Two summers ago, rumors pointing to Brian Daboll — the Bills’ play-caller for four years — considering a CEO role in his first year as Giants HC. That came to fruition, and Daboll kept OC Mike Kafka holding the play sheet for most of the past two seasons.
Rumors of a change have persisted this offseason, however. As we move closer to training camp, it looks all but confirmed the Giants will feature a new play-caller this season. After calling plays at OTAs — for what that’s worth — Daboll continued to do so at minicamp. A Kafka shift to a non-play-calling OC is expected to continue into the regular season, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com notes.
Considering how last season went, Daboll preferring to have full control makes sense. It certainly would not be out of the question for the Giants to consider moving on; they have not employed a coach into a fourth season since Tom Coughlin. Daboll also came under fire for his temper last season, with a highly publicized feud with DC Don Martindale — one producing an explosive final act in the HC’s office — ending his New York stay after two seasons.
Daboll also has a proven track record calling plays, having been at the controls in Buffalo when Josh Allen morphed from raw prospect to superstar. That role landed him the Giants’ HC job in 2022. With last year’s 6-11 showing throwing the Giants off course after Daboll’s Coach of the Year campaign, the third-year leader mentioned he would consider making this change. Daboll also called plays for the Chiefs, Browns and Dolphins during three prior OC stints, though his Bills work stands out.
Daboll’s dustups with Martindale included rumors of the DC and assistant Drew Wilkins going rogue. Additionally, Raanan indicates Daboll confronted Martindale during the Giants’ Week 13 bye. Daboll allegedly yelled, “So, you think I’m a clown?” at Martindale from a doorway while the latter was running a defensive meeting. Daboll’s tirades grew tiresome for the staff, per Raanan, who notes some staffers viewed the fiery HC as having stopped listening to his assistants. Martindale did not contact Daboll or Schoen after cursing out Daboll in his office. Martindale is now the Michigan DC.
Kafka certainly deserved praise for coaxing a quality season from Daniel Jones in 2022, doing so when the Giants featured Saquon Barkley and little else in terms of weaponry. That season ending in the divisional round launched Kafka onto the HC radar. Kafka received more HC interest this year, interviewing with the Seahawks and Titans. After the Seahawks hired Mike Macdonald, the Giants blocked Kafka from interviewing for their OC position. Big Blue then gave Kafka a snazzier title, moving him to assistant head coach.
Daboll’s feud with Martindale aside, an early-offseason report noted most of the HC’s anger was directed at Kafka last season. That set the table for this change, and it is also safe to say Kafka is on shaky ground in New York. With Martindale gone, the Daboll-Kafka relationship will surely be monitored closely as the year progresses.
Notice how BUF took a step back offensively without him? That’s how you know you got a good coach. Then he took a middling team to the playoffs and won the game. Last year was a lost season full of injuries. Hoping he does well.
So basically Giants fans are about to discover if Daboll or Kafka is better at calling for a punt…lol.
Daboll, you may have sealed your future in NY if you fail. It’s time to bring Bill B back where he belongs.
Daboll won’t get a 4th season if the Giants continue to get smoked by Dallas and Philadelphia.
Let’s see the Giants groupies in the New York Sports Media take THAT in.
Hmm, I could have sworn the Giants smoked Philadelphia last season. Oh right they did 27-10 in week 18. Go antagonize a different fan base Chuck.
Daboll is 1-8 vs. Dallas and Philly. The one win came when Philly pulled starters cos Dallas was beating the ‘Skins.
Philly probably would’ve lost anyway, they way they played down the stretch last season.
Eagles faced the Giants twice in the season’s last 3 weeks. Week 16 in the Linc on Xmas Day, Week 18 in East Rutherford on the final day.
If I recall correctly, Coughlin was on thin ice entering the 2007 season, his 4th. He’d gone 8-8 in 2006 after 11-5 in 2005 (though made the playoffs both years). When they started 2007 0-2, they were calling for his head, I remember several stories that week about it. Had they not come back late against the Redskins in week 3, two division losses might have done it for him. But then he won 6 straight and then was 9-4 so that chatter mostly died down and was gone with the super bowl run.
This is good. I thought I was the only old goat that had an interest in NFL history.