Bill Belichick reportedly wants to return to head coaching in 2025, which may be perfect for a long-awaited reunion with the New York Giants.
Big Blue has, per usual, been a big bust in 2024. At 2-9, they are favorites to land the No. 1 overall pick as they continue to be haunted by the foolhardy decision to pay Daniel Jones rather than Saquon Barkley.
Jones was released last week after six seasons with the Giants, which included a 3-13 stretch as a starter over the last two seasons. Just hours after they were thumped by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30-7 with Tommy DeVito under center, Saquon Barkley went off for a historic 255 yards rushing and 302 yards from scrimmage with the Philadelphia Eagles.
How many more indignations can Giants co-owner John Mara withstand during the Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll era? There is no reality in which the general manager and head coach are not on the hot seat at this point.
Following a rare playoff appearance in 2022, Daboll is 8-20 over his last two seasons as Giants coach. Every button he has pressed has been incorrect, and because of it, his team appears as though they have given up, as evidenced by Sunday’s beatdown by the Bucs. Of course, players and coaches alike will deny such sentiments, but rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers gave us a glimpse of just how rotten things are.
Daboll could be shown the door following this season — perfect timing with Belichick on the market.
The 72-year-old is best known as being the six-time Super Bowl champion head coach of the New England Patriots during a 24-year stint at the helm of the AFC East team. But he rose through the coaching ranks with the New York Giants, joining the organization as a special teams coordinator and a defensive assistant in 1979 and working his way up to defensive coordinator from 1985-1990, winning two Super Bowls during that time.
His game plan for Super Bowl XXV against the Buffalo Bills is still considered one of the finest masterclasses in defensive coordinating to this day. While his relationship with former head coach Bill Parcells strained, his love for the Giants rarely wavered—even when he lost two Super Bowls to them with the Patriots.
There is an obvious connection with the Mara family to be considered and for a Giants team that has been stuck in the mud for the better part of the last 12 years, perhaps the co-owner will see a former disciple as the franchise’s savior to bring things full circle.
