A new report suggests that New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll spent much of the 2023 season cultivating a difficult working environment within the organization.
Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News illustrated several issues with Daboll’s management, accusing him of “destructive” sideline behavior and a lack of composure. That behavior supposedly contributed to the breakdown of his relationship with defensive coordinator Wink Martindale, who resigned at the end of the season.
Daboll was reportedly a frequent critic of offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, who was “constantly second-guessed” by the head coach. At times, Daboll took away Kafka’s playcalling duties, only to restore them each time. During one game against Dallas, Daboll’s frustrated remarks to the defense were so prominent that Martindale had issues getting play calls in, and he also blamed Martindale for some losses. The head coach also received criticism for impulsive game management.
The situation was bad enough that general manager Joe Schoen began listening to coaches’ headsets during games to see how much of an issue Daboll’s communications were.
There is certainly some evidence to back the claims. Even in the preseason, Daboll could be seen staring down one of his assistants after a big play. At times, Daboll also ripped into players for mistakes that the coaching staff may have played a part in.
Nobody is suggesting that Daboll’s job is in jeopardy, especially after a hugely successful first season in 2022. However, it does sound like he may need to clean some things up going forward.
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