Giants HC Brian Daboll preparing to right the ship in pivotal 2024 campaign

Brian Daboll’s second year as the Giants’ head coach was a stark contrast to the dreamy debut season he had in 2022.

With it came plenty of turmoil, including a mutual parting of ways with defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale at the end of a 6-11 campaign that produced just one glimmer of hope — a 3-1 run around Thanksgiving — before sputtering to a 1-3 finish.

Daboll has had time to reset. He’s found a new defensive coordinator and taken back play-calling duties. And he knows he doesn’t have a ton of time to right the ship.

“I’m sure there is a lot we all learned about ourselves going through that and, as leaders, myself included, we all have to get better in terms of how we handle those situations,” general manager Joe Schoen said, via ESPN. “I think we’re all going to reflect this offseason on how things went and what we can do better. I would put Dabes (Daboll) in that category as well.”

Daboll earned the opportunity to coach the Giants because of his play-calling abilities, which powered the Bills on a rise into the AFC’s elite tier. He gave up his play-calling responsibility to offensive coordinator Mike Kafka upon arriving to New York in 2022, but after nearly everything went south in 2023, he’s taken them back, reducing Kafka’s role even after he added to the assistant’s official title.

“As the offensive coordinator and assistant head coach, I merely complement Dabes by assisting with offensive drills,” stated Kafka. “You’ll find me contributing to both the coaches and players in any way I can. This could be through emphasizing fundamentals and techniques, providing insights on routes or protections, or similar tasks.”

Thus, I am doing whatever I can to enhance those guys.

The aim is to collaborate, but the shift in responsibility also highlights the probable stress Daboll is under following his team’s underperformance last year. He has implemented required alterations in the coaching staff, substituting Martindale with Shane Bowen and granting himself increased authority on offense. Daboll will be given every chance to prove his worth if he plans to retain his position.

One determining factor remains, though: the performance of Daniel Jones. Daboll extracted the most from Jones in 2022, prompting the Giants to re-sign the quarterback to a four-year, $160 million deal. Instead of building on that positive momentum, a lack of availability doomed Jones in 2023, contributing to New York’s slide.

Jones’ potential rebound in 2024 is uncertain, and whether one likes it or not, Daboll’s future may be linked to the quarterback’s fate. Their outcomes will unquestionably depend on how Jones performs. However, with the offseason changes now wrapped up, Daboll has at least set himself up to steer the Giants as the only captain.

We’ll find out if that voyage ends successfully in 2024.