General manager Joe Schoen addressed the media Tuesday afternoon at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.

The Giants, who suffered their seventh consecutive loss the night before, are heading into their bye in Week 14, the latest possible slot in the NFL schedule.

They will return on Sunday, Dec. 14 to host the Commanders. The Giants will play three of their final four games at home, including matchups with the Vikings in Week 15 and the Cowboys in the finale. In between, they travel to Las Vegas.

Here is everything you need to know from the GM:

📰 On the head coach search, Schoen said the "primary focus" right now is on supporting Mike Kafka and his staff for the last four games. At the appropriate time, they will get into potential coaches and "collaborative" research.

📰 Kafka will get a "real look" and is getting one right now.

📰 Brian Daboll was relieved of his duties as head coach following the Week 10 loss at Buffalo. The relationship between Schoen and Daboll goes back to their days with the Dolphins and then notably with the Bills before the Giants. "Dabs and I have an extended history together professionally and personally."

📰 Daboll is a "great football coach" and will be "successful" in whatever he does after the Giants.

📰 Schoen said his hand is in the failures just as much as Daboll's before he was let go. "Ownership made a decision to move on."

📰 Schoen also appreciates everything that defensive coordinator Shane Bowen did for the Giants before his dismissal. He is a "tireless worker, a good coach, a good man."

📰 Schoen believes the Giants will be an "attractive job" for head coach candidates. He pointed out building around a promising young quarterback on a rookie contract for the next four years. "That's when it gets fun."

📰 Schoen supports Kafka's player discipline. Rookie Abdul Carter, the No. 3 overall pick, has not started two of the past three games even with Kayvon Thibodeaux sidelined. Kafka said it was a "coach's decision" each time.

📰 Dart has "exceeded expectations" and "impressed" Schoen. What makes players great is their toughness and desire to win. He appreciates that about Dart, but "you also have to be available and try not to take the unnecessary hits."

📰 On the perception that Dart was mainly Daboll's choice: "There are hundreds of conversations leading up to that conversation in the draft room, starting when we met with Jaxson at the Senior Bowl." Dart was on their radar very early. "Any time you're going to make a decision on a first-round quarterback, that's going to be an organizational decision. And it was an organizational decision."

📰 In addition to Dart, Schoen believes in the core of the roster that includes a No. 1 receiver in Malik Nabers, a franchise left tackle in Andrew Thomas, and a young running back room. But it's "not just talent" that makes a good team. The issue has been getting the pieces to come together collectively. "They need to be on the same page. Unfortunately, we haven't been able to do that. That starts with me, and that's what we've got to figure out."

📰 Schoen admitted that he and the staff have strayed at times from what he believes in and their process. The Giants are 5-25 since the start of last season and 20-43-1 since he took over in 2022. "I understand the frustration from fans, ownership, people inside the building, and nobody is more frustrated than myself. It starts with me, and I'm tasked with trying to get this organization going back in the proper direction. The standard is to compete for championships year in and year out, and that's the plan moving forward."

📰 Schoen will look at "all avenues" to get the franchise back to where it belongs.

📰 Is Schoen, who is leading the search, worried about a potential conflict if a head coach candidate wants his own general manager? "The calls we've gotten, I think we're going to be able to fill the job."

Full Transcript

JOE SCHOEN: Let me start off with two wins is not where we want to be right now, it's good enough. I understand the frustration from fans, ownership, the people inside the building. Nobody is more frustrated than myself, it starts with me, and I'm tasked with trying to get this organization going back in the proper direction. The standard is to compete for championships year in and year out and that's the plan moving forward. So, we're going to look at everything. Free agency, the draft, coaching, finishing, execution on the field, whatever it may be. We're going to look at all avenues in order to get this franchise back to where it belongs.

As for the coaching changes we made earlier in the year. This is the first time I've spoke with you guys since we moved on from Coach (Brian) Daboll and Shane Bowen. Dabs and I have an extended history together professionally and personally, difficult decision, but one we decided to make and he's a great football coach and he's going to be successful in whatever he does after the New York Giants. I'll say the same with Shane, appreciate everything Shane did for us, tireless worker, good coach, good man and wish him nothing but the best moving forward as well.

As for the coaching search, we're going to do everything we can right now to support (interim head coach Mike) Kafka.That's our primary focus right now is to give Kafka everything he needs in order to succeed over these next four weeks, support him and his staff. At the appropriate time, we'll get into potential coaches research and we'll do thorough collaborative research and come up with the best coach to lead the New York Giants going into the 2026 season.

As for the roster, I do believe there is a good young core to build around here and it will be an attractive job for many coaches and I'm excited to get that process going as we move forward.

I know you guys are going to have some questions on (outside linebacker) Abdul (Carter). I know Kafka just spoke upon that and I'm going to support him with whatever decision he makes in terms of player discipline. So again, I support him with that decision, and I'll just leave it at that. So, with that, I'll open it up for any questions you guys might have.

