Rex Ryan on Brian Daboll: Dark cloud over the Giants gone

New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll receive praise from former head coach. Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK

Rex Ryan on Brian Daboll: The dark cloud over the Giants is gone

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 9/12/22

One of the nicest ways to describe the Joe Judge era with the New York Giants is that the experiment ended poorly for all involved.

Judge posted an abysmal record of 10-23 as Giants head coach over his two seasons in charge and was unceremoniously fired from that position this past January. Big Blue eventually hired then-Buffalo Bills assistant general manager Joe Schoen to be the club's new general manager, and Schoen selected Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll to be his head coach.

While it is still early days regarding Daboll's tenure, things are looking up for the Giants coming off a season-opening 21-20 win at the Tennessee Titans that featured the coach thrillingly having his offense attempt a late two-point conversion to grab the lead with under 70 seconds remaining:

.@Saquon finds his way into the end zone. Giants take the lead!

: #NYGvsTEN on FOX
: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/z4k2UMB2UG pic.twitter.com/DF5gOeH5yt
— NFL (@NFL) September 11, 2022

Former New York Jets head coach, current analyst, and "The Amazing Race" contestant Rex Ryan, who knows plenty about the two teams that play home games at MetLife Stadium, offered some high praise for Daboll during Monday's edition of the ESPN "Get Up" program.

"The dark cloud over the Giants, which was Joe Judge, is gone," Ryan said. "It's all sunny right now. Why? Because you've got a guy, Brian Daboll, (who) is the exact opposite.

"I don't care what their backgrounds look like. Both guys coached under (Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban). Both guys coached under (New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick). They couldn't be more opposite than they are, and that's exactly what this team needed."

Ryan added: "It's fun to be a Giants fan."

Needless to say, it seems unlikely Daboll will play for a punt on a third down in his own territory at any point down the road:

The #Giants just ran a QB sneak on 3rd-and-9 in the second quarter of Week 18.

What the heck is going onpic.twitter.com/CvmmqEgvxX
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 9, 2022