The 2023 season has proven to be a disaster for the Giants, with the team’s on-field performance falling well short of expectations in the wake of last year’s run to the divisional round of the playoffs. As a result, frustrations appear to growing in the coaching ranks. 
Tension between head coach Brian Daboll and defensive coordinator Don ‘Wink’ Martindale is palpable, Jay Glazer of Fox Sports notes (video link). A disconnect between the two staffers was first mentioned by Dan Duggan of The Athletic earlier this month, noting a heated exchange which took place either side of halftime during the team’s blowout loss to the Cowboys in Week 10 (subscription required). While New York followed up that loss with an upset over the Commanders, things have not gone according to plan for the organization this year.
A sticking point in this situation seems to have been the public criticism levied at the coaching staff by safety Xavier McKinney earlier in the season. Martindale publicly responded to the comments, noting it was unprecedented to receive complaints related to communication with players in his lengthy coaching career. ESPN’s Jordan Raanan confirms the McKinney incident represents a potential flashpoint in the Daboll-Martindale relationship, which at this point in a trying season is “festering.”
The pair had no previous working relationship when they joined the Giants’ staff last year. Daboll came to New York with considerable acclaim from his time as the Bills’ offensive coordinator, while Martindale boasted a general track record of success during a four-year run coordinating the Ravens’ defense. Their first season together resulted in an unexpected postseason appearance and a road victory in the wild-card round, but the team has struggled across the board this year. The Giants rank no better than 27th in DVOA for offense, defense and special teams.
As a result, Martindale’s name (along with that of second-year offensive coordinator Mike Kafka) has come up with respect to coaches who could be fired in the offseason. Strife with Daboll could obviously affect the chances of that taking place, but a strong finish to the campaign would also bolster Martindale’s case for remaining in place for at least one more year. Duggan notes that “the writing is on the wall” for special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey, so at least some changes on the sidelines should be expected relatively soon.
As Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News adds, the Glazer report is only “scratching the surface” of the current state of affairs between Daboll and Martindale. A winning run to close out the campaign would no doubt smooth things over to a degree, but the Giants’ staffing plans will remain a key storyline to watch over the coming weeks and months.
What a leader, blaming others. Never have I seen a more uninspiring HC.
Never hire a short ugly one…..
What are you talking about? A) where is Daboll blaming others? But more importantly, B) you’ve never seen a more uninspiring HC? Their last three HCs were way more uninspiring (McAdoo, Shurmer, and Clown Show Joe Judge). Weak comment.
Right on RCT.
I feel bad for Stink.
G-men lied to themselves about last year. Rather than an actual rebuild, they believed in Dan Dimes which was a huge mistake.
Stop with this nonsense on every Giants article. What would have been your move besides Jones? Get rid of him even though he just got you the franchise’s first playoff win in like a decade? And get who instead?
Jones’s deal is structured with an easy out after next year, and his current deal is not really hindering them in any way. They’re still rebuilding.
What nonsense? Giants are 4-8 & look much better with the BU QB’s than they do with Dan starting. That’s a fact reported everywhere. Dan only threw 15 TD’s last season. That is not QB1 material. Not for any team. For comparisons sake Baker M costs Tampa $5m on a 1 year deal. That’s how you rebuild; cheap vets & hopefully draft well.
Rather than getting a vet plus a rookie last offseason to groom, they thought Dan was the answer & not a single other person that follows the game did. I didn’t read 1 article anywhere saying ‘Boy the Giants really got a great dal with Dan. Good for them!’. All the articles said ‘Huh?’ Same for all the fans that comment on sites.
Everyone knew this was another roughly .500 season all due to their QB situation. And as you point out, it will be 2 losing seasons as they have to keep him next year. That’s how you get fired as a GM & HC.
Every single article with this nonsense. Once again, here we go:
“Dan only threw 15 TD’s last season. That is not QB1 material.”
As you’ve been told 6,000 times, he also had 700+ rushing yards and a horrible, decimated WR corps. By season’s end, he was throwing to guys who were 7th or deeper on the WR depth chart pre-season or guys who were not even on the roster (Isaiah Hodgins). He played very well and was the main reason they won a lot of games and won a playoff game.
