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For more than six decades, Bill Belichick played calls on the NFL sidelines, mentoring 17 assistants into future head coaches. We are talking Eric Mangini, Josh McDaniels, and even Ohio State’s offensive coordinator Matt Patricia, among others. However, with the latest hit on the NFL job market, Belichick’s NFL coaching tree comes to an end. On Monday, the New York Giants fired head coach Brian Daboll following a 2-8 record. Just a couple of years ago, Daboll earned the 2022 NFL Coach of the Year award for leading his program to the first playoffs in over six years. However, he couldn’t replicate that success in his fourth season and was let go. After back-to-back seasons totaling just nine wins against twenty-five losses, patience was running thin at New Jersey. President John Mara and Chairman Steve Tisch gave Daboll another shot, hoping for a revived offense. “Better not take too long because I’ve just about run out of patience,” he said. But then came a 2-8 record; zero wins on the road, and Daboll was facing the heat. The frustration stemmed from the fact that in four of the losses, the Giants had double-digit leads over the opponents. Against the Denver Broncos, Jaxon Dart’s offense was leading 32-30, with 37 seconds left on the clock. However, a 39-yard field goal by Wil Lutz during the last few seconds blew the Giants’ chances to secure another win. ADVERTISEMENT Similarly, Daboll’s program had secured a 20-17 lead against Chicago in the fourth quarter. But within the next two minutes, Caleb Williams sprinted for a 17-yard run, taking the lead. 24-20. In the next drive Giants could only scramble for 11 yards and blew their chances. Dart’s injury during the third quarter put forth another challenge for the offense. Following eight losses, including a four-game losing streak, frustration boiled over, and Daboll was fired.“The past few seasons have been nothing short of disappointing, and we have not met our expectations for this franchise,” President Mara and Chairman Tisch stated. ADVERTISEMENT “We understand the frustrations of our fans, and we will work to deliver a significantly improved product. We appreciate Coach Daboll for his contributions to our organization. We wish the Daboll family all the best in the future.” Giants insider Connor Hughes reported the internal sentiments at New Jersey, sharing that Daboll couldn’t capitalize on his locker room talent. “The feeling internally, I’m told, is that the #Giants believe the talent is better than the results have shown — evident by four losses despite holding 10-point leads,” he wrote on X. ADVERTISEMENT Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports Presently, Assistant Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator Mike Kafka has been named the interim head coach. After Brian Daboll’s firing, the NFL bids adieu to Bill Belichick’s head coaching tree. ADVERTISEMENT Brian Daboll won five Super Bowl rings with Bill Belichick Brian Daboli worked with Bill Belichick across two separate stints. He first came to the New England Patriots as a defensive coaching assistant in 2000 and was promoted to wide receivers coach two years later. With Belichick at the helm and Tom Brady as the starting quarterback, over the six years, Daboll would go on to collect three Super Bowl rings with the Patriots. He then went on to work across the New York Jets, Browns, Miami Dolphins, and Kansas Chiefs, returning to the Patriots in 2013. This time, he arrived at Foxborough in the capacity of tight ends coach, mentoring former NFL star Rob Gronkowski. “I’ve had many great tight end position coaches, but Brian Daboll…he brought the best out of you,” Gronkowski said back in 2022. “He had that niche to get you to enjoy the game and go out there and play at your full potential.” Belichick himself praised Daboll and other assistants for their eagerness to continue learning. Last year, at the 2025 ACC Football kickoff, the NFL legend spoke to Sports Illustrated, noting that they had taken the long route in their coaching careers. Resisting the urge to immediately jump on the head coaching bandwagon, they took their time, investing in themselves and keeping a constant learning approach. ADVERTISEMENT During Daboll’s second tenure, he helped the Patriots win two Super Bowls. After the 2016 season, he transitioned to the collegiate circuit at Alabama, where he joined legendary coach Nick Saban’s coaching staff.
