“I know we’re all frustrated with where we are right now,” Mara admitted. But then came the kicker: “I’m going to say one thing: We are not making any changes this season. And I do not anticipate making any changes in the offseason, either.”
The weight of Mara’s words hit hard, especially for fans who’ve seen a revolving door of coaches over the past decade. The Giants, one of the NFL’s oldest and most storied franchises, have seen a string of leaders come and go since Tom Coughlin’s last season in 2015. Since then, the team has cycled through five coaches: Ben McAdoo, interim Steve Spagnuolo, Pat Shurmur, Joe Judge, and now Brian Daboll. Not one of those head coaches, before Daboll, lasted more than two seasons.
But Mara is preaching something Giants fans may not be used to: patience. And patience, as Mara implies, is key in what he believes to be a rebuilding process under Daboll and Schoen. While the Giants may not be lighting up the scoreboard this season, it’s clear that Mara is ready to give his coach and GM the breathing room they need to turn things around.
Daboll is currently in his third season as the Giants’ head coach, and it hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing. The 2022 season offered a glimmer of hope with the team finishing 9-7-1 and even pulling off a huge upset in the playoffs against the 13-4 Minnesota Vikings. But that momentum didn’t carry over into the next year. The 2023 season was a step back, with the Giants ending with a disappointing 6-11 record. Fast forward to 2024, and through seven games, the Giants are sitting at 2-5. It's not the kind of record anyone was hoping for after such a promising playoff run just two years ago.
Yet, despite all the setbacks, Mara is holding firm in his belief in Daboll and Schoen. He’s seen what happens when you change leadership too quickly, and he’s not ready to go down that road again. “I’m not making any rash decisions,” he said, stressing the importance of giving both Daboll and Schoen time to build a roster in their own vision.
It’s also worth noting that neither Daboll nor Schoen were around when the Giants selected Daniel Jones as the 6th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. Jones has been a polarizing figure among fans and analysts alike. Some see him as a talented quarterback who hasn’t yet reached his potential, while others think he’s simply not the guy who can lead the Giants back to glory.
Schoen, hired as the Giants' GM in January 2022, made his first major move by bringing in Daboll, hoping the pair could inject new life into a struggling franchise. Together, they’ve been working to reshape the team, and while the results haven’t been immediate, there’s a belief that they’re slowly putting the pieces together to create a contender.
However, the elephant in the room remains Daniel Jones. Quarterback play is crucial in the NFL, and without a top-tier quarterback, even the best-coached teams can struggle. The Giants gave Jones a vote of confidence in March 2023 by signing him to a four-year, $160 million deal. At the time, it seemed like a no-brainer. The team was coming off a surprising playoff appearance, and Jones looked like he might be the quarterback the Giants had been searching for.
But the optimism surrounding Jones didn’t last long. He only played in six games during the 2023 season before suffering a season-ending torn ACL. Now, 2024 feels like a make-or-break year for Jones. If he can’t prove himself as the franchise quarterback, Daboll and Schoen might be forced to look elsewhere, either through the draft or free agency, to find a new leader under center.
For fans, the waiting game continues. Will Daniel Jones finally prove he’s the long-term answer at quarterback? Or will the Giants be hunting for a new face of the franchise in the coming years? It’s a question that could define the future of the team, and while Mara is committed to giving Daboll and Schoen the time to build, the clock is ticking for Jones.
Mara’s confidence in his leadership team is reassuring, especially for those who believe in long-term planning over quick fixes. While it may be tough to see the light at the end of the tunnel during a 2-5 season, Mara is asking for patience and trust in the process. “They’re building something here,” he seems to be saying, “and we just need to give them time.”
It’s hard to argue with Mara’s logic. The Giants have been stuck in a cycle of mediocrity for years, and constant changes in leadership haven’t helped. Stability at the top could be just what this team needs to find its footing again. But that doesn’t make it any easier for fans to swallow a losing season, especially after the high of 2022’s unexpected playoff run.
There’s no question that this is a pivotal moment for the Giants organization. They’ve got a head coach and GM who are aligned in their vision for the team, but that vision has yet to translate into consistent success on the field. The 2024 season will be critical for determining whether that vision can become reality or if more drastic changes are needed.
For now, Giants fans will have to hang tight. John Mara has spoken, and he’s sticking with Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen. Whether or not that patience pays off remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure: the future of the New York Giants is in the hands of these two men for the foreseeable future.
In the end, Mara’s announcement wasn’t just about Daboll and Schoen—it was about faith. Faith in the process. Faith in the idea that success doesn’t happen overnight. And faith that, with time, the Giants will find their way back to the top.
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