The New York Giants have officially parted ways with head coach Brian Daboll, ending a once-promising tenure that began with playoff success but ultimately unraveled under mounting losses and inconsistent play.
The move comes after a 24–20 loss to the Chicago Bears, marking the team’s eighth defeat in ten games to open the 2025 campaign. According to multiple reports, offensive coordinator Mike Kafka will take over as interim head coach for the remainder of the season.
A Rapid Rise and Fall
When Daboll arrived in 2022 following his success as Buffalo’s offensive coordinator, optimism was high. His debut season brought a 9–7–1 record and a playoff victory, ending a long postseason drought and earning him NFL Coach of the Year honors.
But what started as a turnaround quickly soured. The Giants slipped to 6–11 in 2023, then stumbled to 3–14 in 2024, with a franchise-record ten-game losing streak. A 2–8 start this year sealed his fate, bringing his overall New York record to 20–40–1.
Why the Giants Moved On
Several issues reportedly drove the decision:
Late-game collapses: The Giants have lost multiple games this season after leading in the fourth quarter.
Quarterback instability: With Daniel Jones’ regression and rookie Jaxson Dart’s rocky debut season, the offense never found rhythm.
Locker room frustration: Sources indicated growing tension between players and staff amid the team’s continued struggles.
Declining trajectory: After a brief high in 2022, the organization hasn’t matched that success — and ownership decided a reset was necessary.
What’s Next for New York
Mike Kafka now steps in as interim coach, but the long-term future remains uncertain. General manager Joe Schoen will lead the search for Daboll’s permanent replacement — a process expected to begin immediately.
The Giants face critical decisions in the months ahead:
- Whether to commit to Jaxson Dart as the quarterback of the future.
- How to rebuild a roster that has underperformed across both lines of scrimmage.
- What direction ownership will take — a veteran head coach or a fresh, innovative face.
This marks just the third mid-season firing of a head coach in Giants history, underscoring the gravity of the move for one of the NFL’s most historic franchises.
The End of the Daboll Era
Daboll’s time in New York will be remembered as a mix of early hope and eventual disappointment. His offensive acumen and fiery sideline demeanor helped restore excitement at first, but sustained losing and inconsistency proved too much to overcome.
Now, the Giants turn the page once more — and for a franchise still searching for stability since the Tom Coughlin years, this next hire could define the team’s future.