Don, Hahn & Rosenberg Podcast – Hour 3: NY Football, AOL & Pro Picks

ESPN New York | September 19, 2025
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg

Overview

Hour 3 of Don, Hahn & Rosenberg dives deep into the current state of New York football—frustrations, fading hope, and decades-long underperformance from both the Giants and Jets. The hosts contrast the football malaise with the lighter side of sports (Yankees, Mets, MLB playoff races), reflect humorously on extinct tech (the end of AOL dial-up), and finish with NFL Week 3 predictions.

Main Discussion Points

1. State of NY Baseball: Playoff and Wild Card Implications

• Yankees: Focused on securing home field advantage with a 2-game lead over Astros and Mariners. Yankees have a 4-game cushion on the playoff spot, but the rise of the Guardians is a concern.
• Mets: Battling for a playoff spot, 2-game lead over Diamondbacks, but Arizona holds the tiebreaker. Need to capitalize against a weak Nationals team as Arizona faces the tougher Phillies.
• AL West Showdown: Astros vs. Mariners—a pivotal wild card series even for Yankees fans to monitor.
  • "That's going to decide—like that could really shake up matchups for wild card." (Don, 01:20)
• MLB's intricate late-season plotlines are woven into NY's baseball pulse.

2. A Decade of NY Football Misery

2.1. Brutal Stats and Emotional Toll

• Giants: 57 wins in the last 10 years.
• Jets: 56 wins. Both averaging just over 5 wins a season—bottom of the NFL.
• Sentiment: A "decade of defecation."
  • "When I say decadence, I mean best be saying defecation." (Alan, 04:35)
• Fears that both teams could start 0-3 yet again, erasing hope for meaningful games by Thanksgiving.
• Fan fatigue: Losing, coupled with the teams’ lack of excitement and direction, is sapping the life out of fandom.
  • "It's not just that they're bad. It's so often that they're bad and they're boring and there's no hope at this moment." (Peter, 05:43)
• Alan and Don recall the rarity of both NY football teams being so bad at the same time, noting the erosion of the fan base.
  • “To have two football teams be basically tied for the worst organizations in a decade, it's got to erode the fan base." (Alan, 10:31)

2.2. Giants: Searching for a Direction

• Giants are desperate for something positive—history, home performance, expectation are all working against them.
  • "Winning the game seems like an impossibility. It's on national television. They never win on national television. They never win at home. They never beat a good team." (Alan, 08:46)
• Giants fans still arguing whether the recent playoff win set the franchise back by solidifying faith in Daniel Jones.

2.3. Jets: Another Transition Year

• Franchise in limbo after leadership changes and the failed Aaron Rodgers experiment.
• Taking a flyer on Justin Fields—uncertainty remains.
  • "A quarterback that is on his third team in three years. You can't ignore that." (Don, 07:23)
• Patience is urged for Jets fans, but there’s recognition that patience is in short supply.
  • "As a Jets fan, you have to be patient and wait. As a Giants fan, you're out of patience." (Don, 07:23)

2.4. Fan Despair & Identity

• The trio explores why people continue to support these teams after years of pain.
  • "Why are you still a fan?" (Don, 11:13)
• Caller Danny (Centerport) poignantly speaks on wanting to feel proud of his team—capturing NY football fans’ shared exhaustion.
  • "I'm not looking for a pot of gold right now, man... I just want to keep my flag on in front of the house... and not want to rip it down." (Danny, 34:36)

3. Game Analysis: Giants vs Chiefs & Jets’ QB Drama

• Giants vs Chiefs:
  • Hosts discuss KC’s lackluster offense and NY’s historic home dominance: "Chiefs have never beaten the Giants on the road." (Don, 17:00)
  • Giants’ defense a major point of criticism, particularly after high-scoring losses.
• Jets QBs:
  • Tyrod Taylor potentially starting offers a different look, but isn't deemed a major upgrade over Fields.
  • Long-term uncertainty is clouding the future.

