This past season, Brian Daboll, the head coach of the New York Giants, reportedly took play-calling duties away from his offensive coordinator multiple times. However, the organization prevented him from assuming the same position with other teams.
The Giants organization made an unexpected choice earlier this month. Under new head coach Mike Macdonald, the Seattle Seahawks expressed interest in speaking with offensive coordinator Mike Kafka about assuming the same position. The Giants, nevertheless, chose to obstruct an interview in spite of multiple rumors that Daboll was dissatisfied with his work in 2023.
This past season, the offense made significant regressions, and there were whispers late last year that Kafka had lost some of his responsibilities as a result of the unit’s subpar play. During the season, the coordinator denied the reports, nevertheless. However, Connor Hughes, an SNY New York Giants insider, has a new tale that presents a very different picture.
In a mailbag essay published on Friday, Hughes added more to the developing story of drama between Daboll and his staff by asserting that there “was absolutely tension” between the Giants’ head coach and his offensive coordinator during the season. As well as the fact that “Kafka had his playcalling revoked at points last season [with Daboll] scapegoating him for the unit’s problems.”
Even though it was clear that he was unhappy with his work, the head coach and the organization forbade him from looking for a comparable position elsewhere. Hughes detailed in his article how the staff’s decision to keep their relationship with Kafka this year was greatly impacted by the loss of defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale.
“Replacing all three coordinators in one offseason is a major undertaking when the preference is to not have Daboll call the plays,” he wrote. “Remember, too: There could be changes if things go poorly again this year. The Giants need as much continuity as they can to try to return to their 2022 play.”