Q: You mentioned that your focus is getting the Giants back to routine contention and really turning this around. Why do you believe that you're the right person to help turn this thing around?

SCHOEN: Yeah, I understand the question. Again, my focus right now is on supporting Kafka as we go forward and we'll evaluate all aspects of the football operation as we go forward. Has it been perfect? No. But I'm very confident in my staff, myself and our ability to get this franchise back where it needs to go.

Q: Where does the confidence come from? You were 2-11 at this time last year, you were saying you're close and you're in the exact same spot now. So, what gives you that confidence?

CHOWEN: Yeah, I understand the question, and I know where you're coming from. It starts with me. I take responsibility for that. But we do have a good young quarterback that's on a rookie contract for the next four years and that's when it gets fun. When you're building around a young quarterback, you have a good nucleus, you have a good left tackle, you have a wide receiver that had a historic year as a rookie season, you got a good running back room, you got pass rushers. There's pieces in place and I understand the question and I do have confidence in our ability and our process to find the next coach to lead the organization. And again, I truly believe in that process and I know we're going to get it right.

Q: Have you been given any assurances that you'll be seeing the coaching search and into next year through?

SCHOEN: Yeah, again, our focus is going to be on supporting Kafka and his staff. Ownership will evaluate the entire football operation at the end of the season as they should, as they should, and then we'll go from there.

Q: You mentioned ownership frustration, what conversations have you had with (President and Chief Executive Officer, Board Director) John (Mara) and (Executive Vice President, Chairman of the Board) Steve (Tisch)?

SCHOEN: Yeah, again, you guys have seen the results, two wins, not good enough. I'll keep our conversations between us, but we all know two wins isn't good enough, where we are right now isn't good enough and it needs to change.

Q: You and Brian Daboll came in and worked as a collaborative pairing. So why is he held accountable for the results after four years, but you are not?

SCHOEN: Yeah, I understand the question there too. And again, my hands are in it just like Brian's is and ownership made a decision to move on and again, I'm going to control what I can control and that's support Kafka moving forward. And again, I wish Dabs nothing but the best and we're going to do everything we can to get this franchise back to where it should be.

Q: You said support Kafka in whatever decision he makes with Abdul, but are you concerned that this could be a lingering situation?

SCHOEN: No.

Q: Why?

SCHOEN: I have a lot of faith in the people in the building and the resources that we have. Abdul is a young man that's 21 years old, that's smart and understands the magnitude of his actions and also understands what it means to be a pro. And these kids are 21 years old, and they're thrust into the spotlight in New York City and it's not always going to be perfect. People make mistakes. Nobody's perfect. Part of our job is to develop them as football players, but also as people and we will continue to do that with everybody in this organization.

Q: What was your input on the decision to fire Daboll?

SCHOEN: Again, that was a decision that ownership made and I support them with the decision. And again, now we're supporting Kafka moving forward.

Q: There are players on social media criticizing the coach. There are players not giving an effort, not getting benched. Does the program, the organization, have an accountability problem?

SCHOEN: I'm not real familiar with who was and any specifics on criticizing the coaches …

Q: Yeah, I wasn't looking to single out (wide receiver) Malik (Nabers), but Malik's tweet about Kafka after the Lions game, or?

SCHOEN: It's no different than firing off a text. Like, you know, you should probably take a deep breath in the heat of the moment. Again, a 22-year-old kid that's going through a difficult time right now, not being able to be with his teammates and play and going through a tough rehab. It's not easy and there's a guy that's not playing and still watching, supporting and feeling the pain with us for not winning. So again, another young player, it's a different world. It's social media and we continue to educate these guys, and we'll continue to do that.

Q: Do you anticipate Mike Kafka being a candidate for the full-time job beyond this season?

SCHOEN: Yeah, Mike's going to get a real look. He's getting a real look right now. Hands-on, had very good communication with Mike throughout the process. He's coached for three games. Two of them, we had leads in the fourth quarter. Guys were ready to go and last night, we didn't show up in all three phases, unfortunately. But I have a good relationship with Mike. He's a good coach, good leader and, again, he's getting an opportunity over these next four weeks to continue to lead the team.

Q: How would you evaluate Jaxson? Obviously, when we last spoke, he wasn't a starter yet, but just, you were high on him. Now that he's starting to play, how would you evaluate what he's done so far up to this point?

SCHOEN: Jaxson's done a good job. I've been impressed with Jaxson, offensive rookie of the month in October. Played really well for a rookie. Again, I know whether it's throwing the ball downfield, off-platform, creating plays, the ability to extend plays has been impressive. His leadership, his knowledge of the offense. He's exceeded expectations so far, he's done a good job.

