Why John Mara kept Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll despite Giants’ embarrassing season
· New York PostJohn Mara knows his customer base may not be happy, but he truly believes Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen deserve a fourth year guiding the franchise, a decision the Giants owner announced Monday.
“I think in Brian’s case, he was the Coach of the Year two years ago,” Mara said from the team’s complex in East Rutherford. “That didn’t disappear all of a sudden, I still think he can do that again. In Joe’s case, I thought we had an outstanding draft class this year, I thought we had a really good free agency period and I really like the staff he’s put together and built and I really like the staff he’s put together and built. I think they are the right two guys to lead us going forward.
“I understand, believe me, that that’s not going to be the most popular decision in Giant land but we believe it’s the right decision for us going forward.”
Mara said he met with Schoen and Daboll for several hours Friday before talking with co-owner Steve Tisch over the weekend.
The Giants concluded a 3-14 season with a Week 18 loss to the Eagles, setting the dubious record of most regular-season losses in franchise history.
Daboll and Schoen led the Giants to a shocking 9-7-1 record and a playoff win in their first year, but have since regressed to 6-11 in 2023 and this year’s awful mark.
They are 18-32-1 across their three seasons.
Mara said the Giants’ turnaround better not take too long since he’s running out of patience.
“We stunk this year,” Mara said.
The Post’s Paul Schwartz reported the pair have matching five-year contracts, meaning they will not be lame ducks entering a pivotal 2025 campaign.
Mara did not commit to those two years, though.
The Giants hold the No. 3 pick in the upcoming draft and could draft a franchise quarterback such as Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders or Miami’s Cam Ward.