The New York Giants made the playoffs last season for the first time since 2016 and for just the second time since winning the Super Bowl after the 2011 campaign. Who was the first-year head coach who helped lead the Giants back to the postseason?
Who Is the New York Giants’ Head Coach?
Brian Daboll is the Giants’ head coach. Before coming to New York, Daboll was the Buffalo Bills’ offensive coordinator for four seasons.
How Long Has Brian Daboll Been the Giants’ Head Coach?
Daboll has only been the Giants’ head coach for one season, during which he guided the club to a 9-7-1 record and a playoff berth. New York defeated the Minnesota Vikings in the Wild Card Round, but the Giants fell to the eventual NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional Round. Daboll was subsequently named the AP NFL Coach of the Year.
MORE: Giants QB Depth Chart — Who Will Back up Daniel Jones?
After beginning his career in the college ranks at William & Mary and Michigan State, Daboll made the leap to the NFL by joining Bill Belichick’s first New England Patriots staff in 2000. Two years as a defensive assistant were followed by five seasons as the Patriots’ wide receivers coach.
Daboll coached under Eric Mangini as the New York Jets’ quarterbacks coach from 2007-08, then followed Mangini to Cleveland to become the Browns’ offensive coordinator from 2009-10. Daboll spent single seasons as an OC with the Miami Dolphins (2011) and Kansas City Chiefs (2012) before heading back to the Patriots to serve as tight ends coach (2013-16).
Working as the University of Alabama’s offensive coordinator, Daboll won a national championship in 2017 before returning to the NFL as the Bills’ OC. Over four seasons in Buffalo, Daboll revamped the club’s offense and turned quarterback Josh Allen into a perennial MVP candidate. The Bills finished as a top-two scoring offense in Daboll’s final two seasons at the helm.
Daboll, who also interviewed with the Chicago Bears and Dolphins in 2022, was hired by the Giants on Jan. 28. He beat out a list of candidates that included Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, former Dolphins head coach Brian Flores, and Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo.
Who Was the Head Coach Before Daboll?
Joe Judge was the Giants’ head coach before Daboll took over in 2022. Like Daboll, Judge had a long history with Belichick and the Patriots, having worked with New England from 2012 until 2019, when he accepted the top job in New York.
MORE: New York Giants 2023 Schedule
Judge posted a measly 10-33 record over two seasons with the Giants, and his tenure was highlighted by consistent on-field mistakes and locker-room rants. After being fired by New York, Judge rejoined the Patriots’ staff in 2022.
What Is Daboll’s Record With the Giants?
Daboll posted a 9-7-1 record in his first season with the Giants. He is 1-1 in the playoffs, as New York defeated the Vikings but lost to the Eagles.
Has Daboll Ever Won a Super Bowl?
Although Daboll hasn’t yet won a Super Bowl as a head coach, he did earn five Lombardis as a member of the Patriots staff. Daboll was with New England when they won Super Bowls XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX, XLIX, and LI.