Sunday's Week 12 win versus the New York Giants was not the complete paint-by-numbers effort Detroit Lions fans were expecting, but running back Jahmyr Gibbs' performance was a work of art, nonetheless. So much so that it cost a Giants coach his job.
Giants interim head coach Mike Kafka formally announced Monday that the team has fired defensive coordinator Shane Bowen. Outside linebackers coach Charlie Bullen will take over as DC. Speaking with the media on Monday, Kafka explained his decision:
"Made the tough decision today to let Shane (Bowen) go as our defensive coordinator, effective immediately. We're going to let Charlie Bullen run the defense as our defensive coordinator. I got a lot of faith in Charlie, and obviously, these decisions aren't easy, and Shane's a good person, he's a good man, he's a good coach. Just the results weren't where we wanted them to be, and Charlie's going to step up for us and rally the group. The defensive staff will rally around Charlie and put together a great plan. I got a lot of confidence in the room and a lot of confidence in our staff to do that."
Bowen is the second Giants coaching firing this season after head coach Brian Daboll was fired earlier in November. When asked if the decision to let go of Bowen was his, Kafka confirmed, saying it was "My decision to make this move."
Bullen joined the Giants coaching staff last season as the OLB coach. After spending time as an assistant at the University of Iowa, Bullen got his first crack in the NFL as a defensive assistant for the Miami Dolphins in 2012. Bullen remained with the Dolphins through 2018, serving as the assistant defensive line and assistant linebackers coach. Bullen's time with the Dolphins overlapped with Lions head coach Dan Campbell, who was with the Dolphins from 2010 to 2015. Bullen remained on the staff when Campbell ascended to interim head coach of the Dolphins in 2015.
Bullen would spend time with the Arizona Cardinals and the University of Illinois before being hired by the Giants in 2024.
Lions were the latest in a series of blown leads
The move to fire Bowen comes after the latest in a series of blown leads by the Giants. The Giants have held late fourth-quarter leads of three, ten, and 18 before relinquishing those leads in impressive fashion. None more impressive than that 26-8 lead against the Denver Broncos with just over five minutes remaining, only to lose 33-32.
The Giants' ten-point lead blown against the Lions was their second in three weeks, with the first coming against the Lions' division rival, the Chicago Bears. While the Giants were effective at getting to Lions quarterback Jared Goff, the same could not be said for Gibbs. Gibbs rushed for 216 yards, including a 69-yard touchdown rush on the first play of overtime. It was Gibbs' second rushing TD on the day, who also added a receiving TD on 45 receiving yards.
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This isn't the first time this season Gibbs has been the straw that broke the camel's back for a defensive coach. After a similarly dominant game against the Washington Commanders, Commanders head coach Dan Quinn took over play-calling duties from DC Joe Whitt. Coincidentally, that was Campbell's first game after taking over play-calling from offensive coordinator John Morton, which means the Campbell-coached offense has now led to a demotion or a firing of two DCs in three weeks.
While the Giants begin to look ahead to the NFL Draft after officially being eliminated from playoff contention, the Lions will continue to fight for their playoff lives with a big game on Thanksgiving Day against the Green Bay Packers. For the Lions to make a deep playoff run, Gibbs and the Lions' offense will need to regain the consistency to keep opposing DCs up at night every week, and believe that their job may be at stake. It very well could be.