In the wake of Brian Daboll’s dismissal as New York Giants head coach, defensive coordinator Shane Bowen stepped up with raw accountability, pinning much of the blame on his unit’s late-game failures.
During his weekly press conference on Thursday, Bowen opened with heartfelt gratitude toward his mentor.
“I’m very appreciative of my time with him these past two years. Has done a lot for me, I’ve learned a lot from him. Really can’t say enough good things about him as a leader and what he’s meant to me over these past two years,” Bowen said. “And wish him nothing but the best. There’s responsibility that falls on me.”
The Giants axed Daboll on Monday after a dismal 2-8 start, installing offensive coordinator Mike Kafka as interim head coach, who swiftly retained Bowen despite the defense’s undeniable struggles, inconsistency, and underperformance.
Just days before his firing, Daboll had publicly backed Bowen, calling his schemes “innovative” amid mounting pressure.
“We haven’t been good enough defensively, particularly closing out games,” Bowen admitted, vowing a deep dive into scheme tweaks, personnel shifts, and critical-moment execution. “We have to find ways to win these games and not give it up in the fourth quarter.”
Bowen’s resolve signals a pivot under Kafka, whose player rapport could galvanize a reeling roster. As the Giants eye a turnaround, Bowen’s ownership might just spark defensive redemption — or seal his own fate in a high-stakes rebuild.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Giants’ Shane Bowen feels responsible for Brian Daboll’s firing
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