The Brian Daboll era might be over in North Jersey, but his coaching tree has already started planting roots elsewhere.
Former New York Giants offensive coordinator and interim head coach Mike Kafka was the first of Daboll's staff to find a new home this offseason. After failing to land Big Blue's HC gig, he pivoted to a high-ranking offensive role with the Detroit Lions. Shortly after, former defensive coordinator Shane Bowen's name made the rounds. And while he hasn't landed a role yet, he's already spoken with the Dallas Cowboys and the New England Patriots for potential opportunities.
That leaves former special teams coordinator Michael Ghobrial as the last of Dabs' lieutenants to get in the mix, but a Friday morning news dump took care of that. According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, the Arizona Cardinals are hiring Ghobrial to be their next STC under new head coach Mike LaFleur:
The #AZCardinals are hiring Michael Ghobrial as their new special teams coordinator, sources say.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 13, 2026
The former #Giants ST coach also worked with Mike LaFleur when both were with the #Jets. pic.twitter.com/Uynt2h1aqX
The two worked together for two years with the New York Jets from 2021 to 2022.
Former Giants STC Michael Ghobrial resurfaces with Cardinals
The 38-year-old might have been kicked out of East Rutherford, but he landed on his feet quickly with the Cards. It always helps to have buddies in high places. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: It's not what you know, it's who you know.
Ghobrial replaces Jeff Rodgers, who left the desert to join forces with Joe Brady and the Buffalo Bills in a lateral move to be their new STC. He had been running the special teams unit in Arizona since 2019.
LaFleur's decision to hire Ghobrial comes at an interesting time. Apparently the soon-to-be 39-year-old hasn't moved on from his old New York stomping grounds, because the Ghoby news broke about an hour after he swung and missed on Giants' outside linebackers coach Charlie Bullen, who removed his name from their open defensive coordinator role to remain with John Harbaugh and Co.
Ghobrial struggled with the G-Men. Under his leadership, missed kicks, muffed punts, and coverage gaffes became a weekly routine. Maybe general manager Joe Schoen didn’t give him the support he needed to succeed, but it definitely didn’t help when the much-maligned coordinator told reporters just how little the team actually practices kicks.
The Giants cycled through five kickers last year alone. Ben "Southpaw Sauls" Sauls looks like the long-term answer, and with Chris Horton now calling the shots, there's hope New York's kicking woes finally go away. As for Ghobrial, maybe he'll have more success with Chad Ryland and Joshua Karty in Arizona. Although both have had their fair share of struggles, too.