Malik Nabers didn’t hold back after the Giants’ embarrassing 30-7 loss to the Buccaneers, calling his team “soft as f—.” Dexter Lawrence chimed in, saying the Giants had the “s—” beaten out of them on Sunday, while Brian Burns simply stated, “That’s a–” when reflecting on the lopsided defeat. Jermaine Eluemunor suggested that not everyone was giving their best effort, adding to the growing frustration among the team.
The Giants’ dismal performance in 2024—now sitting at a 2-9 record—appears to have sparked a breakdown in the locker room, with coach Brian Daboll seemingly losing the support of his players. Sunday’s loss only added fuel to the fire.
The game was a complete disaster, starting with a questionable game plan from Daboll. The Giants were outgained 290 to 45 by halftime and looked uninspired, especially with Tommy DeVito taking over as the starting quarterback after Daniel Jones was released. DeVito struggled, and one of the most puzzling decisions was Daboll’s failure to get the ball to rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers in the first half. Despite Nabers being the team’s best offensive weapon, he didn’t see a target until the score was already 30-0. Understandably, Nabers was frustrated post-game, saying, “I start getting the ball at 30-0. What do you want me to do?” He added, “Talk to Dabes about that” when asked why he wasn’t targeted earlier.
Tensions are clearly high within the Giants’ locker room, and much of the blame falls on Daboll’s shoulders. There are serious questions about his decision-making, communication, and leadership. Why didn’t he address the lack of targets for Nabers, one of the team’s brightest stars? Why did he allow the Daniel Jones situation to drag on all week? And most perplexing of all, why did he start DeVito—who had an awful game—over Drew Lock, the backup quarterback who had been with the team all season?
Daboll’s inability to manage these key issues seems to be unraveling the team, and with the Giants set to face tough opponents like the Ravens, Falcons, and Eagles over the next six weeks, the situation is only going to get worse. At this point, even games against weaker teams like the Cowboys and Saints look like potential blowouts.
The situation in the Giants’ locker room is fragile. If Daboll can’t regain control soon, it’s likely he’ll lose the team entirely by season’s end. That could have major implications for his job security, with co-owner John Mara already having voiced confidence in Daboll just a month ago. If Daboll is fired, the Giants would be forced to start from scratch once again, which could upset key leaders like Lawrence and Burns.
But if Mara sticks with Daboll, the mounting resentment could carry over into next season, with players potentially tuned out by a coach who’s lost their trust. Continuing with a coach who’s no longer effective could result in another miserable season and further damage the team’s morale and culture.
Ultimately, Mara faces a tough decision. While a higher draft pick might be tempting for the future, allowing a culture of dysfunction to persist could be even more damaging long-term. Mara needs to assess the mood in the locker room and decide whether Daboll is the right leader going forward—or risk making another emotional, hasty decision that sets the franchise back even further.
Judging by the postgame comments from Sunday, it seems like Daboll’s hold on the team is slipping fast.