“For comparisons sake Baker M costs Tampa $5m on a 1 year deal.”
Baker is terrible. And if the Giants kicked their playoff-winning QB to the curb in order to sign Baker flipping Mayfield, you would have been mocking and chastizing them non-stop. And who would you have used the saved money on?
“I didn’t read 1 article anywhere saying ‘Boy the Giants really got a great dal with Dan. Good for them!’. All the articles said ‘Huh?’ Same for all the fans that comment on sites.”
Because once Saquon refused the franchise tag, they had to overpay to keep Jones. But the part you don’t seem to understand is that they structured it so they can get out after next year. It was a calculated gamble. It hasn’t worked. But it’s also not preventing them from continuing to rebuild.
The OL sucks. The defense sucks. The roster had practically no talent aside from Barkley when Schoen took over. They’re rebuilding. They should have been bad last year, but through good coaching and Jones’s play, they weren’t. They should be bad this year and are. They’re still rebuilding.
Every article you’re here talking about how bad Jones’s contract is. We get it, dude. Your magical alternative move would have been ‘Sign Baker Mayfield’ and then a lot of ???????? Please get a clue.
My magical alternative would be let Dan walk or trade him. Not that hard to figure out.
He’s a terrible QB, so why sign him? That’s my entire argument. But he’s your boy, so enjoy the losing. because that’s all he does.
Answer the guys question Arty… Who would you have replaced him with?
Anyone cheaper than $40m dollars. That’s my answer. He’s a bust, Giants need to admit to that fact. They didn’t & are losing because of that straight forward fact.
Watching tonight’s game, I would trade 2 firsts for Lamar. And paid him. He’s at 69% completion, 2,400 yards and TD-int 12-5 for the season. I’d take that over Dan’s numbers any day. Leading the AFC N to boot.
Daniel Jones has at no point in his career played “very well” Sure he had good games on occasion but not strings of them. He was at best ok last year.
Exactly. He’s not a starting caliber QB. Acknowledge that and move on. Not pay him top 15 money.
I’ll never understand why this is so hard to grasp.
“He’s not Top 10 but let’s pay him like one instead of using that money to mitigate other chasm-like holes and signing a middling QB for the time being”
Nope: “Forty F’n Dollars per Season” was the epiphany … aka: “You Get What You F’n Deserve”
Its rarely one person. Plenty of blame to gi around here.
Dabol and Kafka are trying to make it work with Daniel Jones and a cast of receivers who are likely near the bottom of the league.
The GM has alot to take accountability for as well.
This is Dabols first time as a HC. He has alot to learn about managing relationships with subordinates and players.
Agreed on all points but at the same time, this team had almost zero talent on it when Schoen took over. Gettleman destroyed this franchise and we’re only halfway in to year two of the rebuild. It takes time. Injuries and poor OL coaching haven’t helped, either.
Wink Martindale was a good game show host, not so good a defensive coordinator. Look at all the derp games the Giants have had against Dallas, Philly, etc., etc.
He needs to play the Commodores everyweek!
He seems to have only one defensive scheme regardless of who his personnel is. Just blitz, blitz, blitz. It works with the right group of pkayers but the Giants are not suited for that aside from Thibodeaux. Okereke and McFadden are more run-stopping LBs who can also do coverage, ie they’re not good at blitzing. Jihad Ward is not good enough to be in the league.
It’s smokescreen. Gonna both pivot n blame OC to get him fired. That’s good coaching !
Daboll is an OC. He has no business being a head coach. Perhaps some day GM’s will realize that being a good OC does not equal being a good HC. Totally different skill sets required.
The Giants are frauds. Last year’s record was nothing more than the result of a weak schedule and a relatively injury-free roster. All it took was a playoff-caliber schedule to demonstrate that the front office didn’t do enough to improve the team in the off-season. Changing out a bunch of coordinators doesn’t change that fact.
Honestly, if you’re the kind of person who is sensitive to criticism, why on Earth pursue a career as a coach in the NFL?
Fake news & fake reporting smh