If the 2025 season has shown us anything, it’s that the New York Giants are committed to change... just 12 weeks too late. Look no further than the coaching carousel already underway in East Rutherford. At this point, fans have officially reached the unofficial sixth stage of grief: do whatever it takes, just give us winning football.
Related: Mike Kafka ends Shane Bowen era in long-overdue Giants shake-up
After parting ways with Brian Daboll following Week 10’s loss to the Chicago Bears, Mike Kafka was elevated to interim head coach. He immediately promoted tight ends coach Tim Kelly to offensive coordinator. Two weeks later, defensive coordinator Shane Bowen finally paid for another inexcusable fourth‑quarter collapse, and outside linebackers coach Charlie Bullen was elevated to acting DC.
There have been a lot of changes.
Yes, both Daboll and Bowen probably should’ve been relieved sooner than Weeks 10 and 12, but at least something’s being done. Since Kafka took over, he’s been tinkering with the staff, though let’s be clear: there’s only so much you can fix this late in the season. Still, it doesn’t mean outside voices are being ignored -- former Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald was spotted during last week’s practices.
Why he was at practices last week was unclear, but when asked Monday, Kafka elaborated on what his former college coach's role will be moving forward:
#NYGiants Kafka on pat fitzgerald - good friend and visiting but not involved as a member of the staff
— GiantsWFAN (@giantswfan) November 24, 2025
Mike Kafka gives update on Pat Fitzgerald’s role with Giants staff
The short answer? He has no role in North Jersey. As Biz Markie once said, “He’s just a friend.” The former 17-year college coach was simply there to lend some pointers and support the 38-year-old as he steps into the interim spotlight.
Fitzgerald’s coaching history at Northwestern is... divisive. On one hand, he led the Wildcats through the most successful stretch in program history. On the other, he was fired after a hazing scandal shattered both his reputation and the university’s trust. While no credible evidence surfaced suggesting he knew what was happening, Northwestern’s president still held him responsible for allowing it to fester in the locker room.
The 50-year-old sued the school for wrongful termination and ended up settling in August 2025.
Kafka and Fitzgerald go way back — they arrived on campus together in 2006, spending four years together before the former quarterback was selected in the 2010 Draft. So while it wasn't all that surprising to see him around the sidelines, several fans were curious if there was anything more than just a friendly visit.
With all the staff changes, it’s important to keep tabs on even the seemingly inconsequential moves. Kafka is in complete control of the staff now, and if he wants his audition to turn into something a little more long-term, he needs to surround himself with the right voices. Pat Fitzgerald might be a familiar one, but it doesn’t look like he’ll be one of them.