This paper investigates the Darboux–Bäcklund transformation, breather and rogue wave solutions for the generalized discrete Hirota equation. The pseudopotential of this equation is proposed for the first time, from which a Darboux–Bäcklund transformation is constructed. Starting from a more general plane wave solution and applying the obtained transformation, a variety of nonlinear wave solutions, including three types of breathers, W-shaped soliton, periodic solution and rogue wave are obtained, and their dynamical properties and evolutions are illustrated by plotting figures. The relationship between parameters and wave structures is discussed in detail. The method and technique employed in this paper can also be extended to other nonlinear integrable equations. Our results may help us better understand some physical phenomena in optical fibers and relevant fields.