Giants still in ‘shock’ over Brian Daboll firing

It is a word that many players do not embrace, ever: regret.

This is not something easily discussed, but it was broached Wednesday as the Giants gathered at their team facility for the first time since head coach Brian Daboll was fired. 

This is the NFL, thus it is a business more than anything else. Still, was there a feeling of regret that those in the locker room let Daboll down?

“I do, personally, that’s just me, though,” outside linebacker Brian Burns said. “I don’t know about everybody else.”

Darius Slayton went in a different direction.

“Not regret because, I mean, we tried,” Slayton said. “It wasn’t like we didn’t go out there and give our best effort to get the wins that obviously would have ultimately helped him keep his job. We weren’t able to get that done. I wouldn’t say ‘regret’ is the word. You feel for him and for his family and wish him the best.”

Though the Giants are 2-8, and Sunday’s 24-20 loss to the Bears was their fourth straight defeat and yet another blown fourth-quarter lead, Slayton said he did not anticipate seeing Daboll shown the door.

“It was definitely a shock,” Slayton said. “In here, as long as people are showing up to work and you show up to work you assume they are going to be here. We never assume that somebody is going to be gone. It definitely was a shock to us as players, but at the same time we understand the business and how it goes.”

Wan’Dale Robinson arrived in 2022, and Daboll was the only NFL coach he has ever had. He said he made sure to check in and speak with Daboll after hearing of the firing.

“It’s just tough,” Robinson said. “You never want to see somebody lose their job . He’s the one who drafted me and got me up here. Just a tough situation.

“Whenever you’re losing games, you definitely feel it’s your fault and, ‘What could I have done better to make this situation not happen?’ ”

Burns seemed especially down about this move. He was in Carolina when the Panthers fired Matt Rhule during the 2022 season. A year later, the Panthers fired Frank Reich during the 2023 season. Burns was a rookie in 2019 when the Panthers fired Ron Rivera in-season.

“Yeah, I’ve been through this a couple of times,” Burns said.

That experience prompted Burns — who shares the NFL lead in sacks (11) with Myles Garrett — to deliver a message to his teammates.

“I would hope the guys stick together, come even closer,” Burns said. “I kind of just told ’em in situations like this, everybody’s under evaluation. Even though this is happening, nobody’s going to turn on the film and be like, ‘Oh, this was after Daboll got fired, that’s why he’s playing this way.’ Nobody cares. I told ’em if there was ever a time to play your best ball, it’s now.

“If there’s ever a time to bond together and stick together, it’s now.”