Brian Daboll on Hot Seat: Should the Giants fire their HC?

Should the Giants fire Brian Daboll?

The New York Giants’ season is an unmitigated disaster. Nine straight losses. A 2-12 record. A locker room fighting for scraps of dignity while fans pay for banners begging ownership to “fix this dumpster fire.” At the center of it all is head coach Brian Daboll.

Agreed. He should get fired at end of season
— DameWright (@dwright01061) December 15, 2024

The calls to fire Daboll are growing louder. The Ravens just handed the Giants a 35-14 beatdown, and frustration has reached a boiling point. The Giants are also 0-8 at home, the first time in franchise history. This isn’t the 2022 Daboll who won Coach of the Year and squeezed a playoff win out of Daniel Jones. This is a team lost at sea, and Daboll doesn’t have a map.

The case for giving Daboll another year

Look beyond the record. The Giants’ roster is in shambles. Injuries have wiped out the lineup, from starters to depth pieces. Even at full health, this team lacks elite talent. Daniel Jones regressed, the offense never found its rhythm, and the defense has been paper-thin.

Giants HC Brian Daboll had this to say when asked about the plane flying above MetLife Stadium with "…fire everyone" sign. pic.twitter.com/YmBAAFMS8n
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 15, 2024

Here’s where Daboll gets some credit: the team hasn’t quit on him. Players like Micah McFadden, Dru Phillips, and Bobby Okereke are still grinding every week. Darius Slayton, one of the locker room’s key voices, put it plainly: “It just doesn’t feel like there’s going to be any changes made. Which is fine.”

That’s a far cry from Joe Judge’s final year when the locker room was fracturing, and players were openly checked out. Stability matters, and if ownership fires Daboll, they’ll be resetting yet again—a move that hasn’t exactly worked out in the past.

The argument for moving on

At some point, excuses run out. Injuries aside, Daboll has made his share of bad calls this season. The Graham Gano mess stands out: Daboll’s refusal to trust punter Jamie Gillan for extra points or short kicks after Gano’s injury cost them dearly. Those are the decisions that lose locker rooms.

The offense, meanwhile, is dead on arrival. The Giants have scored the fewest points in the NFL. Daboll was hired for his offensive mind, yet two years in, the team looks worse than ever. If the Giants land the No. 1 pick in 2025, they’ll likely draft a quarterback. Is Daboll the guy to develop that player into a franchise cornerstone?

🚨BREAKING: @AdamSchefter on the @PatMcAfeeShow says John Mara is not set on bringing back Brian Daboll.

Mentions how John Mara said that Ben McAdoo was safe and then fired him a few weeks later in 2017. Mentions the same with Joe Judge in 2021. pic.twitter.com/bqQKbwqwjS
— Jac (@JxcCxmpbell) November 11, 2024

Ben Johnson’s name has started circulating as a potential replacement. Johnson, the Lions’ offensive coordinator, has turned Detroit into one of the NFL’s most creative and dynamic offenses. If he’s available, the Giants would have a chance to reset with a fresh face and a clear plan.

What’s next for Daboll?

This isn’t a knee-jerk decision for John Mara. Brian Daboll has done enough to avoid a midseason firing, but finishing 2-15 would put his job on thin ice. The Giants need a direction. If Mara believes Daboll can still build a foundation, he’ll get another year. If not, it’s time for a clean slate.

For now, Daboll’s future hangs in the balance. As he said, “Control what we can control.” At 2-12, that might not be much.

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Should Brian Daboll be fired?

Should the Giants fire Brian Daboll?

Natasha Bose

I write about sports because, well, it brings in the big bucks! I’m not some lifelong analyst or stats guru, truth being told, you’ve probably never heard of me!—I just know how to research, write, and make things sound good. That’s the job!
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