In a move that surprised approximately zero people who have been watching the New York Giants this season, the team has finally parted ways with head coach Brian Daboll. The decision came Monday, hot on the heels of another classic Giants meltdown where they managed to blow a 10-point lead against the Chicago Bears, falling to a miserable 2-8 record.
The Writing Was On The Wall
Let’s be honest, the writing has been on the wall for weeks. Heck, I just wrote a piece about the Giants needing to fire him now, and they did it.
The rumors were swirling so intensely you could practically feel the gusts in MetLife Stadium. After a particularly gut-wrenching loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 7, where the Giants somehow managed to squander an 18-point fourth-quarter lead, whispers suggested Daboll was a goner. But Mara, in his infinite wisdom, held off.
A Promising Start That Fizzled Out
Remember 2022? It feels like a lifetime ago, doesn’t it? Daboll rolled into town, fresh off his stint as the Buffalo Bills’ offensive coordinator, and was hailed as the next big thing. He had that Coach of the Year trophy, a revitalized Daniel Jones, and a playoff win under his belt—the team’s first since Super Bowl XLVI. Fans were ecstatic. He was the toast of New York at that year.
Since the start of 2023, the Giants have been in a freefall, compiling a dismal 11-33 record. The team became synonymous with blowing leads and fourth-quarter collapses. Daboll’s sideline antics, once seen as fiery passion, began to look more like tantrums. From icy stares at his coordinators to public feuds and a hefty fine for peeking into the medical tent, his behavior was less “leader of men” and more “guy you avoid at the office coffee machine.”
The Quarterback Conundrum
A huge part of the Daboll narrative was his reputation as a quarterback whisperer who helped mold Josh Allen into an MVP candidate. That magic, however, never quite materialized in New York. The relationship with Daniel Jones was rocky at best, even after the organization committed a staggering $160 million to him. When that experiment predictably failed, Daboll was given a major say in drafting rookie Jaxson Dart.
Dart has been a lone bright spot, showing flashes of brilliance and the kind of playmaking ability that makes you think, “Hey, maybe there’s a future here.” But under Daboll’s watch, that future was put at severe risk. The refusal to coach Dart on self-preservation, encouraging a reckless running style that has seen him evaluated for a concussion four times since the preseason, is coaching malpractice.
The final straw came on Sunday when Dart was knocked out of the game due to a concussion. “I just say it’s unfortunate he got hurt,” Daboll told reporters. That’s it? That’s all you’ve got? For a coach, being “concerned for the kid” should also involve, you know, coaching him not to get repeatedly smashed. He looked defeated in that press conference, and it was over.
What’s Next for the Giants?
So, where do the Giants go from here? Offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, who has been with Daboll from the beginning, will take over as the interim head coach. He gets the unenviable task of trying to salvage something from the wreckage of this season.
The spotlight now inevitably shifts to general manager Joe Schoen. His high-priced draft picks haven’t panned out, and the roster is a mess. Firing Daboll is the easy part. Fixing the deep-seated institutional problems that have plagued this franchise for the better part of a decade is the real challenge. For now, the Brian Daboll era is over.
