Making the Case: Why the New York Giants Should Retain Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll, There are reasons patience may still be the best option.
The futures of New York Giants GM Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll were central to the discussion on the ‘Valentine’s Views’ podcast I hosted with Tony DelGenio. During the episode, I expressed my hope that both would continue with the team beyond this season.
Having stated my preference, I now want to explain why I believe they should stay.
I understand how dire the situation looks. The Giants are 10-26-1 in regular season play since their impressive 7-2 start in 2022, Schoen and Daboll’s first year at the helm. Over the last two seasons, they’re just 8-21.
The defense has been poor, with a coordinator struggling to instill discipline and execution among players. Offensively, under Daboll’s design and play-calling, they’ve been remarkably ineffective.
Many of their recent personnel decisions, though defensible at the time, have turned into sources of embarrassment. Mistakes have been made, even when choices seemed sound initially.
I acknowledge all of this. The typical response in such situations is for ownership to act decisively—fire leadership, signal change, and reassure fans. It’s possible, even probable, that such actions will be taken—especially with Daboll. However, I’m not convinced it’s the right move.
A Plea for Patience
Co-owner John Mara recently called for patience:
“Obviously, we’re all very disappointed with where we are right now,” Mara said. “But I’m going to say one thing: we are not making any changes this season, and I do not anticipate making any changes in the offseason, either. I still have confidence in both of them.”
He further admitted:
“I’ve probably been guilty of not being patient enough in recent years. That’s one of the reasons I’m committed to Joe and Brian Daboll and giving them a chance to turn this thing around.
“It’s very difficult because the last 10 or 12 years have not been very good for our fans. But you’ve got to do the right thing. And we are committed to doing that, committed to seeing this process through.”
Since Tom Coughlin’s departure in 2015, the Giants have cycled through GMs and head coaches, with each change triggering major restructuring and extended rebuilding periods. This constant turnover has been counterproductive.
The current regime appears to be in the middle, perhaps even the early stages, of a long-term rebuild. Schoen and Daboll have made errors, but there’s also a promising core of young talent. What’s missing, however, is a quarterback.
The Quarterback Dilemma
The Giants are 1-6 in one-score games this season, or 1-7 if you include a narrow loss to Cincinnati. Better quarterback play could have flipped many of these outcomes, potentially putting them at 5-7, 6-6, or even 7-5.
In such a scenario, Schoen and Daboll’s jobs wouldn’t even be in question.
Their hiring was predicated on evaluating Daniel Jones and, if necessary, finding his successor. Though it took longer than expected, they’ve concluded Jones isn’t the answer. Attempts to replace him in the 2024 draft fell through, but the process Mara referred to remains unfinished. Ownership should allow Schoen and Daboll to complete it by securing a new quarterback. If they fail, then it’s time to move on.
Additionally, Schoen’s major decisions—particularly those regarding Jones and Saquon Barkley—were likely influenced by Mara himself. Blaming Schoen alone for these outcomes would be disingenuous.
A Lesson from History
In the podcast, I struggled to find an example of a regime that needed time to succeed but eventually flourished. The answer was within Giants history: George Young.
Hired in 1979 to stabilize the franchise, Young endured rough early seasons:
1979: 6-10
1980: 4-12
1981: 9-7
1982: 4-5 (strike year)
1983: 3-12-1 (Bill Parcells’ first year as head coach)
Under today’s scrutiny, Young and Parcells might not have survived those struggles. Yet, patience led to a decade of success, including two Super Bowl titles and six playoff appearances.
While modern pressures make such patience rare, the Mara family need only look at their own legacy to see its potential rewards.
Final Thoughts
I believe Daboll is on shakier ground than Schoen. His inability to fix the offense, issues with discipline, and coaching staff conflicts raise questions about his suitability as head coach.
If ownership retains Schoen but parts ways with Daboll, it’s crucial they let the GM choose the next coach. However, I think the best course is allowing Schoen and Daboll to finish what they’ve started. Patience, as history shows, could pay off.