The New York Giants’ decision to retain head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen after a brutal 3-14 season has sparked plenty of debate among fans and analysts alike.
While the move has been met with skepticism in many circles, one prominent voice from Giants history has thrown his weight behind the team’s leadership: Eli Manning.
The two-time Super Bowl champion didn’t hold back in his defense of the organization’s choice. Speaking with Peter Schrager on Good Morning Football, Manning made it clear he believes continuity is the key to reversing the team’s fortunes: “You just can’t keep changing it out every two or three years, that’s not the right way,” Manning said. “You got to give these coaches and these GMs time to create this culture, and three years is just not enough, and that’s just the facts."
For a franchise that’s churned through four head coaches in nine years, Manning’s point about stability isn’t exactly groundbreaking. But his optimism about Daboll and Schoen might be harder for some fans to swallow, especially after a season that saw historic losing streaks and zero answers at quarterback. Still, Manning insists the duo deserves the time to turn things around, pointing to their success in Year One as proof they’re capable of building a winning culture.
Eli Manning takes a page out of the Philadelphia 76er's book—trust the process
Eli Manning’s stance reflects his own experience with the Giants. After all, Manning played under Tom Coughlin for 12 years, a partnership that resulted in two Super Bowl titles. Manning knows firsthand what can happen when a team commits to its leadership. But he also acknowledges that today’s NFL is a different beast.
“When I was drafted, I had Kurt Warner ahead of me,” Manning said to USA TODAY Sports in an interview to promote Verizon's Super Bowl FanFest courtesy of DJ Siddiqi from SportsCasting.com. “The style and the plays that he wanted to put in the game plan for that week. That was very helpful for me to have him there.”
With the Giants holding the No. 3 pick in the 2025 draft, they’re widely expected to select a quarterback. And if Daboll and Schoen don’t get that decision right, Manning’s call for patience might fall on deaf ears.
Manning also touched on the challenges of creating a sustainable culture.
“You gotta create some sort of continuity and keep things the same, build that culture,” he said on Good Morning Football. “And that just takes time. You can't necessarily do it in two or three years. They got off to a great start, making the playoffs in Year One, but now they're in a situation. They gotta go find a quarterback, they gotta get a couple of new spots in key positions, and again, they're not far. They have some playmakers that have the superstars on the team, and it's just about getting everybody to buy in and to work together, and finding ways to win some of these tight games.”
While Manning makes a strong case for continuity, not everyone is sold. The Giants have been mired in mediocrity for over a decade, and fans are understandably wary of giving Daboll and Schoen another chance after two straight losing seasons. Their early success in 2022, which included a playoff win, feels like a distant memory after the debacle of the past two years.
Manning’s faith in Daboll and Schoen is rooted in their work ethic and vision, but the pressure is mounting. Co-owner John Mara’s recent comments about his “patience running out” only add to the sense that the clock is ticking. For Daboll and Schoen, the upcoming draft and offseason represent a make-or-break moment. If they can nail their quarterback pick and build a competitive roster, Manning’s confidence will look prescient.
If not, the Giants could find themselves starting over once again.
In the end, Manning’s support is a reminder that the Giants’ problems won’t be solved overnight. Building a winner takes time, and while Daboll and Schoen have plenty of doubters, they also have a Hall of Fame-caliber ally in their corner. Whether that will be enough to quiet the noise in “Giants Land” remains to be seen.
Manning’s full interview from Good Morning Football can be viewed below:
.@EliManning joins the show to talk all things QBs, Hall of Fame, and Super Bowl Fan Fest! pic.twitter.com/sIZ667mlQs
— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) January 6, 2025