Oh, how quickly people can turn on someone after things don't go as planned. At this time last year, Brian Daboll was loved by NY Giants fans after the team went 9-7-1 and reached the Divisional Round of the postseason.
However, the narrative following the 6-11 campaign in 2023 is that Coach Dabes is a nightmare to work with and candidates are turned off by his 'in your face' mentality. With Dennard Wilson taking the defensive coordinator job with the Titans and passing on the G-Men, fans are blaming Daboll for missing out on a top target. Seriously? Wilson going to Tennessee is not on him at all.
What candidates turned them down? Babich was promoted in Buffalo and - while you assume they offered the job to Wilson - he went to Tennessee, where the GM has control of the coaching staff and actually worked with him for five years.
— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) February 1, 2024
You are letting the stories about Daboll… https://t.co/QVjkgceeAF
Dennard Wilson taking the Titans DC job has nothing to do with Brian Daboll
Giants insider Art Stapleton makes a great point here. Wilson had two interviews with the Giants, but he also had strong interest in moving to Nashville to take over the Tennessee defense. A big reason for that had to be second-year Titans general manager Ram Carthon.
Carthon and Wilson previously worked together with the Rams from 2012-2016. With former Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan coming on board this offseason to replace Mike Vrabel, there's plenty of excitement about the future for the Titans with so many new faces in charge.
The Giants had strong interest in Wilson, but at the end of the day, he found a better fit. There was also the potential for him to stay with the Ravens and replace Mike Macdonald as DC (Macdonald took the Seattle HC job), but there was clearly something about the Titans he loved.
Again, this has nothing to do with Daboll. If he was viewed among coaches as a menace, then how was he able to poach offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo from the Raiders and running backs coach Joel Thomas from the Saints? Despite the Giants still looking for a new DC, Schoen said that a decision should be made by the end of the week.
Yes, not landing Wilson stings a bit for the fan base, but now is not the time to lose trust in Schoen and Daboll. Fans have to believe they'll find the right pieces to help this team get back to the postseason next winter.