Brian Daboll interested in Penn State job in post-Giants twist

A familiar name to Giants fans may be “in the mix” for Penn State’s head coaching job. 

The Athletic reported Friday that “one wild card” for the position is Brian Daboll, who was fired by the Giants earlier this week after three and a half seasons as the franchise’s head coach. 

Daboll “is believed to have an interest in the job and is expected to get some consideration,” the report stated. “We’ve heard some former NFL players with strong ties to Penn State have pushed for Daboll to get in the mix.”

Penn State is undergoing a coaching search after firing James Franklin in October amid a disappointing 2025 season.

The Nittany Lions, who came into the season as the No. 2-ranked team in the country, are 3-6 and at risk of suffering just their second losing season of the last two decades. 

Daboll joins a wide list of candidates, including names like Ohio State offensive coordinator Brian Hartline, Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz and Georgia Tech head coach Brent Key. 

Before becoming the Bills’ offensive coordinator in 2018 and his stint with the Giants, Daboll spent the 2017 season at the college level under Nick Saban at Alabama as the Crimson Tide’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

During his time as Big Blue’s head coach, Daboll went 20-40-1 before his firing, including 2-8 this season, making the postseason just once, his first season in New York in 2022. 

“The past few seasons have been nothing short of disappointing, and we have not met our expectations for this franchise,” co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch said in a joint statement. “We understand the frustrations of our fans, and we will work to deliver a significantly improved product.”

A day after his firing, Daboll was spotted outside in snowy weather outside his New Jersey residence wearing none other than a Penn State sweatshirt.