Brian Daboll was conspicuously absent from Miami’s recent pro day for quarterback Cam Ward‘s workout.
Now Daboll won’t be attending Friday’s Colorado pro day in Boulder, Colo., where quarterback Shedeur Sanders and corner Travis Hunter are scheduled to showcase their skills.
Joe Schoen‘s excuse for Daboll’s absence at Miami was that the head coach “doesn’t go to any pro days,” the GM said Monday at the NFL owners meetings. But that didn’t pass the smell test.
Daboll attended TCU’s and Ohio State’s pro days in 2023 and Washington’s and LSU’s pro days in 2024 at least.
Schoen only had an explanation ready for the LSU pro day. He said it was because Jayden Daniels wouldn’t do a private workout with the Giants last season, knowing he wouldn’t fall past the Washington Commanders at No. 2.
So why is the head coach not on the road for these critical evaluations? Daboll said Tuesday at The Breakers it’s because “I prefer private workouts … particularly for the quarterbacks.”
Still, the optics are reminiscent of Daboll and Schoen conducting separate press conferences on a tense Black Monday after John Mara announced that both men were being retained for a fourth season.
Schoen and Daboll regularly and intentionally have conducted joint press conferences during their tenure to create a collaborative image.
Mara publicly blamed the previous regime’s failures on a lack of communication and collaboration between GM Dave Gettleman and head coach Joe Judge. Schoen and Daboll projected a united front and worked as a complementary pairing early on, having arrived together from Buffalo in the first place.
Gradually, however, that dynamic has shifted to the point that Schoen and Daboll now more than ever are working as separate entities, sources say.
Mara’s postseason autopsy placed a lot more blame on the Giants’ coaching and execution than its personnel flaws. In his end of year meeting with Schoen and Daboll, Mara said he suggested that the coach make some changes in how he operates.
Daboll noticeably then met the media alone on Jan. 6, standing behind a lonely podium inside the Giants’ practice facility on the turf. Schoen followed that with a solo press conference of his own in the team’s indoor auditorium, seated on stage behind a table.
The new optics of those press conferences were not lost on anyone inside or outside the building who understands how the organization works.
Some sources have said, in fact, that there was some hope on the front office/personnel side of having the opportunity to reset with a new coaching staff after the Giants’ 3-14 season. But with Daboll retained, a once mutual marriage now feels more like a forced one.
Schoen and Daboll did spend some time together at the NFL owners meetings this past week in Florida. And they have no choice but to work together to build the best team in 2025 — or else.
Truthfully, it doesn’t matter what their dynamic is as long as Schoen picks better players, Daboll coaches better and the team wins.
The tension is palpable, however, coming off a season of airplanes flying overhead of MetLife Stadium calling for Mara to “fix this dumpster fire” and “fire everyone.”
And the optics of Daboll not being on the road for these pro days matters.
BANKS GIVES ‘3’ TO RUSS
Corner Deonte Banks has switched to jersey No. 2 so that new Giants quarterback Russell Wilson can wear his preferred No. 3 in New York. Wilson thanked Banks on social media.
“Salute to my guy & young star Tae Banks!” Wilson posted on ‘X.’ “Grateful for you letting me wear #3 King! Full of gratitude.”