After his first season leading the team, it was easy to view freshly-minted New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll as one of the league's brightest young minds.
Two years after that surprise run to the playoffs, however, he's heading to training camp while on everybody's media hot seat list as he's fighting for his job.
What happened?
After a surprise run to the playoffs in 2022-23, Daboll has seen his Giants falter with losing seasons in the last two years. The 3-14 mark in 2024 will go down as emblematic of one of the worst years in franchise history.
That's why it should come as no surprise that Pro Football Network ranked Daboll and his offensive staff as the 21st-best group in the league this year, with little faith in New York's ability to improve significantly.
"Daboll has battled with offensive coordinator Mike Kafka for play-calling duties," PFN said. "However, the Giants' offense was abysmal with Daboll calling plays last season, finishing 31st in QB+. It appears that he's willing to give the reins back to Kafka this season ...''
Is there anything positive to say in these updated ratings?
"Daboll,'' PFN added, "showed glimpses last season of what New York's offense is capable of, especially with how he manufactured opportunities for explosive rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers despite lackluster quarterback play."
In 2022, the Giants' offense was around the middle of the pack (18th in yards and 15th in points), but was one of the best running teams in the league (fourth in yards). Since then, the offense has been one of the worst in the game, highlighted by a putrid passing attack (31st in 2023 and 28th in 2024).
If Daboll is willing to give play-calling duties to his offensive coordinator, that may be good enough to get the Giants into more scoring situations.
In the end, the Giants' head coach would love to re-establish that "bright young mind'' status ... and remove himself from those nasty hot seat lists.