The New York Giants are once again facing a tough season, and this week their general manager finally stepped forward to talk about it. The team is 2–11 after a rough loss to the Patriots, and their playoff hopes ended for the third straight year. With an interim head coach now leading the team, the Giants’ future feels uncertain, and that set the stage for Joe Schoen’s much-awaited press conference.

Schoen Acknowledges Frustration, Takes Full Responsibility

On Tuesday, Schoen sat in front of a tense New York media and answered every question about the roster and the direction of the franchise. He began by addressing the frustration around the team, saying, "I understand the frustrations of the fans, the ownership, people inside the building, and nobody's more frustrated than myself." His message was clear: he knows how bad things look.

Schoen then made it clear where the responsibility begins. “It starts with me,” he said, explaining that he is responsible for getting the Giants back on track. He reminded everyone that the organization expects to compete for championships every year, and he added, “We’re going to look at everything free agency, draft, coaching, finishing, execution on the field; whatever it may be we’re going to look at all avenues.”

Schoen joined the Giants during the 2022 offseason, and at first, things looked promising. He and Brian Daboll helped the team win a playoff game in their first season together. But after that early success, the team fell apart. Now the Giants are stuck with another year of at least 11 losses, and that collapse led to Daboll being fired on Nov. 11. Even so, the Giants announced that Schoen would stay and lead the search for the next head coach.

After Daboll’s exit, assistant coach Mike Kafka became the interim head coach. On Tuesday, Schoen said Kafka is “getting a real look right now” at the job full-time. Schoen explained that his focus is on supporting Kafka and evaluating every part of the football operation as they finish the season. He added, “Has it been perfect? No, but I'm very confident in my staff, in myself, and our ability to get this franchise back to where it needs to go.”

Defending His Tenure and Pointing to a Young Foundation

Reporters didn’t hold back and asked why Daboll was fired but Schoen wasn’t. Schoen answered calmly, saying, “My hand’s in it just like Brian’s. Ownership made a decision to move on and, again, I'm going to control what I can control.” He said he wishes Daboll the best and promised to keep working to fix the team.

While addressing where the team is right now compared to the last 3-14 season, Schoen pointed to the young talent they’ve added. He highlighted rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart, running back Cam Skattebo, and wide receiver Malik Nabers, all of whom showed flashes before injuries slowed them down.

Schoen said, “We do have a good, young quarterback that’s on a rookie contract for the next four years.” He explained that building around a young quarterback is the most exciting part of team-building.

He added that the Giants also have a strong left tackle, a wide receiver who had a historic rookie year, a solid running back group, and promising pass rushers. He ended that point by saying he has confidence in their ability to find the right next head coach.

However, not every young player has developed smoothly. The No. 3 pick, Abdul Carter, has had a difficult rookie year with multiple discipline problems. He was benched for the first quarter on Monday, marking his second benching in three weeks.

Schoen came to the defense saying, “(Carter's) smart and understands the magnitude of his actions and also understands what it means to be a pro.” Schoen said. "These kids are 21 years old and they're thrust in the spotlight in New York City. It's not always going to be perfect."

Balancing Quarterback Toughness and Health While Planning for the Future

Quarterback Jaxson Dart has also taken some criticism for taking too many hits. Schoen praised his toughness but warned that he must stay healthy. About one play from Monday, Schoen said, “Last night was probably unnecessary… probably could have gotten out of bounds… instead, we get a penalty, and he takes a shot.” He explained there is a fine line between staying competitive and staying safe.

Now, with another disappointing season nearly over, the Giants face a long list of decisions. Schoen believes the foundation is stronger than people think, but fans are still waiting for real change.

So the question going forward is simple: What do YOU think the Giants must fix first to finally move in the right direction?

Written by

Mohd Mudabbir Ansari

Edited by

Oajaswini Prabhu