Feliciano Critiques Giants’ Firing of Coach Daboll

A former player for the Giants, Jon Feliciano, expressed his discontent on a podcast about the team’s decision to fire Brian Daboll. He accused general manager Joe Schoen of making mistakes that ultimately hurt the team’s performance.

“It’s a disaster. Daboll was definitely the right fit,” Feliciano remarked during the “Not Our Fault” podcast. “It’s challenging to win when the best players are either traded away or leave. Look at the roster: myself, Julian Love, Xavier McKinney, Leonard Williams, Saquon Barkley… the list goes on.”

Feliciano built a solid relationship with Daboll during their time together with the Bills and Giants. He even referred to him as “my boy” in the podcast. Having experienced the team’s dynamics, he highlighted how the Giants managed to secure their only playoff win since 2012 under Daboll’s leadership.

There seems to be a shared belief that the Giants exceeded expectations in their successful year. However, the decisions made afterward, like the contract for quarterback Daniel Jones, might have rushed the team’s rebuilding efforts.

When questioned if Daboll deserved to be dismissed, Feliciano asserted, “No way.” The results over the last two-plus seasons—11 wins against 33 losses—sparked discussions about whether it was Daboll’s coaching, Schoen’s roster decisions, or a mix of both that led to such struggles. Yet, Feliciano firmly stood by his opinion.

He acknowledged the team’s trend of losing close games but pointed out that injuries and player departures were significant factors. “You look at the situation—you’re missing your best receiver and running back. The defense has also faced issues. I believe the back end is particularly weak, and that reflects on Schoen too.”

Feliciano criticized the team for releasing players like Love and McKinney for nothing while those players flourished on championship teams. “You have guys like J. Love excelling in Seattle; he was essential to that team.” He also commented on the quarterback situation, suggesting Daboll was forced to handle challenging conditions.

Having played for the 49ers last season, Feliciano mentioned his friendship with Schoen and indicated that there were no hard feelings, despite facing tough evaluations after 2022.

After starting 15 games with the Giants, he left to accept a better financial offer elsewhere, which he believed would also increase his chances at a Super Bowl. Feliciano speculated that Schoen might end up facing the same fate, stating, “By season’s end, I think he’ll be gone. It’s easier to fire the coach mid-season.” He expressed regret at leaving New York, as he wanted to stay with Daboll and help lead the team.

Regarding Daboll’s situation, Feliciano mentioned the challenges surrounding his contract and suggested that Daboll’s handling of the quarterback coach role was detrimental to his standing.

He reflected on the Giants’ decision to keep quarterback Davis Webb and criticized the current quarterbacks coach, suggesting he was not adequately prepared for his responsibilities. “Keeping Webb could have played a significant role in the success of that season,” he said.

Looking back, Feliciano expressed that he believed Daboll and Jackson Dart could have forged a successful partnership. “That’s a combination I wish we could’ve seen,” he concluded.