through it and won the Super Bowl with a torn ACL." (Jordan Raanan, 23:38)
  • Hostetler also nearly retired after that season due to lack of opportunities and a difficult relationship with Bill Parcells.

5. Giants and Jets O-Line and Growth (With Damien Woody)

[28:01–32:48]

• When Should Giants Start Dart?

  • Woody firmly agrees: don’t start Dart until Thomas returns. Protect rookie QBs from bad O-line hits or risk their future confidence.
    • "I probably would say no, because you, you can hurt these young guys’ confidence." (Damien Woody, 29:14)

• Blame for Giants’ O-Line Woes

  • Woody points to coaching and player development as the main problem, not lack of draft capital.
    • "It's not for a lack of resources as to why the Giants' offensive line hasn't gotten better. You gotta develop these guys." (Damien Woody, 30:47)
  • He draws on his own Jets experience: O-line success is about a blend of talent, continuity, and high-quality coaching.

6. Jets, Chiefs, Commanders: NFL Broad Strokes

[32:48–38:50]

• Jets Offensive Identity and Week 1 Promise

  • Woody praises Jets’ commitment to Justin Fields' skill set and a powerful running attack.
    • "Isn't it amazing when a coach and a coaching staff believes in you and, and draws the offense around your skill set?" (Damien Woody, 33:14)

• Do the Chiefs Still Scare Anyone?

  • Hosts discuss whether KC is losing their edge, quoting Rob Gronkowski’s claim that teams no longer fear the Chiefs since their Super Bowl drubbing.
    • "I do think there's some merit to what Gronk said, because clearly… people... can kind of smell blood a little bit from the Chiefs." (Damien Woody, 37:49)

• Commanders on the Rise?

  • Woody says Commanders beating the Packers in Lambeau would indeed make them NFC contenders.
    • "There's absolutely no reason why we shouldn't be talking about the Commanders, at minimum on the same level as the Philadelphia Eagles." (Damien Woody, 38:03)

7. Picks & Game Preview: Packers vs. Commanders

[39:13–49:32]

• Hosts’ Picks for the Night

  • Rosenberg and McGregor take the Packers -3.5, citing Micah Parsons' dominance against Washington and the Commanders’ underwhelming Week 1.
  • Hahn picks Commanders +3.5, arguing they’ll bounce back with renewed focus and their running game is underrated.
    • "The reasons that you guys pointed out about the Commanders last week, why you don't like them this week is precisely why I like them. They were not great last week… and frankly just leveled up from whatever they used to be." (Don Hahn, 47:10)

• Entertaining banter and reminders of past picks gone wrong, culminating in all hosts getting hyped for the game and their own viewing habits.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Giants’ lowered standards:
  "You're right, the standard has changed dramatically. And I think that's what was so disappointing about this game." — Jordan Raanan [05:49]

• On Saquon Barkley’s Giants legacy:
  "It's going to be like the afterthought of the Saquon [Legacy]… like Nolan Ryan as a Met. An epilogue, basically." — Jordan Raanan & Peter Rosenberg [08:34]

• On Dable’s new coaching style:
  "He seems… a little bit neutered to me… there’s no dog for Brian Dable to kick." — Don Hahn [12:57]

• On opening Pandora’s box with Dart:
  "They already opened Pandora's box… He could come in in the middle of a game, which to me makes no sense." — Jordan Raanan [19:15]

• On Hostetler’s torn ACL Super Bowl run:
  "He had a torn ACL, and he played through it and won the Super Bowl." — Jordan Raanan [23:38]

• Damien Woody’s O-line coaching maxim:
  "You gotta look at coaching eventually. It's not for a lack of resources as to why the Giants' offensive line hasn't gotten better." — Damien Woody [30:47]

• On Commanders’ potential:
  "If Jaden Daniels and company can do the same thing in Lambeau and come away with a win, there's absolutely no reason why we shouldn't be talking about the Commanders on the same level as the Eagles." — Damien Woody [38:03]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 03:08 — Introduction of Raanan's book, Giants fading glory
• 04:38 — Victor Cruz as last great Giant and Odell era discussion
• 05:49 — Shift in Giants standards since Coughlin
• 07:37 — How will Saquon Barkley be remembered?
• 09:51 — Dart QB debate and why waiting for Thomas is crucial
• 10:56 — Andrew Thomas injury update
• 13:39 — Malik Nabers’ sudden influence in leadership
• 19:15 — The “Pandora’s Box” of making Dart the backup
• 22:17 — Jordan Raanan’s most surprising Giants story (Hostetler’s torn ACL)
• 28:01 — Damien Woody on protecting rookie QBs with bad lines
• 30:47 — Coaching and player development on O-linemen woes
• 33:14 — Jets build offense around Fields’ strengths
• 36:18 — Chiefs’ aura fading? Gronk’s "soft" comments discussed
• 38:03 — Commanders could claim NFC elite status
• 39:13 — Game picks: Packers vs. Commanders and banter ensues

Conclusion

This fast-moving, banter-heavy hour presents a real-time snapshot of New York football angst and hope. Through candid conversation and sharp analysis, listeners are treated to behind-the-scenes stories, critical takes on Giants leadership, coaching philosophy, and what defines a player’s legacy. Woody’s practical NFL insights ground the debate, and the hosts’ game picks set the stage for an action-packed Thursday night.

Recommended For:
Anyone seeking an unfiltered, entertaining deep dive into the current state of the Giants and Jets, with plenty of context, history, and NFL-wide perspective—whether you’re a diehard New York fan or not.