If the New York Giants decide to move on from head coach Brian Daboll, FOX Sports NFL reporter Ralph Vacchiano is floating a controversial name as the “perfect fit” to become his successor.
Brian Flores.
Vacchiano writes:
Brian Daboll wasn’t a completely unanimous choice inside the Giants organization when general manager Joe Schoen hired him in 2022. There was a lot of internal support for Brian Flores, who was the runner-up. The Giants loved his coaching ability, his leadership and pretty much everything about him.
Yeah, since then he’s filed a racial discrimination against the NFL and the Giants, among others, claiming their interview with him was a “sham” just so they could comply with the Rooney Rule. But people drop and/or settle lawsuits all the time and move on with their lives. And if the Giants fire Daboll — which seems increasingly likely — that’s what the two parties should do here.
Because Flores deserves another shot at a head coaching job. And the Giants need someone with his toughness, leadership and experience. The Dolphins made a mistake letting him go back in 2021. The Giants shouldn’t make the same mistake twice. He’s the type of coach they need to stabilize their floundering program and start to turn it around.
Valentine’s View
This is certainly an idea. Honestly, it’s one that might even have legs. If Flores and the Giants can get past any ill will from the lawsuit, and if GM Joe Schoen can work with Flores should he remain in that role.
Flores is a terrific coach, but one with a reputation of being tough to get along with. He was fired after three seasons as head coach of the Miami Dolphins, compiling a 24-25 record. His difficult relationship with Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa makes you wonder if he is the right head coach for a team likely to draft a rookie quarterback. His work with the defense of the Minnesota Vikings the past two years, though, is likely to earn him head-coaching consideration in the upcoming hiring cycle.
Vacchiano mentions support that Flores had within the Giants’ organization in 2022. There was some thought at the time that Flores might have been John Mara’s top choice at the time, but that ownership allowed Schoen to hire the coach of his choosing.
I don’t know if Flores and the Giants could get past the issues from 2022. Flores coaching the Giants, though, is certainly an interesting thought.