John Mara hints at Giants changes despite sticking with Brian Daboll, Joe Schoen

It wasn’t a good day to be calling plays for the Giants. 

In addressing his decision to keep general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll, co-owner John Mara hinted that changes could be coming to the game-day operation in 2025. 

Defensive coordinator Shane Bowen was left in the crosshairs despite the unit routinely being put in bad positions by one the NFL’s worst offenses — overseen (for now) by Daboll. A change in offensive play-caller is on the table, too. 

“Quite frankly, I didn’t think our defense played very well this year at all,” Mara said. “I know that when you have an offense that performs like that, you’re putting more pressure on your defense. But we need to make improvements there. I’m tired of watching teams go up and down the field on us. So, I think that has to be addressed.” 

Unlike one year ago, when he fired four assistant coaches on the day after the season ended — including two at the start of the day — Daboll did not make any immediate staff changes. Moves could be coming soon. 

“Everything wasn’t good enough,” Daboll said. “When you only win three games, there’s a lot of things that need to be improved.” 

It would be rare for a head coach to get to hire three defensive coordinators in four seasons, but that would be the case if the Giants move on from Bowen. Mike Vrabel — one of the hottest names available in the coaching carousel — is closely tied to Bowen. 

Daboll is in danger of developing a reputation for scapegoating assistants. 

A behind-the-scenes blowup between Daboll and Wink Martindale led to Martindale’s exit after the 2023 season.

• CHECK OUT THE LATEST NFL STANDINGS AND GIANTS STATS

Bowen was not the Giants’ first choice as a replacement, but Daboll could not lure Bobby Babich from the Bills or convince Dennard Wilson to come to the Giants over the Titans. 

Did Mara’s words mean that Bowen is about to take the fall? 

“I wouldn’t take it as that,” Daboll warned. 

On the other side, Daboll took over play-calling from offensive coordinator Mike Kafka before the season.

The Giants ranked No. 31 in scoring (16.1 points per game), No. 28 in passing (189.9 yards per game), No. 23 in rushing (104.9 yards per game) and No. 28 in expected points added per play (-0.88). 

“I talked to him about, ‘Do you really believe that it’s in our best interest for you to continue calling the plays?’ ” Mara said. “I said, ‘I’m not going to demand that you do one thing or the other. But are you better off letting somebody else call the plays?’ That’s a discussion that we’re going to continue to have. 

“But at the end of the day, he’s got to make the decision on whether he does that, on whether he wants to make replacements in the staff.” 

Kafka is under contract for next season, but was requested for a head coach interview by the Bears.

It is possible he reclaims play-calling here or that he is allowed to make a lateral move to regain play-calling elsewhere.