Former NFL Coach Emerges As Favorite to Replace James Franklin at Penn State

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jaron Spor | Last updated Dec 1, 2025 2:13 PM ET

The 2025 college football regular season has concluded, and some teams are preparing for the postseason while others are focusing on the future.

The Penn State Nittany Lions are gearing up for both tasks. Following a 6-6 season, the team is not only preparing for a bowl game but also looking ahead to the future as it seeks its next head coach after an underwhelming season.

The Nittany Lions chose to fire head coach James Franklin during his 12th season in charge. This decision follows Franklin's leadership in guiding Penn State to its first appearance in the College Football Playoff, where it reached the semifinals. Despite starting the season ranked No. 2 and having aspirations for a national championship, Franklin was dismissed after the team began the year with a record of 3-3.

Franklin has since been named the head coach of the Virginia Tech Hokies, while Penn State is still searching for his replacement. According to Kalshi, former New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll has emerged as one of the favorites for the role. It's important to note that odds change constantly, but as of publication, Daboll was a favorite alongside BYU Cougars head coach Kalani Sitake.

Brian Daboll spent four seasons as the New York Giants head coach.Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Daboll has dedicated most of his career to the NFL. He began as a graduate assistant for the Michigan State Spartans and then secured his first coaching position as a defensive assistant with the New England Patriots in 2000. Since that time, he has focused exclusively on the NFL, with the exception of a one-year stint with the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2017. During that year, he served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach under Nick Saban. That season, the Crimson Tide achieved a 13-1 record and won the national championship.

After that, he served as the offensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills from 2018 to 2021. During this period, he played a key role in the development of future NFL MVP Josh Allen. Following his successful tenure with the Bills, Daboll was appointed the head coach of the New York Giants.

His time with the Giants was difficult; he recorded a 20-40 record over four seasons. His best performance occurred in his first year, when he achieved a 9-7-1 record and led the team to the playoffs. He was fired this year following a disappointing 2-8 start to the season.

As Penn State weighs its next move, the biggest question is whether Daboll’s NFL-heavy résumé and his reputation for developing quarterbacks match what the program needs to reset and compete at the highest level. The coming days will reveal if his skill set truly fits the direction the Nittany Lions want to go.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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