New York Giants owner John Mara said Wednesday that he does not anticipate making head coaching or general manager changes following the 2024 season, NFL Network’s Judy Battista reported.
Speaking at a screening of the new NFL Films piece “The Duke: The Giant Life of Wellington Mara,” Mara remarked that his father preached patience, which is part of the reason why he does not anticipate moving on from Giants HC Brian Daboll and GM Joe Schoen despite his disappointment with New York’s 2-5 start, according to Battista.
Mara added that he believes he has not been patient enough in recent years and remains confident in Daboll and Schoen, who forged a playoff appearance and a wild-card win in their first season together in 2022, per Battista.
The Giants’ recent decline began in 2023, a hampered 6-11 campaign that saw Daniel Jones suffer an ACL tear in Week 8, limiting him to just six games total as the quarterback also dealt with a neck injury prior to the season-ender. It was Jones’ first season after the Giants inked the former No. 6 overall pick to a four-year, $160 million contract.
Jones returned in 2024 fully healthy, but the Giants’ offensive woes have persisted. Through seven games with Jones at the helm, New York’s offense owns per-game averages which all rank in the bottom third of the NFL, producing 290.7 yards of total offense (28th), 189.1 passing yards (23rd), 101.6 rushing yards (25th) and 14.1 points (31st).
Jones has 1,442 passing yards (62.5 completion percentage) with six touchdowns and four interceptions so far in his sixth season.
Mara declined to speak on Jones Wednesday, adding that he is focused on Daboll and Schoen, per Battista.
Mara’s words on Wednesday come three days after New York’s troubling 28-3 defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles at home, which saw former Giants running back Saquon Barkley thrive with 176 rushing yards and a touchdown in his first game back at MetLife Stadium.
Barkley left the Giants via free agency following a public contract negotiation that was featured in Hard Knocks‘ first-ever offseason offering this past summer. Within that drama, Mara said on the program that he’d “have a tough time sleeping if Saquon goes to Philadelphia” before the fan favorite signed with the Eagles.
There have been some positives in New York despite the lack of success the past two seasons, most recently being the selection of wide receiver Malik Nabers in the first round of the 2024 draft. The Giants also have the necessary pieces for success, most notably on defense, with defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence and pass rushers Kayvon Thibodeaux and Brian Burns, the latter of whom was acquired this past offseason via trade.
Still, there’s been little fanfare surrounding the Giants, who have yet to win a home game in a year where the club is celebrating its 100th season.
Mara on Wednesday gave Daboll and Schoen a vote of confidence with the hope his patience will soon pay off.
