One team's Monday Night Football overreaction could be another's next head coach.
The New York Giants pulled the plug on head coach Brian Daboll on Monday, ending what had become a broken relationship between a coach and a team that couldn't close a game to save its life. At 2-8, there was no turning things around.
Related: Colin Cowherd’s reaction to Giants firing Brian Daboll is peak delusion
With offensive coordinator Mike Kafka now stepping in as interim head coach, the focus moves to the future — and specifically, who can lead rookie quarterback sensation Jaxson Dart into the Hall of Fame with multiple Super Bowl rings... but I'll settle for the next phase of his development.
While the in-house promotion gives Big Blue's front office time to evaluate Kafka, the more intriguing name might be coaching in Green Bay.
The Packers lost 10–7 to the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football in a game defined by offensive ineptitude, questionable decisions, and rising frustration. Head coach Matt LaFleur’s offense stalled, mustering just 261 total yards despite a standout showing from his defense.
His struggles have potentially opened the door to the Pack making a change, in a bombshell report from Matt Schneidman. As The Athletic’s Schneidman wrote:
"You can’t fire the team, though, and someone might have to be the scapegoat if Green Bay’s offensive woes continue and the team bows out of the postseason in the first round or misses the playoffs entirely."Matt Schneidman
Giants should be watching Matt LaFleur’s situation in Green Bay closely
LaFleur’s performance on Monday raised some red flags.
Sacks, penalties, and dropped passes piled on, with even some Eagles defenders reportedly calling out Green Bay’s plays pre-snap. When it mattered most, LaFleur settled for a 64-yard field goal attempt by an injured kicker — Giants fans know what that's like — instead of trying to get closer. Brandon McManus unsurprisingly missed, and a primetime loss was had.
The Packers offense has been stuck in neutral for most of the year, and LaFleur’s situational decisions have become a weekly talking point. With his contract up after 2026, defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley breathing down his neck, and a new team president in place, his status is no longer secure. And despite all the shortcomings, this could be huge for the G-Men.
If he becomes available, New York needs to consider it. Dart’s growth is literally everything. Nothing matters more than making sure the 22-year-old gets all the help he can get. LaFleur’s track record developing quarterbacks — from Aaron Rodgers to Jordan Love — makes him a legitimate option.
We'll see what general manager Joe Schoen thinks of the 46-year-old Cheesehead, as he's frustratingly heading up the coaching search in East Rutherford.
Kafka has a semi-open window to prove he’s the guy. But the Giants can’t leave any stone unturned when it comes to who’s best equipped to build an offense around Dart and drag this franchise out of the basement.
If LaFleur’s situation keeps trending this way, he’s more than just a name to monitor — he might be the guy.