The New York Giants have fired head coach Brian Daboll after the G-Men dropped their fourth consecutive game to the Chicago Bears, falling to 2-8 to start the 2025 season. Big Blue has named offensive coordinator Mike Kafka the interim head coach, their sixth HC since 2016, following legendary two-time Super Bowl-winning head coach Tom Coughlin.
The decision to relieve Daboll of his duties comes at the right time, as the franchise has gotten progressively worse each season since he took over in 2022. He leaves East Rutherford with an uninspiring 20-41-1 record.
Now, with rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart under center, John Mara and Joe Schoen want to ensure the right man for the job is in the building — someone who won’t ruin the 22-year-old’s development, especially after he left the last game with a concussion.
Dart has been nothing short of amazing in his rookie campaign. He recently became the first quarterback in NFL history to rush for a touchdown in five straight games and has seven total rushing scores this year. He’s been a leader on and off the field and has already earned the respect of the locker room.
Former NFL defensive back and current ESPN analyst Ryan Clark gave the G-Men a reality check after Dart didn’t return to the game on Sunday — a moment that might've just factored into the team’s decision to move on from Daboll.
Ryan Clark calls out Giants after Jaxson Dart’s injury
Clark took to X after the game, stating that the Giants have to protect their rookie quarterback and the franchise, and can’t worry about saving people’s jobs anymore. He was absolutely right, as Dabs' firing came just a day after his comments went viral:
It’s time we have the Jaxson Dart conversation! He’s taking way too many hits. This young man isn’t supposed to be Allen, or Jackson. He’s not Daniels or Newton. He is a stud, but don’t put him at risk so often. He can’t save your job if he isn’t on the field! #JaxsonDart… pic.twitter.com/oEs1EIOZLE
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) November 9, 2025
Daboll entered the season on the hot seat, and as the losses piled up, including the Week 7 meltdown in Denver, where the defense allowed 33 unanswered points, the pressure only grew. It hasn’t helped that key offensive pieces like Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo have suffered season-ending injuries since Week 4, leaving Dart to do it all with a depleted roster.
In a statement released by Mara and the Giants organization, Schoen will remain in his position as general manager and lead the search for a new head coach, whom they must be cautious with, as this next leader will play a significant role in Dart's development.
As Clark noted, the Giants must prioritize the future and Dart’s health over short-term desperation. Playing to save jobs isn’t the answer. Protecting their franchise quarterback is.
The G-Men should look for an experienced head coach who’s been through this before. Their last five hires — Ben McAdoo, Pat Shurmur, Joe Judge, Daboll, and now Kafka — were all first-timers. One potential successor who stands out is Jon Gruden, who already has a strong relationship with Dart from this past summer’s Barstool Gruden QB Class. The viral segment showcased how much the former Raiders coach believed in the young quarterback.
For now, the Giants must regroup, get healthy, and start identifying the right leader for players like Dart, Nabers, and Skattebo. The job should attract plenty of attention, especially with the team projected to hold a top-five pick in next year’s draft.