Lt. Gen. Darryl A. Williams, 60th superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy, cadet leadership, members of the cadet glee club and the Benny Havens Band took part in the Salute to Soldier events during the New York Giant's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018 at Metlife Stadium. (U.S. Army Photos by Brandon O'Connor)
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The Giants announced that Brian Daboll will become the 20th head coach in franchise history.
Daboll, 46, spent the previous four seasons as the Buffalo Bills’ offensive coordinator. He joins Joe Schoen, who was hired as general manager a week ago, in a leadership tandem that seeks to improve the fortunes of a franchise that has endured five consecutive losing seasons. Schoen was Buffalo’s assistant general manager during Daboll’s entire tenure with the team.
READ: 10 things to know about HC Brian Daboll
The Giants interviewed six candidates for the head coach position. In addition to Daboll, they spoke to former Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores; defensive coordinators Leslie Frazier of Buffalo, Lou Anarumo of Cincinnati, Dan Quinn of Dallas and the Giants’ Patrick Graham.
Daboll first interviewed with the Giants via video conference on Jan. 21 – the day Schoen’s hiring was announced – when he spoke to team president John Mara, chairman Steve Tisch and Schoen. On Tuesday – two days after Buffalo lost to Kansas City in a thrilling AFC Divisional Playoff Game — Daboll was at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center to meet with the same threesome plus senior vice president of player personnel Chris Mara. He also met with other members of the front office and toured the facility.
“It is an honor and a privilege to be named head coach of the New York Giants,” said Daboll. “Thank you to Joe Schoen for believing in me and to John Mara and Steve Tisch and their families for entrusting me with this position. My immediate goal is to assemble a coaching staff – a strong staff that emphasizes teaching and collaboration and making sure our players are put in the position to be their best and, ultimately, to win games. That’s why all of us do this. To teach, to be successful, to develop talent, and to win. I have a pretty good idea where our fan base’s feelings are right now, and I get it. I promise we will work our tails off to put a team on the field that you will be proud to support and give us the results we all want.”
Daboll succeeds Joe Judge, who was dismissed on Jan. 11 after two seasons with the Giants.
“We interviewed several people who are incredible coaches and all of whom are going to enjoy much more success in this league in their current positions and as a head coach,” said Schoen. “With that said, we – me and ownership – all felt Brian is the right person to serve as our head coach. Over the last four years, I have observed first-hand Brian’s strengths as a leader – he is an excellent communicator, intelligent, innovative, and hard working. Brian’s genuine and engaging personality is refreshing. He fosters relationships with the players and coaches around him. He is progressive in his vision and values collaboration, two of the attributes we think are essential. I am thrilled to partner with Brian and welcome he and his family to this side of the state.
In 2021, Daboll’s offense excelled as Buffalo won its second straight AFC East title with an 11-6 record. The Bills finished third in the NFL with 28.4 points a game and fifth with 381.9 yards a game. Quarterback Josh Allen was sixth in the league with a franchise-record 409 completions, seventh with 36 touchdown passes and eighth with 4,407 yards. Allen’s favorite target, wide receiver Stefon Diggs, caught 103 passes for 1,225 yards and 10 touchdowns.
The Bills won their last four regular-season games and routed New England in a wild card game before their season ended in Kansas City for the second consecutive year.
“Brian was the first candidate we met with when we began our search,” said team president John Mara, “and as we continued our conversations, it was clear that his approach to coaching and team building was what we are looking for moving forward with our team. Brian has had tremendous experience in the NFL and has been part of multiple championship teams. It is clear he used that experience to grow and develop into a dynamic leader, one that we are confident is the right fit as our head coach.”
“First of all, Joe did a great job in lining up prospective head coaches,” said chairman Steve Tisch. “It was an impressive group, which made this an incredibly difficult decision for John, Joe and me. In the end, it was obvious Brian has spent his career preparing for this moment. He is creative, thoughtful, determined, and Joe and Brian are the perfect complement to each other. We will do everything we can to support their process as they build toward the 2022 season and well after that.
In 2020, Daboll was voted the Associated Press’s NFL Assistant Coach of the Year after the Bills finished 13-3 and ended the Patriots’ streak of 11 consecutive division titles. Allen finished second in the NFL Most Valuable Player voting after setting Buffalo single-season franchise records with 4,544 yards, 37 touchdown passes, a 69.2 completion percentage and a 107.2 passer rating.
Daboll joined the Bills in 2018 as coordinator under coach Sean McDermott. The previous year, he helped lead the University of Alabama to its 17th national championship as the Crimson Tide’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
Daboll has 20 years of NFL coaching experience. He spent 11 seasons with the New England Patriots (2000-06, 2013-16) in a variety of roles and helped the franchise win five Super Bowls (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX, XLIX and LI). Daboll began his coaching career at age 24 in 2000 — Bill Belichick’s first year with the team — as a defensive coaching assistant. He was promoted to wide receivers coach in 2002.
Daboll left the Patriots to become the Jets’ quarterbacks coach from 2007-08.
He has been an offensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns (2009-10), Miami Dolphins (2011) and Chiefs (2012).
Prior to entering the NFL, Daboll spent one year (1997) as a volunteer assistant at the College of William & Mary, where he first met McDermott, before serving two seasons (1998-99) as a graduate assistant for Nick Saban at Michigan State.
A 1997 graduate of the University of Rochester, Daboll was a two-year starter for the YellowJackets at safety.
A native of West Seneca, New York, he and his wife Beth have six children: Mark, Christian, Aiden, Haven, Avery and Luke.
