Giants defensive coordinator Shane Bowen is under fire after his unit allowed 33 points in the fourth quarter to blow a 19-point lead in Sunday’s loss to the Broncos.
Star edge rusher Brian Burns expressed his frustration with Bowen’s late-game play-calling as he walked into the locker room (via Bleacher Report’s James Palmer), and New York’s defense as a whole has struggled in their first seven games this season. The Giants are among the bottom 10 teams in points, yards, and yards per play allowed, with plenty of trouble against the run and the pass.
However, head coach Brian Daboll said on Monday (via The Athletic’s Charlotte Carroll) that he is not considering any immediate changes to his coaching staff and plans to keep play-calling duties with his coordinators.
“We all got to do a better job,” Daboll said. “Starts with me, and there’s plenty of opportunities to finish that game the way we wanted to. We didn’t get the job done.”
Both Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen were thought to be on the hot seat entering the 2025 season, but the emergence of rookie Jaxson Dart as a potential franchise quarterback may give them a longer leash. The Giants’ ownership (and fans) may still demand accountability if they have a third-straight losing season, especially if their final record resembles last year’s 3-14 debacle. The offense has improved, but the defense seems to have regressed. If that continues, it could be Bowen who finds himself out of a job in 2026, but he is safe for now.
Of course not. Everything is under complete control!
the 2025 NFL season I have NEVER BEFORE seen coaches across the league get extended leashes like this. We’ve known for months now that Miami, NYG, and Cincinnati need to make coaching changes ASAP, but they all refuse to do so??? Even Tennessee waited almost a year too long. Are they scared? What gives? get this over with already. Giants fans need to move forward.
Dumb as toast. People will ask who they could bring in to replace Bowen, and that’s a valid concern. But the players on the defense clearly do not respect Bowen. Twice in the last few weeks, players have openly questioned their defensive strategies. Mara wanted to fire Bowen in the offseason and was talked out of it by Daboll. It’s a circus. The man has talent on the defense but has no idea how to use it. His play-calling has already cost the Giants two games in their first seven with his soft prevent garbage. Dallas and Denver. They could easily be 4-3 and they’re not because of Shane Bowen.
You could elevate anyone on the defensive staff: Bryan Cox, Andre Patterson, Jeff Burris, Marquand Manuel, etc. Anyone. Go grab Antonio Pierce off of CBS. Do *something*.
Also, how is Jude McAtameney still on the roster?