Taking a team ranked 31st in total offense in the past two seasons to one that reached the Divisional Play-offs, the New York Giants’ Brian Daboll was the worthy winner of the NFL Coach of the Year.
Going from a side struggling in the NFC East to falling just short of reaching the NFC Championship game, Daboll’s efforts this season have been deservedly recognised.
Daboll edges Shanahan to award
It was a close race for the NFL Coach of the Year once again, with many sides making great progress and having seasons to remember.
When it came to the voting, it was Daboll who just managed to edge out San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan, who took his team to the NFC Championship game, only to lose to the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field.
Former Eagles coach Doug Pederson, who led Philadelphia to the NFL Championship title in the 2017 season, finished third in the voting after his impressive work with the Jacksonville Jaguars this term.
Daboll on the right track with Giants
Becoming the fifth Giants head coach to claim the AP NFL Coach of the Year award, with Jim Fassel the last to achieve the feat back in 1997, Daboll did a great job to take New York back into the play-offs.
With the majority of the same roster from the previous season, Daboll inherited a team who had only managed 14 wins over the last three NFL campaigns.
The Giants went on to complete nine wins this season and secured an NFC Wild Card play-off game against the Minnesota Vikings.
Daboll led the Giants to a 31-24 win on the road in Minnesota, before suffering a 38-7 defeat at the hands of the Eagles in the Divisional Round in Philadelphia.
Related NFL News
NFL MVP: Patrick Mahomes rounds off memorable season with another award
NFL Championship LVII review: Mahomes leads Chiefs to epic win
Daboll brings out the best in Barkley
Although the season was to end in disappointment against their NFC East rivals, it was a much-improved campaign from New York thanks to Daboll.
The coach managed to get the best out of star running back Saquon Barkely, while quarterback Daniel Jones finished with career-high numbers in passing yards with 3,205.
Jones also managed a career-low five interceptions this season and will be looking to build on his positive stats going forward into the 2023 campaign.
The Giants still have work to do to make themselves serious NFL Championship contenders and they are 40/1 to win the title next year.
Daboll’s Giants are 15/1 to win the NFC Championship, while the NFC East is 7/2 to produce the NFL Championship winner next season.
