Giants hire Bills assistant Brian Daboll, 2nd Canadian-born head coach in NFL history

The co-owners of the New York Giants wanted a head coach who new general manager Joe Schoen could work well with.

In hiring Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll on Friday, co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch got someone who Schoen has worked with well the last four years in Buffalo.

"In the end, it was obvious Brian has spent his career preparing for this moment," Tisch said. "He is creative, thoughtful, determined, and Joe and Brian are the perfect complement to each other. We will do everything we can to support their process as they build toward the 2022 season and well after that."

Daboll is a native of Welland, Ont., but was later raised by his grandparents in West Seneca, N.Y. He was the first person Schoen interviewed being hired last Friday, and he quickly got a second interview Tuesday.

He will become the first Canadian-born head coach in the NFL since Tommy Hughitt of Genoa, B.C., who was a player-coach for the Buffalo All-Americans/Bisons in the 1920s.

"We interviewed several people who are incredible coaches and all of whom are going to enjoy much more success in this league in their current positions and as a head coach," said Schoen, who was the Bills assistant general manager during Daboll's tenure.

"With that said, we — me and ownership — all felt Brian is the right person to serve as our head coach," Schoen added. "Over the last four years, I have observed first-hand Brian's strengths as a leader — he is an excellent communicator, intelligent, innovative, and hard working. Brian's genuine and engaging personality is refreshing."

Daboll came to the Bills in 2018 after helping Alabama win its 17th national championship as the Crimson Tide's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

The Giants interviewed six candidates for the vacant position, giving a second interview to Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier earlier Friday. They also spoke to former Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores; defensive coordinators Lou Anarumo of Cincinnati, Dan Quinn of Dallas and the Giants' Patrick Graham.

Mara said Daboll's approach to coaching and team building was what the franchise wanted. The Giants last made the playoffs in 2016, the only time since winning their fourth Super Bowl in February 2012.

"Brian has had tremendous experience in the NFL and has been part of multiple championship teams," Mara said. "It is clear he used that experience to grow and develop into a dynamic leader, one that we are confident is the right fit as our head coach."

Daboll's biggest job will be to help quarterback Daniel Jones improve in his fourth season and get one of the NFL's worst offences back on track. His immediate job is to assemble a staff that he wants to emphasize teaching and collaboration and put players in position to win.

"That's why all of us do this," Daboll said. "To teach, to be successful, to develop talent, and to win. I have a pretty good idea where our fan base's feelings are right now, and I get it. I promise we will work our tails off to put a team on the field that you will be proud to support and give us the results we all want."

Daboll's offence excelled this past season as Buffalo won its second straight AFC East title with an 11-6 record with quarterback Josh Allen running the show. The Bills finished third in the NFL, averaging 28.4 points, and fifth with 381.9 yards a game. Allen was sixth in the league with a franchise-record 409 completions, seventh with 36 touchdown passes and eighth with 4,407 yards. Allen's favourite target, wide receiver Stefon Diggs, caught 103 passes for 1,225 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Daboll left the Patriots to become the Jets' quarterbacks coach from 2007-08. He has been an offensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns (2009-10), Miami Dolphins (2011) and Chiefs (2012).

Prior to entering the NFL, Daboll spent a year (1997) as a volunteer assistant at William & Mary, That's where he first met current Bills coach Sean McDermott. He also served two seasons (1998-99) as a graduate assistant for Nick Saban at Michigan State.