Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 4: Super Bowl Trivia & Roger Goodell

Date: February 3, 2026
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Special Guest: Dan Grassa

Episode Overview

This episode blends light-hearted sports trivia with sharp NFL conversation. Anchored by Don, Hahn, and Rosenberg's signature banter, they first dive into a rapid-fire New York Giants-themed Super Bowl quiz. The second half reacts to Roger Goodell’s State of the League address, focusing on pressing issues like the Giants' Steve Tisch situation, NFL officiating, and the looming 18-game regular season. The atmosphere is classic ESPN New York: fun, spirited, but insightful about the state of football.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Super Bowl Giants Trivia Showdown

[00:34-11:38]

• Purpose: Peter brings an ESPN.com Super Bowl quiz to test Don’s knowledge of the 2011 New York Giants (their most recent Super Bowl win).
• Format: 10 quick-hit multiple choice questions, with everyone chiming in, trying to reason out both obvious and obscure answers.
• Notable Moments:
  • Easy early questions (e.g., “Who started at QB?”—all agree: “Eli Manning.”)
  • Increasing uncertainty on deep bench questions (notable laughter, guessing, and honest admission of “I don’t know”).
  • Good-natured ribbing when Don gets answers wrong; Peter jokes: “Might be time to study up. Flashcards can be helpful.” ([11:33])
  • Shared nostalgia for the 2011 team, poking fun at the obscure names and funny training camp memories (e.g., “They threw him [Prince Amukamara] in the cold tub in training camp.” [02:30])

Notable Quotes

• Peter (on Don’s trivia skills):
  “Not bad. But it might be time to study up. Flashcards can be helpful.” ([11:33])
• Dan Grassa (admitting fading recall):
  “This has now gone beyond mine.” ([09:15])
• Rosenberg (on question difficulty):
  “But this is their last Super Bowl, 2011?” ([01:37])

Memorable Timestamps

• QB Question: 00:57-01:13
• Player Rookie Year Question: 02:11-02:59
• Obscure TD Scorer Question: 09:09-09:29
• Results & Gentle Roast: 11:18-11:41

2. Comparing John Harbaugh’s Voice to Joe Biden

[12:00-12:59]

• Listener Call: Joe from Chappaqua calls to comment that John Harbaugh sounds just like Joe Biden.
• Hosts react: They laugh, agree, and debate whether they could do a convincing audio comparison.
• Peter suggests: They try to isolate generic phrases both might say for a “side-by-side.”
  “Can we do a side by side by side audio? ... You can find something where it’s very generic and just to see.” ([12:18], [12:54])

3. Roger Goodell’s State of the League Address & NFL Hot Topics

[15:45-22:34]

a. The Steve Tisch/Epstein Email Situation

• Context: Goodell is asked about Giants’ co-owner Steve Tisch and possible discipline under the NFL’s personal conduct policy due to new emails released.
• Goodell’s Response:
  “Absolutely, you know, we are going to look at all the facts... we're going to try to understand that and we'll look at how that falls under the policy. But I think we take one step at a time. Let's get the facts first.” ([16:24])
• Host Analysis:
  Rosenberg acknowledges the “non-answer” is all Goodell can say—due process, investigation, legal steps.

b. NFL Officiating and Technology (AI)

• Goodell’s Position:
  “I truly believe that technology can help our officials... we need to give them that tool and I think AI is going to be a real opportunity there.” ([17:07])
• Panel Reaction:
  Hosts unanimously support more tech on the field. Peter: “Whatever TV has, the officials should have.” ([17:41])
  Rosenberg: “I just want to get it right.” ([17:43])
• Cautious Optimism: They discuss practical uses, especially with first down measurements and instant replay.

c. 18-Game Regular Season & Two Bye Weeks

• Goodell’s Comments:
  “We have not had any formal discussions about it... It is not a given that we’ll do that. It is not something that we assume will happen… We want to talk about [it] with the union leadership...” ([18:16])
• Host Hot Takes:
  • Peter: Suggests possible all-star break or two byes, debates logistics.
  • Rosenberg: “No, they don’t. Because you don’t want to have no football.” ([19:20])
  • Lament over load management creeping into the NFL (e.g., teams resting stars late in season like NBA teams).
  • Don (biggest concern):
    “This really isn’t about player safety. It’s obviously about money. And we’re going to get worse football.” ([21:59])
  • Consensus: More games = more revenue, more rest = diluted regular season, potential for worse September football, disappointed paying fans.

Notable Quotes

• Rosenberg (on the future of 18 games):
  “Listen, I don't want to speak for Roger Goodell, but I will go into 18 because 17 makes no sense. Right. So they're not going back to 16. They're eventually going to go to 18, but they've got to cosmetically make it look like they care about the players.” ([20:00])
• Dan Grassa:
  “We’re going to get worse football… Your good teams are going to rest players. You're going to get bad games. You pay money for tickets and don't see players play.” ([22:05])
• Peter (on two byes):
  “The logistics of that make it that much more difficult, don't you think?” ([19:45])

Memorable Timestamps

• Goodell on Tisch: 16:24
• Goodell on AI/technology: 17:07
• Goodell on 18 games: 18:16
• Host debate on byes/season length: 19:06-22:27

Standout Moments & Humor

• Don being roasted for scoring “five out of ten” (11:24):
  • “Not good. If there was one for Super Bowl 21. I don't know. Whatever it is...” – Rosenberg ([11:26])
• On Harbaugh/Biden similarity:
  • “It is as close to doppelganger voice wise that I've ever heard.” – Rosenberg ([12:21])
• Meta-commentary on NFL priorities:
  • “This really isn’t about player safety. It’s obviously about money.” – Don ([21:59])

Conclusion

This episode delivers equal parts nostalgia, fan fun, and sharp NFL analysis. The Super Bowl trivia provides playful self-deprecation among hosts and a trip down memory lane for Giants fans. The second half, reacting to Roger Goodell’s address, shows the panel at their best: candid, critical, but always passionate about football’s future.
Recommended for fans wanting banter, background on current NFL controversies, and the signature personality of ESPN New York’s finest.

Quick Navigation by Topic

• Giants Super Bowl Trivia: [00:34–11:41]
• Harbaugh & Biden Voice Talk: [12:00–12:59]
• Goodell’s State of the League / NFL Issues: [15:45–22:34]
• Season Structure & Player Safety Rant: [21:40–22:34]