Manager John Harbaugh will retain only two of Brian Daboll’s assistant coaches, bringing on outside linebackers coach Charlie Bullen and tight ends coach Tim Kelly to his initial Giants staff, according to reports.
This isn’t out of the ordinary. It’s quite common for new head coaches to let go of the previous coaching personnel in favor of assembling their own teams, often including familiar faces and new selections they feel confident about.
Consequently, Harbaugh will likely seek a new offensive line coach, which means Carmen Bricillo—hired by Daboll—might not be coming back. Even though Bricillo and assistant offensive line coach James Ferentz were instrumental in establishing the best offensive line performance in years, most of the key players (like left tackle Andrew Thomas, left guard Jon Runyan Jr., and center John Michael Schmitz) are under contract and expected to stay in the starting roles. They will move ahead with a new coach in charge of their development.
Bullen, 41, had a promising group that saw standout performances from newcomers Abdul Carter, Brian Burns, and Kayvon Thibodeau. Barnes reached a career-high with 16.5 sacks, while Thibodeau faced an injury-plagued season, and Carter, picked third overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, is in contention for Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Bullen stepped up as the interim defensive coordinator when interim head coach Mike Kafka dismissed Shane Bowen after a tough loss to Detroit in Week 12. Under Bullen’s leadership, the defense adopted a more aggressive style, which notably boosted Carter’s contributions. Before this role, Bullen spent five seasons as a defensive assistant with the Dolphins (2012-2016) while Giants general manager Joe Schoen was scouting there.
Kelly, at 39, joined the team in 2024 and took over as interim offensive coordinator after Daboll was let go midway through the season. His past experience includes serving as the offensive coordinator for the Texans and Titans. Keeping Kelly around would offer some stability for Theo Johnson, who’s gearing up for his third NFL season.
