After reaching the playoffs during his first year as the New York Giants head coach in 2022 and winning their first playoff game since Super Bowl XLVI, it seemed the G-Men had finally found their Tom Coughlin replacement in Brian Daboll.
Since that magical year, however, it has only gone downhill for Daboll and company, with Big Blue going a woeful 9-25 over the last two seasons combined. Despite the Giants' dreadful last couple of seasons, Daboll will still be at the helm (at least for now), hoping to find some of that 2022 magic in 2025. But if they don't show improvements early on, Daboll could soon be out the door before the season concludes.
Pro Football Focus predictably names Daboll as an NFL coach on the hot seat in 2025
In an article for Pro Football Focus, Bradley Locker named Daboll as one of 10 NFL head coaches this season who are on the hot seat.
"Daboll was one of the coaches most firmly in the spotlight after a listless 2024 season in which New York finished 3-14 and with the third-overall pick. Giants ownership elected to retain Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen entering 2025, but both are under enormous pressure to turn things around", Locker wrote.
"Playing in a formidable NFC East, the Giants aren’t anticipated to make significant waves in 2025. If Big Blue can win at least seven games, it may be enough for Daboll to keep his job — especially if Dart offers promise by the end of the season. But if 2025 finishes similarly to 2024 for the organization, then a cleaning of the house will be expected."
Daboll being on the hot seat heading into this season should not come as much of a surprise due to the team's poor record over the last few seasons and its lack of competitiveness against its NFC East foes. In his three years as the G-Men's head coach, Daboll is 0-6 against the Dallas Cowboys, 1-6 against the Philadelphia Eagles and 3-2-1 against the Washington Commanders, which is good for a woeful 3-14-1 against their division rivals.
While many believe the Giants had a widely successful draft—in which they landed arguably the best player in Abdul Carter and traded up in the first round to select their potential franchise quarterback, Jaxson Dart—that still may not be enough for Daboll.
The Giants have the hardest strength of schedule this season. Their first three games are immediate challenges—two divisional road matchups against the Commanders and Cowboys, followed by a home opener against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday Night Football. This could get ugly.
Daboll could be a goner if this once-proud franchise proves it can't compete against the league's most talented teams.