The New York Giants have reportedly decided to part ways with head coach Brian Daboll after enduring a dismal 2-8 record this NFL season. This disappointing performance persists despite the promising addition of rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart, who many hoped would invigorate the team.
The Giants’ season has been marred by a series of setbacks, culminating in a frustrating 24-20 loss to the Chicago Bears this past Sunday. This defeat appears to have been the tipping point, leading to Daboll’s dismissal, as reported by multiple sources.
In the wake of Daboll’s departure, offensive coordinator Mike Kafka is set to take over as the interim head coach, according to information from Adam Schefter. Kafka’s new role marks the sixth coaching change for the Giants since 2016, following the tenures of Ben McAdoo, Steve Spagnuolo, Pat Shurmur, Joe Judge, and now Daboll.
The decision from the Giants’ management follows a season filled with frustration, notably the team’s inability to hold onto four double-digit leads in away games, a factor that undoubtedly contributed to the recent coaching upheaval.
Kafka will mark New York’s sixth coach since 2016 after Ben McAdoo, Steve Spagnuolo, Pat Shurmur, Joe Judge and Daboll.
The decision from the Giants’ ownership comes after the team has blown four double-digit leads in road defeats this season.
The New York Giants have fired head coach Brian Daboll amid a miserable season
The Giants has slumped to 2-8 after Sunday’s 24-20 defeat to the Chicago Bears
Daboll enjoyed a successful start to life in New York, reaching the playoffs in his first season in charge in 2022.
The season, which saw the Giants go 1-1 in the postseason, earned Daboll a lot of credit, winning him NFL Coach of the Year.
However, in the years since, Daboll hasn’t been able to even come close to replicating the results of his debut and the Giants have not been playoff contenders since.
Through three and a half years at the helm in New York, Daboll has guided his team to a 20-40-1 regular-season record.
Owner John Mara had stressed at the end of last season that, while Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen were being handed a lifeline, he needed to see results improve.
‘It better not take too long because I’ve just about run out of patience,’ Mara said after the 2024 season. ‘That’ll be a good sound bite for you tonight, huh?’
Mara’s patience with Daboll appears to have finally worn out. Schoen, however, is seemingly safe for the time being.
The season started somewhat optimistic with Dart and fellow rookie Cam Skattebo injecting a boost of youth and energy into the side. The Giants even managed to pull off a major upset against Super Bowl champions, the Philadelphia Eagles, at home in Week 6.
Jaxson Dart was ruled out of the Giants’ game against the Bears on Sunday due to concussion
However, marred by injuries, the Giants’ season has slumped to miserable lows in recent weeks.
The Giants have been without star receiver Malik Nabers, who tore his ACL earlier in the season, and rookie running back Skattebo after he dislocated his knee against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 8.
The injury woes were compounded on Sunday when Dart was ruled out of the loss to the Bears with a concussion.
Dart, who scored two rushing touchdowns earlier in the game, took a heavy blow to the head as he fell to the turf late in the third quarter.
He was immediately replaced by Russell Wilson and evaluated in the blue tent before then going back to the locker room. He was quickly ruled out for the rest of the game.
Wilson could not conjure anything up for the Giants, who let another lead slip and fell to 2-8 for the season.
This is just the Giants’ third midseason coaching change in since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger and first since 2017, when Ben McAdoo and general manager Jerry Reese were fired following a 2-10 start.
