Giants Fire Brian Daboll After Four Seasons; Mike Kafka Named Interim Coach

The New York Giants fired head coach Brian Daboll on Monday, ending a turbulent four-year tenure marked by early success and steep decline. Offensive coordinator Mike Kafka will take over as interim head coach, according to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan.

The move came a day after the Giants blew a 10-point second-half lead in a 24–20 loss to the Chicago Bears — their second collapse of that magnitude this season. New York became just the second team since the NFL merger to lose multiple games in one year after leading by at least 10 points with under four minutes to play.

Daboll, who was named NFL Coach of the Year in 2022, finishes his Giants tenure with a 20–40–1 record and a .336 winning percentage. His first season brought hope — a 9–7–1 finish and a playoff win in Minnesota — but the team stumbled badly in the years that followed, going 11–33 since 2023, per ESPN Research.

The Giants (2–8) have now opened three straight seasons with just two wins in their first 10 games. General manager Joe Schoen will remain in place and lead the search for the next head coach.

Daboll’s final weeks were defined by mounting frustration and renewed scrutiny. Rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart — a first-round pick Daboll reportedly helped target — suffered his fourth concussion evaluation of the year during Sunday’s loss. The team’s offense again struggled to protect him behind a patchwork line, compounding a pattern of inconsistency that has haunted the franchise since 2023.

Daboll, formerly the Buffalo Bills’ offensive coordinator, was hired in 2022 to modernize New York’s attack and develop quarterback Daniel Jones. Instead, his tenure ended amid internal tension, sideline outbursts, and ultimately not returning to the playoffs.

Kafka, who interviewed for multiple head coaching roles in recent offseasons, will lead the Giants for the rest of the 2025 campaign as ownership begins yet another franchise reset.