EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Brian Daboll hopes a prominent member of the Giants' previous coaching staff will stay on the job.
In response to a question today at his introductory news conference, the new coach said a media report he would like Patrick Graham to remain as the team's defensive coordinator, the position he held the previous two years under Joe Judge, was "accurate."
Daboll and Graham have a history together, having both worked on Bill Belichick's staff in New England from 2013-15.
"I've had a good relationship with Pat for some time in this league," Daboll said. "He's very diligent. He's smart. I think the players respect him. He understands different defenses and I have a good working relationship with him. I did when I was back at New England. Certainly, we hope that he has an opportunity to become a head coach. I think that's everybody's dream, but selfishly, I would love him to be here. He offers a lot to our program. I think he'd be a great support system for me and I'm hoping that that works out."
Nothing is guaranteed. Graham has interviewed for the vacant positions of Minnesota Vikings head coach and Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator.
But Graham is highly respected and well-liked among his players and the Giants' hierarchy. He was the team's defensive line coach in 2016-17.
Graham, 43, coached a defense that kept the Giants competitive in games in which the offense struggled. In his first season as coordinator in 2020, the defense was 12thin the NFL by allowing 349.3 yards-per-game after finishing 27th at 377.3 yards the previous season. One year after placing 20th in the NFL, the rushing defense ranked 10th, allowing 111.4 yards a game.
Team president John Mara said it's "very important" that Graham appears to be returning.
"He's very well-respected in this building," Mara said. "The players have a lot of respect for him, as do I. He's a terrific defensive coordinator. Look, for his own sake, I hope he gets a head coaching job. As Brian said, selfishly, we'd be very happy if he stayed."
"I didn't know Patrick Graham and we interviewed him for this head coaching job, and I did my research on him and there's a lot of positive feedback throughout the league, not only in the building, but around the league on Patrick," said general manager Joe Schoen, who was hired 10 days ago. "He had been at Note Dame, he had been at New England, Green Bay, Miami. Just spending three hours with him in an interview setting, he's passionate, very high football acumen, he got me fired up in the interview. He did a really good job, so if he gets that Minnesota job, that's great for him. Selfishly, I would love to keep him here because I'm fired up to work with him because I think he's a good ball coach."
*Daboll was lauded for his play-calling ability in Buffalo, where he was the offensive coordinator the last four years. He previously called plays in Cleveland, Miami and Kansas City. But Daboll is uncertain if he will continue to do that with the Giants.
"I think that's a work in progress," Daboll said. "We'll see who the offensive coordinator is, who the rest of the staff is and then we'll talk about that as we get going through OTAs and minicamps, but it'll be important. That position, that offensive coordinator position, will be an important position for us."
Schoen wouldn't be upset if Daboll subcontracted the play-calling duties.
"I'm not going to rule that out if he is or isn't," Schoen said. "We don't have an offensive coordinator. If for some reason he had to – ideally, he doesn't. I would prefer he manages the game. But, again, as we're still interviewing offensive coordinator candidates, we're going to wait and see how that plays out. Ideally, the offensive coordinator calls the plays, but, again, I'm not going to say that's set in stone because we're going to let Brian make that decision."
*Daboll on becoming the Giants' 20th head coach:
"This was a dream come true," he said. "You're talking about the New York Giants. I understand the challenges with that. It's just a great opportunity that was afforded to me and my family and we look forward to it. We've been working here for two days. We've got a long way to go here. Just a historic franchise and I look forward to being part of it."
*Mara on what impressed him about Daboll:
"He's very genuine, down to earth," Mara said. "He believes in having relationships with people and he's a people person, and I think he's going to fit very well in the building. I think he's very inspirational, too. I think he'll get the guys to perform to the best of their abilities.
"We just wanted to get the best person for the job. I think Brian has a lot of qualities that you look for. He has a certain presence about him. He has the leadership skills, people like working with him, his players revere him. So, I think those are the factors. Obviously, the fact that our offense is so challenged right now, I think he brings a certain skillset that will help us."
*A reporter mentioned to Daboll that the Cincinnati Bengals won six total games in 2019-20 and will play in the Super Bowl in 13 days. So, how quickly can the Giants become playoff contenders?
