Brian Daboll has experienced Highmark Stadium in various forms.
First as a fan growing up in West Seneca. Later as an opposing assistant coach, including with two of the Buffalo Bills’ biggest rivals, the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots.
Then on the home sideline as the Bills’ offensive coordinator, from 2018-21.
Finally, now, as an opposing head coach with the New York Giants. Daboll’s only trip to Buffalo in his current role came during the 2023 season, when the heavily favored Bills squeaked out a 14-9 win.
Daboll will return to Highmark Stadium once more Saturday, likely for the final time, when he leads the Giants into town for the preseason opener against the Bills.
“It's a special place,” Daboll said during a phone interview with The Buffalo News this week. “The people in that area love the Buffalo Bills. It's just a cool experience when you get to go back home and play in that stadium. It's a loud stadium. Obviously, they are an incredible football team, so it's a cool thing to be able to go back.”
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Daboll, 50, graduated from St. Francis High School and still has a full network of family and friends in the area. He called it a privilege to work as the Bills’ offensive coordinator and is credited with aiding quarterback Josh Allen’s development from raw draft prospect to league MVP.
“Love that guy,” Allen said Thursday of Daboll. “Obviously, a Buffalo native, so a lot of people here love him, too. Yeah, it will be good to see him.”
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Then-Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll chats with quarterback Josh Allen before a game against the Houston Texans on Oct. 3, 2021, at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park. Daboll, a St. Francis grad, comes back to Highmark Stadium as head coach of the New York Giants on Saturday. Harry Scull Jr., Buffalo News
Daboll is focused on the task at hand, of course: Now in his fourth season, he has a rebuilding job ahead of him, with two veteran seat-warmers at quarterback, Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston, and a rookie first-round pick in Jaxson Dart from Ole Miss. Las Vegas has the Giants' over/under win total at 5½.
Still, in the meantime, Daboll keeps up with what’s happening in Buffalo.
“The people who were there when I was there who are still there, unless you're playing them, you're always rooting for those guys,” he said. “You've seen them grow up in the business. They are one of the most successful teams in this league for a variety of reasons. It starts with Terry (Pegula) and Brandon (Beane) and Sean (McDermott) and then right down to Josh and Dion (Dawkins) and the rest of the players.
“They've got a really good thing going with the Buffalo Bills. It's impressive to see from afar and it was impressive to see when I was there and saw how things were done.”
Daboll’s career with the Giants got off to a blazing start. He won NFL Coach of the Year in 2022 after leading New York to a 9-7-1 record, a five-win improvement over the 2021 season, and a road, wild-card playoff win at Minnesota.
The past two seasons, however, have not been as smooth for the Giants under Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen, who served as the Bills’ assistant general manager under Beane. New York has gone 9-25 the past two seasons, with uncertainty at quarterback being one of the biggest reasons for the struggles.
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Giants head coach Brian Daboll will return to Western New York on Saturday to face the Bills. Harry Scull Jr., Buffalo News
The pressure to win soon is real. As a result, the Giants rebuilt their quarterback room this offseason, adding veterans Wilson and Winston to the group with the lone returner being Tommy DeVito. Then in the draft, Schoen made a bold move to draft back into the first round to take Dart with the No. 25 overall selection.
Wilson is expected to start for New York at least in the beginning of the season, but Daboll’s history with Allen provides hope that he can recapture some of that magic with Dart in New York.
“I've been pleased with how we've approached the offseason, in terms of our offseason program, the OTAs, the minicamp, and that led right into training camp,” Daboll said. “I'm encouraged by what I've seen at training camp, but we have to go out there and execute and do it, all of us, starting with me, all the way down. I like the pieces we've added and I like how we've been practicing. These preseason games will be important for us. We're still building and we're going to do everything we can do to be as good as we can be.”
Given the way Daboll’s time in Buffalo ended, there was at least some question as to what kind of relationship he had with McDermott. The two shared a handshake after that 2023 game that wouldn’t exactly be described as warm. If there was any friction, though, time seems to have healed all wounds. Both coaches had nothing but praise for the other when speaking to The News this week.
“He and Joe have worked hard over there. They'll get the results; it's just a matter of time,” McDermott said. “Of course I care for those guys, want the best for them. They work extremely hard. They're good at what they do. Always wish them the best. I'm happy Brian gets a chance to come back to Buffalo and coach in a game.”
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