First Take host Molly Qerim has taken a stand in defense of New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll, urging the organization to keep him despite the team’s disastrous season.
The Giants have endured a brutal 2-9 start to the season as they headed into their Thanksgiving matchup against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on Thursday night. With third-string quarterback Drew Lock leading the offense, the Giants have struggled to find any consistency on the field, prompting questions about the future of the coaching staff.
Ahead of the game, Qerim opened the floor for fan questions on Instagram, inviting followers to ask her anything. Naturally, the conversation quickly shifted to the NFL and the ongoing struggles of her beloved Giants. One fan posed a direct question: “Should the Giants fire Daboll after the season?”
Qerim’s response was firm and unwavering. “No! He’s not the problem,” she replied. “He was just coach of the year.” Qerim’s belief in Daboll stems from his success in his first year with the Giants, where he turned the team around and led them to the playoffs.
Brian Daboll was named NFL Coach of the Year in 2022, after guiding the Giants to a 9-7-1 record and a playoff berth. Under his leadership, the Giants won a playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings before falling to the Philadelphia Eagles.
His ability to maximize the potential of a roster that had previously struggled earned him praise from fans and experts alike. However, since that promising season, the Giants have faced a series of setbacks, and the magic of 2022 has seemed like a distant memory.
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The Giants’ struggles began last year when starting quarterback Daniel Jones tore his ACL during the season. The injury sidelined Jones, and even after his return this year, he struggled to regain the form that had made him effective in Daboll’s first season.
Ultimately, Jones requested his release from the team, which was granted last week. He has since signed with the Minnesota Vikings, hoping to rebuild his confidence and find a fresh start.
With Jones out of the picture, the Giants turned to backup quarterback Tommy DeVito. Unfortunately, DeVito was ruled out of the Thanksgiving game against the Cowboys due to a forearm injury sustained in last Sunday’s loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
That left Drew Lock, the third-choice quarterback, to start against a formidable Dallas defense.
As the losses continue to pile up, head coach Brian Daboll finds himself under increasing scrutiny. Many are questioning whether he is the right person to lead the team forward. Despite the external pressure, Qerim remains steadfast in her belief that Daboll should stay.
She argues that the issues facing the Giants extend far beyond the head coach, pointing instead to injuries and inconsistent quarterback play as the main culprits.
Qerim’s First Take co-host, Stephen A. Smith, has taken a different view on the situation, suggesting that Daboll may not even want to remain in his current role. “I think he wants to lose it. I don’t think Brian Daboll wants to be there,” Smith said during a recent episode of First Take. Smith went on to differentiate between firing Daboll and letting him leave willingly, saying, “The GM (Joe Schoen) deserves to be fired. Brian Daboll deserves to be let out of his misery. Those are two different things.”
The differing opinions among analysts mirror the confusion and frustration felt by the Giants fanbase. The team has been unable to capture the form that made them playoff contenders just two seasons ago, and the decision-makers in the organization now face mounting pressure to make changes.
After Thursday’s game against the Cowboys, the Giants will return home to host the New Orleans Saints at MetLife Stadium on December 8.
For Daboll, every game will be crucial in determining his future with the franchise. While Qerim remains confident in Daboll’s abilities, it is clear that he needs results—and soon—to quiet the growing chorus of doubters and keep his tenure as head coach alive.
