Loyalty is a double-edged sword — and for Brian Daboll, it just sliced the wrong way. The New York Giants officially fired their head coach on Monday after a 2-8 start, but in a move that feels more like a parting shot and an insult to Giants fans, defensive coordinator Shane Bowen is staying put.
As reported by The Athletic's Dianna Russini, no other staff changes are expected to be made at this time. Just when you thought they were turning the corner...
Oh, the irony. It felt like just a couple of weeks ago Daboll stood in front of reporters, assuring everyone there’d be no defensive play-calling changes — even after surrendering 33 points in the fourth quarter in Denver. The nonsensical loyalty carried through Weeks 8 and 9, as the team gave up 72 combined points in two defensive slop-trough efforts. Not even another double-digit collapse in Week 10 in Chicago was enough for the team to move on from its 38-year-old defensive coordinator.
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And that has to sting — because even after all that terrible defensive output, Bowen’s going nowhere. Talk about the ultimate open-palm slap in the face.
Giants fire Brian Daboll but keep defensive coordinator Shane Bowen
Oh, boy. No matter how you look at this, the optics are terrible. Bowen has proven time and again he’s in over his head as the DC.
Through one and a half seasons, the second-year coordinator’s unit has allowed 30-plus points eight times in 27 games. That’s practically one out of every three games where the defense doesn’t even show up. They’re unsurprisingly 1-7 in those matchups — a pretty clear indictment of the coaching decisions this team still can’t figure out.
Yet even through it all, Daboll had his DC’s back... only to get betrayed by, and fired for, the defense’s shortcomings. He stuck his neck out for Bowen every step of the way. He shouldered all the blame — and now he’s the one out of a job, while the guy calling the shots for a bottom-tier defense (that can't tackle, lacks effort, and can't understand basic fundamentals) stays put.
So much for the support. Might as well have fed him to the wolves a long time ago.
It’s a brutal ending — and a reminder of how backwards this organization can be. Bowen’s defense ranks near the bottom in every major category, yet he gets a pass. That irrational loyalty didn’t just cost Daboll his job — it made the Giants look even more lost by continuing to commit to it.
Not only is it a slap in the face to Daboll — it’s a slap in the face to the fans and players, too. Can't wait to see how quickly that decision blows up in their face.