STWF Sports | Nov. 12, 2025 – The New York Giants have made another dramatic pivot in their latest rebuilding effort. The franchise fired head coach Brian Daboll this week after a string of agonizing close losses, but in a surprise twist, general manager Joe Schoen will remain in charge — and lead the search for the team’s next head coach.

It’s a bold, divisive move that signals ownership’s belief that the roster is solid, but the coaching has failed to deliver. Still, with the Giants sitting at 2–8 entering Week 11 and a fanbase growing restless, patience in New York is running thin.

A Split Decision in the Front Office

NFL insider Dan Graziano told talkSPORT the organization’s choice reflects a clear internal message.

“The interesting thing is to move on from the coach and not the GM, and then say the GM will lead the search for the next head coach,” Graziano said. “That’s the team telling you, we think this is a well put together team, it’s just not being coached well enough.”

That argument, while defensible, comes with consequences. The Giants have lost four games after leading by double digits, including two in which they held those leads in the final minutes of regulation. For ownership, that suggested the problem was on the sideline — not in the front office.

The Jaxson Dart Factor

The biggest storyline moving forward is the development of rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart, the No. 25 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. The 22-year-old has shown flashes of long-term potential since being promoted to starter, completing 62.7% of his passes for 1,417 yards, 10 touchdowns, and three interceptions, good for a 93.5 passer rating.

Dart currently ranks inside the top 20 of talkSPORT’s quarterback rankings, a rare bright spot in another bleak Giants season.

But injuries have begun to mount. Dart remains in concussion protocol ahead of this Sunday’s matchup against the Green Bay Packers, which could force veteran Jameis Winston into action. Graziano believes the organization must prioritize long-term protection for its rookie signal-caller.

“They’d like to keep him out of situations that could do the most harm,” Graziano said. “He represents real hope for the Giants, and they want to protect that.”

Schoen’s Record Under the Microscope

Despite being retained, Joe Schoen’s job security is far from guaranteed. Since taking over in January 2022, the Giants have gone 20–40–1, including just five wins since the start of the 2024 season. His first year brought cautious optimism with a 9–7–1 playoff berth, but the franchise has since plummeted back into mediocrity.

Schoen’s missteps include the controversial departures of former cornerstones Saquon Barkley and Daniel Jones. Barkley, who signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, helped lead his new team to a Super Bowl title last season — a bitter pill for Giants ownership to swallow.

“I’ll have a tough time sleeping if Saquon goes to Philadelphia,” owner John Mara told Schoen during HBO’s Hard Knocks.

Jones, meanwhile, found new life with the Indianapolis Colts, emerging as a Comeback Player of the Year candidate while leading Indy to an 8–2 record atop the AFC South.

Kafka Gets an Interim Shot

With Daboll out, offensive coordinator Mike Kafka has been named interim head coach. Kafka, who has worked closely with Dart and previously drew interest from Seattle and Arizona for head coaching roles, now gets his first true audition as the Giants’ leader.

“He’ll get a look, especially if they finish the season strong,” Graziano noted. “But obviously they’ll do a full search and comply with all the hiring rules.”

Kafka’s familiarity with the locker room and reputation as a quarterback developer could give him an edge, but Schoen and ownership are expected to conduct a wide-ranging search at season’s end.

Schoen’s Future Still Uncertain

While Schoen remains in control for now, his position could still change depending on how the coaching search unfolds. Graziano pointed to the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2024 as a cautionary tale.

“Last year, the Jaguars said their GM would lead the search for the next head coach,” he explained. “When they couldn’t get the coach they wanted, they fired the GM and hired someone else. So we’ll see if Joe Schoen gets to stay.”

For now, the Giants are pressing forward with a fractured foundation — a new coach to find, a rookie quarterback to protect, and a general manager under quiet review.

In New York, that combination has often spelled chaos — and unless results improve soon, the next changes may reach even higher up the ladder.