Fewer than 24 hours after the Giants wrapped up a disappointing 3-14 season, co-owner and team president John Mara took to the podium to deliver surprising but definitive news: General Manager Joe Schoen and Head Coach Brian Daboll will both return for the 2025 campaign.
“Obviously, three wins is not good enough,” Mara acknowledged. “We stunk this year. But at the end of the day, I still believe Joe and Brian are the right men to lead us forward. I know that’s not going to be popular in Giant land, but we are committed to building the right way. I don’t want to keep changing course and taking one step forward and two steps back.”
Despite racking up a combined record of 9-7-1, 6-11, and now 3-14 in three seasons together, Schoen and Daboll insisted the franchise is better positioned for the future than it appears on paper. Ownership evidently shares that optimism, opting for continuity rather than another major upheaval at the top. Below are the key takeaways—and key quotes—from Monday’s series of press conferences with Daboll, Schoen, and Mara.
Brian Daboll: “We won three games. So, I’m going to consider every option.”
Daboll, the NFL’s 2022 Coach of the Year, seemed candid and introspective while fielding questions about his immediate future. Despite swirling rumors, he learned only Monday morning—via a call from John Mara—that he would indeed be returning.
“Like I said, I’ve been in constant communication with ownership. I heard this morning. I am thankful for the opportunity,” Daboll said. “We have a lot of work to do. Obviously, 3-14 is not good enough.”
On Potential Staff Changes
Daboll emphasized no staff decisions have been finalized, even as multiple coaches—particularly defensive coordinator Shane Bowen—face scrutiny. When asked if the lack of defensive success this season put Bowen’s role in jeopardy, Daboll rejected any quick conclusions:
“I wouldn’t take it as that. You’re not happy with anything when you win three games,” Daboll said. “When you only win three, a lot of things need to be improved.”
While he didn’t rule out changes, he also maintained confidence in his current assistants:
“I got a lot of confidence in the guys that have put the time, effort, and energy in. The results were terrible. But we’re moving forward and will do everything we can to improve.”
On Surrendering Play-Calling
After two tumultuous offensive seasons, Daboll indicated he may give up play-calling in 2025—a notion he’d firmly resisted a year ago.
“I brought that up to John [Mara] in the meeting,” Daboll noted. “There’s no decision that’s been made. But we won three games. So, I’m going to consider every option to try to be better.”
He also acknowledged the inherent challenge:
“We won three games. We have to do things differently. I’m not saying I’m definitely giving [play-calling] up, but I’m not ruling it out, either.”
Joe Schoen: “It starts with me. I’ve got to do a better job.”
Standing before the media shortly after Daboll, GM Joe Schoen accepted much of the blame for the Giants’ inability to build on their 2022 playoff success.
“First and foremost, I look at myself,” Schoen said. “We’re not good enough. We didn’t play well enough. I’ve got to do a better job assembling a roster with more talent so we can go out and compete at a higher level.”
The Quarterback Conundrum
The most pressing issue facing Schoen is quarterback. With Daniel Jones no longer in the mix and only Tommy DeVito currently under contract, the Giants must address QB1 via the draft, free agency, or trade.
“It’s the most important position in football,” Schoen acknowledged. “We’re picking third in the draft. We have cap space. We’re not digging ourselves out of a financial hole this time around. We’ll explore all avenues to upgrade that position.”
Schoen also dismissed any notion of “mortgaging the future” out of desperation:
“I would never do that,” he stated firmly. “We have a plan in place that we believe in. We’re going to build this thing the right way. I’m not going to do a Hail Mary for self-preservation.”
Reflecting on the 2024 Draft
Despite the disappointing season, Schoen touted the productivity of last spring’s rookie class, which included standout wide receiver Malik Nabers, tight end Theo Johnson, and several others who saw significant snaps.
“We had five of the six draft picks play over 50 percent of the snaps, and the sixth guy was at 40 percent,” said Schoen. “I think that draft class will be a big piece of our core moving forward.”
He pledged a similar approach in 2025’s draft and insisted the team must target “the best players and right fits,” especially at quarterback.
John Mara: “Nobody’s more frustrated and upset than I am.”
In a rare, unfiltered media session, the Giants’ principal owner acknowledged that three wins is “not even close” to acceptable. Yet Mara insisted the team’s top leadership structure remains sound.
“I understand that’s not going to be the most popular decision in Giant land,” Mara said of retaining Schoen and Daboll. “But I still believe they’re the right guys to lead us going forward.”
He went on to highlight the tension between wanting immediate success and rebuilding responsibly:
“When you make changes, you feel like you take one step forward, two steps back,” Mara noted. “I’ve just about run out of patience, but we can’t keep starting over. I have to believe in the process and the plan we have in place.”
Addressing the Defense’s Struggles
While many eyes focus on the quarterback dilemma, Mara singled out the defense’s regression as a major concern:
“I’m tired of watching teams go up and down the field on us,” he admitted. “I know our offense put pressure on our defense this year, but that still needs to be fixed. We need to make improvements there.”
Looking Ahead: A High-Stakes Offseason
The Giants enter this offseason with a top-three draft pick, a glaring need at quarterback, and a mandate from ownership to demonstrate tangible progress—fast. Whether that means drafting one of the top collegiate prospects or making a splash in free agency, the final decision will rest with Schoen and Daboll, whose futures are now inextricably linked to the success of their next moves.
“We’re going to do everything we can to be much better than we were this year,” Daboll vowed. “This is the NFL—it’s a results-based business. Three wins isn’t cutting it.”
Yet John Mara was candid about how short the leash might be:
“If I’m standing here a year from now and we’re having the same conversation, I’ll take the heat for that,” Mara said. “But right now, based on what I’ve seen in the building and on the practice field, I believe in these two. We need better results, but I believe we’ll get there.”
With that, the stage is set for a pivotal offseason in East Rutherford. Patience is wearing thin in one of the NFL’s most storied franchises, and fans across the tri-state area will watch closely to see if the Giants’ renewed commitment to GM Joe Schoen and Head Coach Brian Daboll finally triggers the long-awaited turnaround.
Featured Articles
Featured Writers
