The New York Giants have terminated Brian Daboll’s contract, parting ways with the head coach from Welland, Ont., in the middle of his fourth season after their record dropped to 2-8 following a defeat against Chicago. Mike Kafka, the offensive coordinator, has been appointed as the interim head coach. This decision was made by the team’s ownership a day after the Giants lost 24-20 to the Bears, blowing another late lead. General manager Joe Schoen will lead the search for the new head coach, as confirmed by owners John Mara and Steve Tisch.
In a statement, Mara and Tisch expressed the need for a change in the head coaching position due to the team’s recent disappointing performances, failing to meet the franchise’s expectations. Despite Daboll’s exit, the rest of his coaching staff, including defensive coordinator Shane Bowen, remains in their positions. The Giants have faced a four-game losing streak since their victory against the Philadelphia Eagles last month, where they squandered an 18-point lead in the final minutes, a rare occurrence in NFL history.
This marks only the Giants’ third midseason coaching change in nearly a century, with the last one occurring in 2017 when Ben McAdoo and GM Jerry Reese were relieved of their duties. Daboll’s tenure saw a mixed record of 20-40-1, leading the team to the playoffs in his first season but struggling to replicate that success in subsequent seasons. His termination makes him the second coach to be fired in the current NFL season, following Brian Callahan of the Tennessee Titans.
Tisch emphasized the difficulty of such decisions but expressed confidence in the choice to let Daboll go. Daboll, who previously served as Buffalo Bills’ offensive coordinator, faced mounting pressure regarding his job security and acknowledged the team’s shortcomings during his time with the Giants. Kafka, the new interim head coach, steps into the role amidst a challenging season marked by injuries to key players like Jaxson Dart, Cam Skattebo, and Malik Nabers.
Schoen received a vote of confidence from the Giants’ ownership, acknowledging his efforts in building a young and talented roster despite the team’s lackluster performance in recent years. Daboll, with a wealth of experience as an offensive assistant, is expected to find a new role in the NFL next season. However, a return to Buffalo seems unlikely as Bills head coach Sean McDermott endorsed the current offensive coordinator, Joe Brady, following their recent game against Miami.