Brian Daboll called plays for four seasons in Buffalo, reestablishing himself as a viable NFL OC after previous play-calling stints did not go especially well. After taking on a CEO-type role in his first two years as Giants HC, Daboll is considering another shift.
Going into a pivotal season, the third-year Giants leader said he is looking into a move to a play-calling role. That would strip OC Mike Kafka of a key responsibility. While the Giants gave Kafka a title bump after blocking him from a Seahawks OC interview, tacking on an assistant HC label to his role as Daboll’s top offensive lieutenant, a demotion appears in play ahead of his third season with the team.
“It’s something I’m looking into,” Daboll said of a play-calling role this week. “I think there’s 20 head coaches at this point in time that call plays in the league [either offensively or defensively]. … There might be a little bit more. I’ve been doing a bunch of research, but no decision has been made. I’m still going through that process, thinking about what we need to do.”
It had been expected Daboll would call plays with the Giants back in 2022, but just before that season, it was revealed Kafka — who had come over after years as the Chiefs’ quarterbacks coach — would be given the play sheet. This arrangement produced a surprise playoff berth in 2022, with Daniel Jones operating efficiently despite targeting a low-level group of pass catchers. Last season, the Giants regressed, showing little signs of their 2022 form even before Jones’ ACL tear. Daboll angrily took over play-calling duties at points, leading to questions about Kafka’s future with the team.
Unlike Don Martindale, who is at Michigan after his Daboll relationship combusted shortly after the season, Kafka managed to remain in place despite run-ins with the head coach last season. The Seahawks and Titans also interviewed him for their HC vacancies, which came a year after the young play-caller received multiple interview slips in 2023. With Daboll’s seat warming up, the Giants may be making a change. It should be considered likely Daboll calls plays in 2024, ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan tweets.
With Jones’ injury as the key variable, the Giants dropped from 15th to 30th in scoring offense from 2022 to ’23. Daboll may still be calling plays for Jones in 2024, though the Giants have a major decision to make in the draft. The team has looked into trading up from No. 6 overall, but while quarterback is a major need, so is wide receiver. This draft’s QB crop would give the Giants a potential WR1 without needing to trade up.
Daboll’s Bills play-calling performance put him on the HC radar; that came after unremarkable stints as OC with the Browns, Dolphins and Chiefs. He also called plays for Alabama’s 2017 national championship-winning team. It would be somewhat odd if Daboll went through his Giants tenure without operating as their regular play-caller at any point. Many NFL HCs are also entrenched as play-callers; Daboll appears more likely than not to join those ranks in 2024.
I’ve never understood why so many fans consider play calling to be some super science. 90% of calls are dictated by factors such as score, field position, down and distance, time remaining in half or game. That doesn’t include factors such as weather, field conditions and personnel available to execute a particular play. Most of the time options on what to run are pretty limited. From the offensive perspective, getting the ball into the hands of your best weapon is generally a strategy most OCs will adopt anyway.
He got the job because he was considered a good play-caller in BUF. He gets to the Giants and doesn’t call the plays.
Why did they hire him?
Cos the Giants are the entitled team that get gentle treatment in the tabloids and talk radio.
He sees the writing on the wall. Pad that rèsumè for 2025 OC openings
Honestly, I think it’s fair to ask: would anyone want him as an OC in ’25?
Maybe if there was a strong HC in place, and Daboll knew going in it was the HC’s way or the highway, I could see it. He just seems like a guy that’s more headaches than he’s worth.
Idk, Buffalo has struggled to replace him adequately.
He knows how to tell Josh Allen to throw to Stefon Diggs. I could do that job.