Overview
- Owners John Mara and Steve Tisch dismissed Daboll after a 2-8 start and named offensive coordinator Mike Kafka interim head coach, keeping GM Joe Schoen in charge of the replacement search.
- Daboll departs with a 20-40-1 record in New York after a season marked by multiple double-digit leads lost, including the Week 10 collapse in Chicago.
- ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky pointed to Browns coach Kevin Stefanski as a potential target if he becomes available, while Cleveland ownership has publicly supported Stefanski despite a 2-7 record.
- Other names floated by outlets and insiders include Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo, former Raiders coach Antonio Pierce, Colts DC Lou Anarumo, ex-Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy, and Rams assistants Mike LaFleur and Chris Shula.
- The opening is viewed as attractive given the roster core that includes first-round QB Jaxson Dart, WR Malik Nabers, and pass rusher Brian Burns, though ESPN analysts questioned the optics of retaining Schoen after the team’s struggles.