After Brian Daboll was sacked from the Giants, two star players fought for the next head coach, and that resulted in killing each other in the process.
Following the firing of Brian Daboll by the Giants , two of the team’s best players engaged in a deadly duel over the position of head coach.
The New York Giants’ offseason is just a few days old, and things aren’t going well.
Following the team’s 6-11 2024 season, which came one year after they were 9-7-1 and qualified for the playoffs, the following individuals were fired this week: offensive line coach Bobby Johnson, defensive assistant Kevin Wilkins, brother Drew Wilkins, special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey, and offensive line coach Drew Wilkins. Jeff Nixon, the running backs coach, left to take a position as offensive coordinator at Syracuse but was not fired.
Throughout the second half of the season, there had been doubts regarding defensive coordinator Wink Martindale’s future; nonetheless, on Wednesday, the organization announced that they had “mutually agreed to part ways.”
Daboll stated on Monday that he anticipated the return of offensive coordinator Mike Kafka as well as Martindale. Later that day, however, Pat Leonard of The Daily News reported that Martindale had quit in order to pursue a position as head coach or as defensive coordinator elsewhere.
Daboll reportedly told Martindale of the coaching changes at their Monday meeting, according to Paul Schwartz of the New York Post. Martindale was not pleased that the Wilkins brothers, who moved to New York with him when he was released by the Baltimore Ravens, were also being let go.
Inside the facility, there was a sense that Martindale and Drew Wilkins were carving out a separate territory for themselves among the coaching staff, avoiding Daboll at times and thinking they just had each other and ownership to answer to.
Since a Jay Glazer story in late November, there has been talk of Daboll and Martindale’s relationship deteriorating. After the season, a breakup looked inevitable.
Martindale’s $3 million deal with the Giants was set to expire in one year. As to Jordan Raanan of ESPN, the team will retain the money after the split, and a team can hire Martindale without any need to ask the Giants’ permission or forfeit any salary.
The Giants have a lot on their plate this summer, including managing Saquon Barkley and replacing the coaching staff.
