Giants Hire New Running Backs Coach

According to Dan Duggan, the Giants made the key hire of running backs coach Ladell Betts to the 2025 coaching staff.

Betts spent the last four seasons as Iowa’s running backs coach, although the New York faithful may be more familiar with him because of his NFC East roots. A second-round pick in 2002, Betts played eight seasons with the Giants’ rival, Washington, before ending his career with the New Orleans Saints.

Ironically, he overlapped with Thomas, who was Washington’s running backs coach in 2009.

After retiring from pro football, Betts turned the clock back to high school. He coached Coral Springs Christian Academy in 2013 before a two-year stint as offensive coordinator of Boca Raton High School. He coached at the nearby Pine Crest School for five years, too, rising from offensive coordinator to head coach.

From there, he made his jump to college, hired by his alma mater, Iowa.

That Iowa connection has proved meaningful. Daboll looked to the Hawkeyes for reinforcements on his staff before, hiring two sons of Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz – assistant offensive line coach James Ferentz (2024) and defensive assistant Steven Ferentz (2025).

While they haven’t overlapped, that familiarity with Betts could be a hopeful sign of cohesion on next year’s staff. However well they mesh, there is work to be done. Rookie running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. exceeded expectations, but the 2024 unit ranked 21st in expected points added per rush and 23rd in success rate.