Brian Daboll has been fired as the Head Coach of the NewYork Giants**** following the team's 24-20 defeat to the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Sunday.
The Giants led the Bears 20-10 with just four minutes left in the game, however a two-yard Rome Odunze touchdown reception was shortly followed by a 17-yard rushing touchdown from quarterback Caleb Williams in the final two minutes of the game to steal the win away from Daboll and the Giants, which in turn proved to be the final nail in the coffin.
The loss marks the Giants' fourth-straight defeat, and solidifies their position as the bottom team in the NFC East with a 2-8 record on the season. This record follows a 3-14 record last season.
Joe Schoen will remain as the General Manager and will lead the team's search for their new head coach. In the meantime, Offensive Coordinator Mike Kafka will take over as interim head coach, with his first game in charge coming against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday afternoon.
From Coach of the Year to Jobless
Daboll was appointed head coach of the Giants ahead of the 2022 season, having previously served as the offensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills under Sean McDermott.
Daboll had a stellar debut season in New York as he took the Giants from a 4-13 the season prior to a 9-7-1 record and a playoff berth in 2022. He led the team to their first playoff win in over a decade as they defeated the Minnesota Vikings in the Wildcard round, before ultimately falling to the Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional round. Despite the loss, Daboll was named as the NFL Coach of the Year for his efforts, and the good times appeared to be returning to the Big Apple. Or so Giants fans thought.
What has followed has been nothing short of disastrous for the Giants as they have since registered back-to-back losing seasons in 2023 and 2024. While the team has demonstrated more competitiveness in games this season, they have squandered four double-digit leads on the road and have now suffered 11 straight road losses as the franchise continues to be marred by dysfunction both on and off the field.
Daboll ends his tenure in New York with a 20-40-1 regular season record, compiling an 11-33 since the start of the 2023 season.
The Dart Experiment
Daboll came under intense scrutiny in the offseason with his job at serious risk, however he was afforded another opportunity by owner John Mara. Daboll recognised the need to make drastic changes ahead of the 2025 season if he was to remain as head coach beyond 2025, and consequently decided to make a splash in the 2025 NFL Draft in the hope of finding his franchise quarterback.
After taking Abdul Carter with the third overall pick, the Giants traded back up into the first round to select Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart with the 25th overall pick. Dart was initially named as the backup behind Russell Wilson, but got his chance as a starter in Week 4 and led his team to their first win of the season against the Los Angeles Chargers.
There looked to be momentum building at MetLife Stadium, particularly after the team's 34-17 statement home win over the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Philadelphia Eagles, in Week 6, a game where Dart and fellow rookie Cam Skattebo stole the show. However, injuries have hit the team hard, with their star receiver Malik Nabers tearing his ACL in Week 4, before Skattebo suffered a season-ending ankle fracture in Week 8.
Daboll’s management of Dart has also been subject to criticism. The quarterback had already undergone three concussion evaluations throughout the season heading into Sunday's game in Chicago. Yet despite the evaluations, Daboll continued to expose Dart to further risk by continuing to call running plays for the quarterback. Dart was subsequently checked for a fourth concussion at the end of the third quarter on Sunday, and was unable to return to the field after failing the necessary medical examinations.
What Next for the Giants?
Despite the chaos and dysfunction surrounding the New York Giants franchise, the head coach opening could be seen as an attractive opportunity.
The team boasts plenty of promising young talent on their roster at premium positions such as Dart at quarterback, Nabers at receiver, Skattebo at running back, and a host of top defensive linemen like Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux.
With their record only worsening by the week and with the Green Bay Packers (5-2-1), the Detroit Lions (6-3), and the NewEngland Patriots**** (8-2) coming up on their schedule, it is likely that the Giants will have a very lucrative pick in next year's NFL Draft, providing the impending new head coach with the perfect opportunity to add a franchise-level player to the roster ahead of next season.
Furthermore, the Giants are not the only team in the NFC East with coaching issues. Dan Quinn and his staff in Washington are coming under huge pressure as the Commanders have just suffered their fourth-straight 21+ point defeat, while the jury is still out on rookie head coach Brian Schottenheimer in Dallas with the Cowboys currently 3-5-1 on the season. The Giants are not a million miles away from their division rivals, and a turnaround in the team's fortunes next season propel them back into contention for the playoffs once again should they get the coaching hire right.