There are a few things Brian Daboll needs to change for 2024.
Head coach of the New York Giants Brian Daboll had a fantastic start to his career in 2022, leading the team to an unexpected postseason run. However, following a disappointing 2023 campaign, some members of the team have taken issue with his sideline demeanor.
A team source told Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News, “He has no composure.”
Over the course of the season, Brian Daboll’s relationship with Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale deteriorated, and Leonard claimed that some of Daboll’s indiscretions and outbursts during games made it difficult for Daboll to perform his duties. After Wink Martindale and the Giants split up, Daboll was left in charge of finding a new defensive coordinator.
Giants: Brian Daboll’s ‘destructive’ sideline behavior criticized
The problems extended beyond Martindale to Mike Kafka, the offensive coordinator. Leonard claims that Daboll deprived Mike Kafka of the play-calling duties several times during the season. Before, rumors abounded, but that information was unknown.
The Seattle Seahawks and Tennessee Titans have both asked to speak with Kafka as their head coach. Whether he accepts one of those positions and, in the event that he is not hired as head coach, whether he rejoins the Giants for the upcoming campaign will be interesting to watch.
The Giants have the authority to prevent Kafka from applying for other positions as offensive coordinator if he is not hired as head coach. It will be interesting to see how Kafka and Daboll get along if he interviews soon for a new offensive coordinator position.
Still, Daboll needs to adjust a few things if he hopes to repeat his first-year success with the Giants in the future.
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Giants: Inside Brian Daboll, Wink Martindale tension during frustrating 2023 season
There was a lot of friction between Wink Martindale and Brian Daboll.
The New York Giants had an incredible season in 2022, and their first playoff run came in Brian Daboll’s first year as head coach. However, there was conflict in 2023, particularly between Daboll and defensive coordinator Wink Martindale, who left his post after the season.
Further information about the conflict within the coaching staff dates back to a game on November 19 against the Washington Commanders.
According to multiple sources inside the building who spoke to Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News, Brian Daboll said on the headset, “You’re gonna lose this game just like you lost us the Jets game,” as the Commanders threatened to overturn a 24–12 deficit.
Even though the Giants won that game in the end, Daboll blamed the team’s defense for their previous defeat that season, a 13-10 setback to the New York Jets, in which the offense struggled despite Tyrod Taylor’s injury being replaced by undrafted rookie quarterback Tommy DeVito. After forcing overtime with a field goal at the end of regulation, the Jets added another to win the game against the Giants.
For a large portion of the game, Wink Martindale’s defense held onto a 10-7 lead before conceding the game-tying point.
Without telling Martindale, Daboll dismissed brother Kevin and right-hand man Drew Wilkins, the outside linebackers coach, after the season ended. Leonard claims that’s why Martindale blew up on Daboll.
According to Leonard, Martindale told Daboll to “f**k yourself” before exiting the building after finding out about the firings.
