The New York Giants are just 24 hours away from Black Monday, and decisions must be made on general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll.
By all accounts, Schoen appears safe but the feeling around Daboll is a bit less certain.
Entering Week 18, differing opinions on Daboll persist and speculation varies wildly. Some around the league expect the Giants to move on but a growing number of reports suggest that co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch are inclined to retain him.
Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reports that Mara “desires to keep” Daboll and avoid yet another head coaching search — something that has become entirely too common in East Rutherford.
The belief remains that GM Joe Schoen will return for 2025, and sources still lean to Brian Daboll continuing as head coach. But that is not certain as the Giants head into the final game of the season.
Giants owner John Mara desires to retain Daboll, wanting to avoid yet another coaching search that he’s become accustomed to. Schoen’s security is due in large part to Mara being a present owner, so he’s been clued in on every major decision.
Jones also reports that although Mara is keenly aware of the recent fan protests, the planes and banners have not moved the needle in his mind.
While no NFL owner likes to be embarrassed, the planes flying around MetLife Stadium have not impacted Mara’s decision-making process, sources say.
Jones does caution that no decision is likely to be made immediately. Even if the Giants do ultimately part ways with Daboll, it could take several days for that split to develop, which would put the Giants behind in the head coaching search.
But ultimately, it’s likely that Daboll will return in 2025 because Mara fears there are just no better options.
Beyond Mara not wanting to do another coaching search, there’s a belief Mara may not feel he’s assured of getting a better coach than Daboll, the 2022 NFL Coach of the Year. Daboll is considered one of the best quarterback coaches in the league, and Big Blue is certain to have a new quarterback on the roster next year.
Unless something catastrophic occurs on Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles, trends and reports suggest both Schoen and Daboll return for the Giants next season.
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