The New York Giants’ season has officially entered soap opera territory. After a brutal smackdown by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the buzz in Big Blue’s camp isn’t just about blown plays — it’s about head coach Brian Daboll possibly losing his grip on both the playbook and the locker room.
The guy who turned heads last season may be catching side-eyes from his own squad. Insiders are buzzing that morale has plummeted, with players reportedly tuning out his fiery pep talks.
Giants in Turmoil: Has Brian Daboll’s Message Gone Silent?
Things are spiraling fast for the Giants, and it’s not just the 30-7 drubbing by the Bucs that has everyone talking. Giants insider Patricia Traina dropped a bombshell on X (formerly known as Twitter), suggesting HC Daboll has “lost the locker room.”
She posted, “I hate to say it, but I think Daboll has lost the locker room. I think his message is falling on deaf ears. And if the locker room has indeed been lost, then there’s no way you can keep him as head coach.”
That’s a brutal indictment of the man who was crowned Coach of the Year two seasons back.
I hate to say it, but I think Daboll has lost the locker room. I think his message is falling on deaf ears. And if the locker room has indeed been lost, then there's no way you can keep him as head coach.
— Patricia Traina (@Patricia_Traina) November 25, 2024
The Week 12 loss wasn’t pretty. The Giants, now 2-9 overall and 0-6 at home, looked disorganized and deflated in their first game since parting ways with QB Daniel Jones. However, the performance proved one thing loud and clear: Jones wasn’t the only issue. Rookie WR Malik Nabers didn’t hold back in his postgame presser, subtly pointing out problems beyond just the roster shake-up.
Adding fuel to the fire, DL Dexter Lawrence II didn’t mince words. He called the effort “soft” and admitted his frustration level was at a “10.”
The Giants have now dropped 20 of their last 28 games since the start of 2023. For a franchise with such a rich history, this free fall is untenable. Daboll’s fiery style and once-celebrated messaging seem to be falling on deaf ears, and the players’ visible disconnect is impossible to ignore.
With the team cleaning house at QB, the question now is whether Daboll will survive the season or if ownership will cut ties before 2024. Either way, the Giants are staring down major changes. A rebuild feels inevitable; the only question is who will be left standing.
Daboll on Thin Ice as Giants’ Offense Hits Rock Bottom
Daboll might be coaching for his job — and he knows it. SNY insider Connor Hughes revealed Daboll entered the season aware of the stakes, but the results haven’t helped his case. The Giants’ offense has cratered under his watch, scoring fewer points per game than any season in franchise history. That’s a tough sell for an offensive guru.
Heard from someone close to Brian Daboll that he felt like he was "coaching for his job" going into this year. #Giants are 2-9 and offense averaging 14.8 points per game, which is tied for worst in franchise history (16 game season), after Daboll took back play calling.…
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) November 24, 2024
Despite taking over play-calling duties, Daboll’s unit has regressed, leaving fans streaming out of MetLife Stadium by the third quarter of blowouts. Even team owner John Mara, who prefers stability, may struggle to ignore the mounting embarrassment.
The Giants’ decision to extend Jones instead of tagging him — after Daboll coached him to a career year in 2022 — backfired. It’s cost them Saquon Barkley (now with the Philadelphia Eagles) and led to this mess. While some argue Daboll deserves a shot with a QB of his choosing, losing the locker room could make that moot.
Change feels inevitable. The question is, how much?