4. Football Fridays: Anatomy of an Upset

• Hosts admit the usual Friday optimism about upsets has faded:
  • "We're supposed to be talking about the anatomy of an upset... but none of us can get ourselves to do it. Seriously." (Don, 13:56)
• They're honest—neither the Giants nor the Jets inspire confidence, though the Giants’ history vs. the Chiefs gives a sliver of hope.

5. NFL Coaching Carousel: If the Giants Need a Change

• Replacement Speculation: Names like Bill Belichick, Jon Gruden, Jim Harbaugh, and Mike Tomlin are floated.
• Heavy skepticism around Belichick/Gruden; Tomlin seen as the absolute prize if somehow available.
  • "If Mike Tomlin's available next year... you back up the Brinks truck." (Peter, 31:47)
• For Giants and Jets alike, a proven culture-builder is preferred over another unproven coordinator.

6. AOL Dial-Up Bows Out: Tech Nostalgia

• Marking the end of an era: AOL will finally shut down its dial-up service on September 30th, 2025.
  • "I didn't know AOL still had the thing where if you logged in, it gave you the, you know, you got mail." (Don, 24:56)
• Hilarious stories surface about using dial-up, the “you’ve got mail” sound, and unplugging phones for internet access.
• Reflections on generational change and the speed of technology's advance.
  • "We lived in a very interesting time... the craziness is just getting going." (Peter, 27:52)

7. Pro Picks Segment (NFL Week 3) [40:13+]

• Quick-fire picks with banter; Alan and Don favor the Packers against the Browns as a “three-point play.”
• Peter, winless and joking about his futility, goes against the grain with the Jaguars and Rams.
  • "No one cares what my picks are. Let's be honest. Only so you can avoid them, I would assume." (Peter, 44:42)
• Insightful in-jokes about bad picking, survivor leagues, and “seeing ghosts” as a bettor.
  • "I'm Daniel Jones... No, Zach. Sam. Sorry. I can't remember which loser it was. Oh, I'm so sorry. No, I'm seeing ghosts right now, guys." (Peter, 38:18)

8. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On NY Football's Decade of Pain:
  • “Decade of defecation.” (Alan, 04:35)
  • “It's not just that they're bad. It's so often that they're bad and they're boring and there's no hope at this moment.” (Peter, 05:43)
• On Generational Fandom Loss:
  • “Your three-year-old becomes 13... you didn't get to have anything in there.” (Peter, 12:12)
• On Technology’s March:
  • "I didn't know AOL still had the thing where if you logged in, it gave you the, you know, you got mail." (Don, 24:56)
• On the State of Hope:
  • “I just want to be proud of my team for once, guys. It's so frustrating.” (Danny, 36:06)
• On Survivor Pools & Picks:
  • "No one cares what my picks are. Let's be honest. Only so you can avoid them, I would assume." (Peter, 44:42)

Key Timestamps

• Yankees/Mets Playoff Scenarios: 00:52–04:34
• Decade of NY Football Failure: 04:34–13:44
• Why Be a Fan After Years of Losing: 11:13–13:56
• Football Fridays—Reluctant Anatomy of an Upset: 13:56–16:00
• Historic Giants-Chiefs Factoid: 16:58–18:28
• Callers on Team Frustrations and Coaching Futures: 18:51–34:35
• AOL Dial-Up Nostalgia: 24:20–29:59
• NFL Week 3 Pro Picks Segment: 40:13–47:23

Summary

Hour 3 of the Don, Hahn & Rosenberg podcast captures the weary heartbeat of NY football fandom—frustration, cynicism, and a longing for pride after a lost decade. The hosts deliver with trademark wit and candor, blending analytic breakdowns with empathetic, cathartic commiseration. Elsewhere, nostalgic asides about AOL’s twilight and contemporary NFL predictions inject lightness and hope, even as listeners brace for what promises to be a long season in MetLife Stadium.