New York Giants Name Brian Daboll Head Coach
After a thorough vetting process the New York Giants have officially named former Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll as Head Coach.
The hiring isn’t the least bit surprising considering Daboll has long been perceived to be the favorite to land the job, especially after the Giants hired former Bills Assistant General Manager Joe Schoen as their new General Manager. Both Daboll and Schoen worked together the past four years, and are said to be close friends.
Brian Daboll’s message to Giants fans who are sick of losing (which is all of them): ‘I get it. I promise we will work our tails off.’ https://t.co/EsgkenjvMI pic.twitter.com/SsRVdQKHkq
— NJ.com Sports (@NJ_Sports) January 29, 2022
Daboll was one of five candidates for the job including former Miami Dolphins Head Coach Brian Flores, Dallas Cowboys Defensive Coordinator Dan Quinn, Bills Defensive Coordinator Leslie Fraizer, and Giants Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham.
Quinn pulled his name from consideration and returned to Dallas. Reports were Friday that he was more interested in Denver’s head coaching job before they settled on Green Bay Offensive Coordinator Nathanael Hackett.
The Giants interviewed Flores on Thursday, and there was speculation that Daboll was a hot candidate for the Miami Dolphins job, but the Fish decided to wait before making a decision.
Flores would have been considered a risky proposition, considering his checkered history coaching the Dolphins that included no playoffs in three seasons and issues he had in working with members of the front office and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
The Giants decided not to wait another minute, and hired the man Schoen wanted to be his head coach.
Daboll replaces Joe Judge who went 10-23 in two seasons as head coach. The Giants are hoping Daboll can end a bad pattern of hiring and firing coaches after two seasons. The last three coaches for New York didn’t last more than two years.
Daboll was the only offensive coach to get interviewed by the Giants. He is largely credited with turning around Josh Allen’s young career the past three seasons. Allen has gone from project to superstar, and his prowess was on full display last Sunday when he threw for four touchdowns in Buffalo’s 42-36 loss to Kansas City in the AFC Divisional playoffs.
The Bills were ranked fifth in total offense this past season, and were second in scoring offense.
“Over the last four years, I have observed first-hand Brian’s strengths as a leader — he is an excellent communicator, intelligent, innovative, and hard working,” Schoen said in a statement. “Brian’s genuine and engaging personality is refreshing. He fosters relationships with the players and coaches around him. He is progressive in his vision and values collaboration, two of the attributes we think are essential.
“I am thrilled to partner with Brian and welcome he and his family to this side of the state.”
The key now is for Daboll to craft a coaching staff. There has been speculation he could bring Bills passing game coordinator Ken Dorsey with him as his offensive coordinator, and former Ravens Defensive Coordinator Wink Martindale to run the D. There is also the chance Patrick Graham remains defensive coordinator.
What could Brian Daboll's Giants coaching staff look like? https://t.co/frwpPZYa7I pic.twitter.com/wUUTKfaltL
— SNY (@SNYtv) January 29, 2022
Hearing that Brian Daboll is open to keeping some of #Giants defensive coaching staff. Obviously Pat Graham’s future (he could have options) is key
— Ryan Dunleavy (@rydunleavy) January 28, 2022
Once a staff is fully crafted the focus will turn to quarterback Daniel Jones, whom owner John Mara and Schoen said they are committed to for the 2022 season. Can Daboll do for Jones what he did for Allen? That will be the burning question between now and opening day next September.