New York Giants defensive coordinator Shane Bowen has followed Brian Daboll out the door after Sunday's loss to the Detroit Lions left President Donald Trump raising questions
09:53 ET, 24 Nov 2025Updated 09:55 ET, 24 Nov 2025
Donald Trump
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U.S. President Donald Trump made sure to let his feelings be known on the Giants' decision not to kick a field goal in the dying embers of Sunday's game with the Lions(Image: Getty)
The New York Giants ruthlessly fired defensive coordinator Shane Bowen after blowing a lead against the Detroit Lions in a game that left President Donald Trump baffled.
The Giants were leading 27-17 in the fourth quarter before a spectacular collapse on both sides of the ball condemned the team to a 2-10 record. The Giants' defense imploded, and a decision not to kick a field goal to go for a touchdown to extend their lead late gave the Lions an opening for a comeback. The Lions took advantage of the turnover on downs, marched down the field, and kicked a game-tying field goal, pushing the game into overtime.
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The Lions then clinched a 34-27 victory thanks to a touchdown by Jahmyr Gibbs. The decision left President Trump perplexed by the decision-making of Giants coaches, especially following Brian Daboll's recent firing amid the team's NFL struggles.
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"Why did the New York Football Giants (NFL) not kick that Field Goal? ? ?" the president wrote on Truth Social on Monday. "Who would have done such a thing? It was CRAZY! I got to watch the end of the game and thought, when they went for the touchdown instead of the 3, 'That's Weird! ! !'"
The Giants moved quickly to continue their coaching reshuffle, with defensive coordinator Bowen the latest casualty, following Daboll out the door in New Jersey.
According to the NY Post, interim HC Mike Kafka has yet to announce who will serve as Bowen’s interim replacement.
Former New York Giants defensive coordinator Shane Bowen
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Former New York Giants defensive coordinator Shane Bowen(Image: Getty)
Candidates under consideration include secondary coach Marquand Manuel, who previously served as the Falcons’ defensive coordinator in 2017 and 2018, and outside linebackers coach Charlie Bullen.
In the aftermath, Malik Nabers, a second-year wide receiver who sat out the game due to injury, also vented his frustration with the play-calling in a scathing post on X, which has since been removed. He suggested that those in charge were intentionally causing the Giants to lose.
"Sometimes I think they [be] makin us lose on purpose!" Nabers wrote. "Cause it's no way, bro you throw the ball instead of runnin it to make em burn 2 timeouts? ? Then you [don't] kick the field goal? ? ? Then they have to go down and score! ! ! Football common sense! ! ! ! Am I missing something?"
Theo Johnson
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Jameis Winston's pass to tight end Theo Johnson was intercepted late in the fourth quarter, leading to a turnover on downs and a game-tying field goal from the Lions(Image: Getty)
Many Giants fans agreed with the star wideout's point, despite his criticism seemingly being misinterpreted. Giants interim head coach Mike Kafka defended the play in his postgame press conference, stating how he had wanted to "go up two scores" and believed in that moment, it was the right time to "take points in that situation.
"We did want to be aggressive," he said. "Just thought it was a good time to take points in that situation and go up two scores. Had a good flow, wanted to go up two scores."
Sadly, the gamble failed spectacularly, leaving the Giants at 2-10 following their sixth straight defeat and second loss under Kafka since he replaced the fired Daboll two weeks earlier.
Running back Jahmyr Gibbs (0) of the Detroit Lions celebrates during an NFL football game between the New York Giants and the Detroit Lions in Detroit, Michigan
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Running back Jahmyr Gibbs (0) of the Detroit Lions celebrates during an NFL football game between the New York Giants and the Detroit Lions in Detroit, Michigan(Image: Getty)
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The loss proved especially painful for quarterback Jameis Winston, whose errant pass sailed over tight end Theo Johnson's head, resulting in a turnover on downs and allowing the Lions to tie the game with a field goal.
The 31-year-old signal-caller had delivered what many considered one of the season's most spectacular touchdowns just moments earlier, briefly taking on wide receiver duties during a crucial fourth-quarter play. With the Giants ahead 20-17, Kafka orchestrated a trick play on first down. Wide receiver Gunner Olszewski ran a reverse after receiving a handoff from Winston, then threw back to him as he sprinted up the left sideline.
Olszewski pinpointed Winston with impeccable accuracy, but what happened next was truly unexpected. Despite being marked by Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes, Winston — upon catching the ball — used a stiff arm to spin off the defender and danced his way into the end zone for a 33-yard touchdown.