One look at this year’s New York Giants’ training camp and the word that comes to mind is change. The biggest change around the Giants is Brian Daboll. Yes, Daboll lost about fifty pounds in the offseason, but the changes to his demeanor are the most surprising. After a tumultuous 2023 season, Brian Daboll enters his third year as Giants head coach with a new attitude. He’s been kinder and gentler during training camp and according to players at camp, calmer. After last year’s chaos, this season could make or break Daboll’s long-term future with the team. He is the first Giants head coach since Tom Coughlin to see a third season, but it easily could be his last.
Giants HC Brian Daboll Was Fighting Mad Last Season
The Giants fought hard for their six wins during their 2023-24 season. The operative word is fight. The G-Men fought opposing teams and amongst the coaching staff. In a June article, Jordan Raanan of ESPN detailed the conflict between Daboll, former Defensive Coordinator Wink Martindale, and others.
Raanan wrote, “Behind the scenes, the relationship between Daboll and many of his coaches and coordinators was strained…Sources close to the situation said that Martindale, along with several other coaches on both sides of the ball, had grown tired of Daboll’s frequent outbursts. Daboll’s staff felt he’d stopped listening and there was constant ‘finger-pointing,’ multiple team sources told ESPN.” At the end of last season, it was clear changes needed to be made.
On January 8, a day after meeting with the media to close out the season, Daboll fired two of Martindale’s closest confidantes, linebackers coach Drew Wilkins and defensive assistant Kevin Wilkins. In response, Martindale “cursed out” Daboll, and abruptly left the building. Several other Giants’ coaches were either fired or left to join other NFL teams.
General Manager Joe Schoen became aware of the Daboll/Martindale beef during the season. Raanan reported that after the Week 11 matchup against the Washington Commanders, Schoen listened in on a headset on gameday. The Giants general manager wanted to hear firsthand the communication between the head coach and his coordinators. Schoen didn’t punish Daboll after listening in, but he did hope, “they all learn from their first taste of adversity. Giants owner John Mara echoed his GM’s outlook.
So far, Daboll appears changed. After the conflicts from last season, Daboll has mentioned this new coaching staff is working together well and has taken a more “collaborative” approach.”
Times Change and So Must Brian Daboll
The kinder, gentler version of Brian Daboll has shown itself during this year’s preseason already. Daboll has gone viral for his fiery mannerisms on the sidelines. In his first game as Giants head coach, Brian Daboll chewed out Daniel Jones on the sidelines after Jones threw a fourth-quarter interception in the Tennessee Titans end zone. It wouldn’t be the last time Daboll confronted his struggling signal caller during a game.
But this preseason, even after Jones threw two interceptions, including a pick-six in their preseason game against Houston Texans, Daboll kept his cool. Even though Daboll expressed his displeasure with the turnovers in his post-game presser, a day later Daboll seemed to take Jones’ struggles in stride. Perhaps Daboll finally got the memo – it’s a different era.
Daboll is the latest Bill Belichick disciple who’s been forced to change his coaching style. Perhaps team owners are realizing that old-school mentality doesn’t mesh well with today’s modern NFL players.
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa made headlines when he revealed the treatment he received from former Dolphins’ head coach Brian Flores. Flores, like Daboll, was on the Patriots’ coaching staff. Flores’ tenure lasted from 2008 to 2018.
In an interview that aired on the Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz, Tagovailoa bluntly recounted Flores’ complaints about his play.
“To put it in simplest terms,” Tagovailoa said, “if you woke up every morning and I told you, you suck at what you did, that you don’t belong doing what you do, that you shouldn’t be here, that this guy should be here, that you haven’t earned this right.
New Outlook, More Wins?
Only time will tell if the revamped version of Brian Daboll is an upgrade for the Giants. There’s usually more than one reason why teams lose, but a head coach who is hated by his staff doesn’t help the situation. The New York Giants playoff hopes rest on improved play, some good luck, and a lot more positivity from head coach Brian Daboll.
Main Image: Chris Pedota, NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK
