Mike Kafka Named Interim Coach as Giants Begin Search for New Leadership
The New York Giants have fired head coach Brian Daboll following yet another crushing loss, this time a 24–20 defeat to the Chicago Bears in which the team blew a double-digit lead. The decision ends Daboll’s four-year tenure marked by early promise and a steep decline in performance.
“The past few seasons have been nothing short of disappointing, and we have not met our expectations for this franchise,” said Giants co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch in a joint statement Monday. “We understand the frustrations of our fans, and we will work to deliver a significantly improved product.”
Assistant head coach and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka will step in as interim coach for the remainder of the season. Kafka, who has been a finalist for several head coaching positions in recent years, is expected to stabilize the team while general manager Joe Schoen leads the search for Daboll’s permanent replacement.
From Coach of the Year to Early Exit
Daboll’s dismissal marks a sharp fall from grace for the coach who won NFL Coach of the Year in 2022 after leading the Giants to a 9–7–1 record and a playoff victory over the Minnesota Vikings. Since that breakout season, however, the team has posted an 11–33 record, the second worst in the NFL during that span — ahead of only the Tennessee Titans.
New York’s repeated inability to hold onto leads proved pivotal. The team has lost four games this season after holding double-digit advantages, including two with less than four minutes remaining — a collapse matched by only one other team since the 1970 NFL merger.
“We take full responsibility for those results,” Mara said Monday. “We look forward to the kind of success our fans expect.”
Locker Room Turmoil and On-Field Struggles
Behind the scenes, Daboll’s tenure was marred by controversy and internal tension. He clashed with staff, including a high-profile split with defensive coordinator Wink Martindale in 2023, and was fined $100,000 earlier this year for approaching the medical tent while rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart was being examined for a concussion.
Dart, the team’s first-round pick and the player many credited Daboll for selecting, has shown flashes of potential with 17 total touchdowns in seven starts but has also been evaluated for concussions four times this season. His health issues have only compounded the team’s offensive inconsistencies.
Reports also surfaced that GM Schoen had to monitor Daboll’s headset communications last season due to concerns about sideline behavior. The coach’s fiery demeanor, once seen as a motivator, increasingly became a distraction amid mounting losses.
Giants Look to Rebuild Under Schoen’s Oversight
The Giants currently sit at 2–8, marking their third straight season with only two wins through 10 games. Despite that, ownership expressed confidence in Joe Schoen to guide the next phase of the franchise’s rebuild.
“We feel like Joe has assembled a good young nucleus of talent,” Mara said. “Unfortunately, the results have not been what any of us want, but we believe in his vision for the future.”
For Daboll, the firing caps a turbulent run that began with optimism but unraveled amid locker-room discord and back-to-back losing seasons. His final record in New York stands at 20–40–1, a .336 winning percentage that ranks among the lowest in modern team history.
The Giants are expected to begin interviewing head coach candidates immediately after the season, with offensive-minded assistants and experienced NFL coordinators likely to headline the list.
