If you’ve been out of the loop for a while, Sunday’s matchup will definitely feel a bit surreal, especially when the Titans have the ball.
This time around, the offensive plays will be in the hands of Brian Daboll, who was coaching the Giants just last year.
On the defensive side, former Titans coordinator Dennard Wilson will be calling the shots, also a recent arrival from last season.
They switched teams during the offseason, like two ships that just happened to cross paths.
After he was hired to replace Brian Callahan—who now coaches quarterbacks for the Giants—Titans head coach Robert Saleh opted not to keep Wilson around.
“I’ve known Saleh for quite some time, and most people on the staff are familiar to me from past experiences,” Wilson shared.
“I realized it was time for a change. I’m happy where I’m at now. I really enjoy being a Giant and have no regrets. I still have respect for that organization, the coaches, and the players. I keep in touch with Jeffrey Simmons and many others from my time there. There’s a lot of goodwill between us.”
Daboll tends to keep things close to the vest, avoiding anything that could be perceived as bulletin-board material.
“I’ve faced off against former teams in the past,” Daboll commented. “I hold a great deal of respect for everyone in that organization. I’m grateful for the opportunities I received from the Mara and Tisch families, but right now, my focus is on our players and preparing for the game.”
Giants running back Cam Skattebo and receiver Malik Nabers—two young talents Daboll drafted and encouraged to express their personalities—reported that they lost contact with him after his firing last November.
“Dabes is my guy,” Nabers said. “He drafted me here, and we had a solid relationship. I even brought in a few routes for myself in his playbook. He’s pretty open-minded.”
Free-agent players like Cor’Dale Flott (three tackles), Wan’Dale Robinson (six catches for 47 yards), and Daniel Bellinger (one catch for seven yards), along with offensive linemen Austin Schlottmann and James Hudson III, joined Daboll on the Titans, costing a total of $147 million.
Some assistant coaches, including Carmen Bricillo, Shea Tierney, and Cade Knox, made the move from Giants to Titans as well.
“There’s no tension between us,” Robinson said. “I’m really looking forward to reconnecting with those guys.”
The matchup between Nabers and Flott, both LSU alumni, is likely to feature some friendly banter.
“No hard feelings,” Flott mentioned. “Joe Schoen gave me the chance to be in the league, but I decided to go in another direction. I’m just focused on competing.”
One player who would have had strong feelings about seeing Daboll again is his chosen quarterback, Jaxson Dart. Unfortunately, Dart is out for the remainder of the season and is scheduled for knee surgery on Friday.
“He’s obviously devastated by what’s happened,” Daboll noted. “Prayers are with him. This industry is competitive, but at its core, it’s still very human. It was tough watching him go through that. I have immense respect for him and know he’ll bounce back, stronger than ever.”