"I'm just trying to hire a staff," Daboll said. "You're going to try to get me early on that right now. Look, we'll cross those bridges when we get to it. Obviously, that's impressive, those numbers that you gave me, but let's just start crawling before we walk."
View photos of the career of Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham.
Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham
Blake Martinez (54), Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham
2021 Preseason Giants vs. Patriots
Patrick Graham
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham during OTA practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday May 27, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham during OTA practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday May 27, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham talks with New York Giants linebacker Tae Crowder (48) before a week 6 football game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday October 17th, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham talks with New York Giants defensive end Leonard Williams (99) before a week 13 football game against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday December 5th, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) and New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham during a week 11 football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday November 22nd, 2021 in Tampa, Florida
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham talks with New York Giants linebacker Tae Crowder (48) before a week 6 football game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday October 17th, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham during a week 12 football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday November 28th, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham talks with New York Giants linebacker Tae Crowder (48) before a week 6 football game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday October 17th, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham during a preseason game against the New York Jets on Saturday August 14th, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Defensive coordinators Patrick Graham and Steve Spagnuolo talk following a week 8 football game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday November 1st, 2021 in Kansas City, Missouri
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham during a NFL Training Camp practice at MetLife Stadium on Wednesday August 12, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham during a week 14 football game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, December 12, 2021 in Inglewood, California.
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham during a NFL minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Saturday May 15, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham during a preseason game against the New England Patriots on Sunday August 29th, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Defensive coordinators Patrick Graham and Steve Spagnuolo talk following a week 8 football game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday November 1st, 2021 in Kansas City, Missouri
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham before a week 16 football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday December 26th, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham during a week 2 Thursday Night football game against the Washington Football Team on Thursday September 16th, 2021 in Landover, Maryland.
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham during a NFL Training Camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Friday July 30, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham during a NFL Training Camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Friday July 30, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham during a NFL Training Camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Saturday August 7, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham during OTA practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Friday June 4, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham during a week 1 game against the Denver Broncos on September 12th, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham during a NFL Training Camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Wednesday July 28, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham during a NFL Training Camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday July 29, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham looks on before an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham during a week 6 regular season football game against the Washington Football Team at MetLife Stadium on October 18th, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham during a training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Monday August 17, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham watches training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Wednesday September 2, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham embraces free safety Xavier McKinney (29) as players warm up before an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Monday, Nov. 22, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham watches from the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Monday, Nov. 22, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham watches from the sideline during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. The New York Giants defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 13-7. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
New York Giants' Patrick Graham watches warm-ups before an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
New York Giants head coach Joe Judge talks to defensive coordinator Patrick Graham during a training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Wednesday August 26, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Patrick Graham talks with the players during NFL football training camp, Friday, July 26, 2019, in Davie, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Patrick Graham speaks to the media NFL rookie mini camp on Thursday, May 9, 2019, in Davie, Fla. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, left, talks with middle linebacker Raekwon McMillan (52) during NFL football training camp,Friday, July 26, 2019, in Davie, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Patrick Graham looks on from the sideline during an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Monday, Oct. 28, 2019 in Pittsburgh. The Steelers defeated the Dolphins 27-14. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Patrick Graham looks on from the sideline during an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019 in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Patriots defeated the Dolphins 43-0. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Patrick Graham watches players during NFL football training camp,Friday, July 26, 2019, in Davie, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Patrick Graham talks on his headsets from the sideline during an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019 in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Patriots defeated the Dolphins 43-0. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Patrick Graham speaks to the media during NFL rookie camp on Thursday, May 9, 2019, in Davie, Fla. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
New York Giants defensive line coach Patrick Graham talks to defensive lineman Damon Harrison (98) during NFL training camp practice on August 3, 2016 at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants defensive line coach Patrick Graham talks to the defensive line during NFL mini-camp on April 27, 2016 at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants defensive line coach Patrick Graham during NFL mini-camp on April 27, 2016 at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants defensive line coach Patrick Graham talks to Dalvin Tomlinson (94),Damon Harrison (98), Olivier Vernon (54) and Kerry Wynn (72) during a NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks on, Sunday October 22, 2017 in East Rutherford, N.J. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul (90) stands with defensive line coach Patrick Graham before a preseason week 1 NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins on August 12, 2016 in East Rutherford, NJ. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