Q: That said, how do you try to balance out now? Obviously, everyone's talked about it, but have you talked to him or you talked to the coaches about just hey, we need to protect him better. He needs to protect himself. How have you been involved with that conversation?

SCHOEN: Yes, and having just lived it in Buffalo, we've been through this before and what makes these players great is their toughness, their competitiveness, their desire to win and you appreciate that about Jaxson, but you also have to be available and try not to take the unnecessary hits. I would say last night was probably unnecessary. Probably could have got it out of bounds and it's third and one and instead we get a penalty, and he takes a shot and now it's third and 16. So there's a fine line and what makes Jaxson great is his competitiveness, his desire to win and that's the way he's wired. So, you try to find a fine line between playing smart, but also not taking away what makes them great and he's not the only quarterback that scrambles. I mean, you guys watched us against Kansas City and (quarterback) Patrick Mahomes is running all over the place. (Washington Commanders quarterback) Jayden Daniels, (Buffalo Bills quarterback) Josh Allen, some of the best, like you can't be, there's very few that can be the pocket passer that's just a statue in there these days. So just got to be smart when you can get down and not have to take hits and unnecessary hits. You got to take advantage of those opportunities so you can live to see another day.

Q: The perception is out there, regarding Jaxson, that because of the video clips you guys maybe did in the summer back from the draft where you were saying to Dabs 'Are you convicted in Jaxson?' That the perception is that he was Daboll's guy, that he wasn't your guy. What insight or what can you speak to that? The idea that Jaxson wasn't necessarily your guy, but it was the head coach that decided that he would be drafted.

SCHOEN: Yeah, and again, there's context to those. Again, there's hundreds of conversations leading up to that conversation in the draft room starting when we met with Jaxson at the Senior Bowl. So, you could probably ask (sports agent) Jim Denton. It was the earliest 30 visit I've ever scheduled; it was in January when he was already on our calendar. So Jaxson was a guy that was on our radar very early in the scouting process before Dabs was even aware of him because he was coaching and anytime you're going to make a decision on a first-round quarterback, that's going to be an organizational decision and it was an organizational decision. Credit to my staff, they did a phenomenal job gathering information. Understanding the landscape of the draft that we could get Abdul at three and then when's the re-entry point into the first round where we could still get a quarterback and again kudos to my staff, (assistant general manager) Brandon Brown, (Director of Player Personnel)Tim McDonnell, (Assistant Director of Player Personnel) Dennis Hickey, all those guys, the research they did was spot on and if you're going to make the decision to move back up into the first round to get a quarterback, all hands are on deck. That was an organizational decision. We were all on board with it. I'm glad we were able to do it. We didn't have to sell the farm to go up and get the quarterback. We were able to get him where we were and again, it looks like that pick is going to pay off.

Q: There seemed to be a theme that year that if you got better quarterback play, this team would win more games. I think it's obvious this team is getting better quarterback play with pretty much all three quarterbacks, you know, maybe (quarterback) Russ (Wilson) not all the games and the record is still what it is. So how do you look at that and say we have a young nucleus of good talent, we're getting better quarterback play, which was an issue last year, and the record is just not there.

SCHOEN: Yeah, when you look at offensively before last night's game, we were number 10 in the league, I think we're 14 now. So offensively, we have gotten better. Run and pass, the numbers are better. Defensively. I believe we were 30th last year at this time. That's with the addition of Abdul Carter, (cornerback)Paulson Adebo, (safety) Jevón Holland, (defensive lineman) Chauncey Golston, (defensive tackle) Roy Robertson-Harris, and we're in that same area, unfortunately. So, to say I expected that, no, but again, it starts with me. We've got to do a better job. I didn't anticipate we would still be 30th in the league in defense at this point with the addition of those players, but we are, and we've got to do a better job of execution. We've got to do a better job of finishing games, and I've got to do a better job with the personnel.

Q: You mentioned that the roster is better right now, right? And in year four, year three and four with the win total, right? You're three wins last year, two wins. How do you explain that?

SCHOEN: Yeah, I understand the question, and I'll just say this like as we're looking through it as we go through the coaching search and what that may look like, there's feedback from outside sources. As you go through it in my mind, I'm like, okay, if I'm a coordinator and I maybe want to be a head coach, like would the Giants be an attractive job to me? Okay, they have a young quarterback that's played at a pretty good level for a rookie. They've got a number one receiver that had a historical rookie season. They've got a left tackle. They've got a left guard. They've got a center coming back. They've got a young running back room. (tight end) Theo Johnson has shown very good flashes this year of play. So that side of the ball, there's some pieces in place to build around. Defensively, there's pass rush, there's (defensive lineman) Dexter Lawrence, there's some pieces in the secondary. So, when you look at it individually, are there pieces? Yes, but like we got to come together collectively as a group and there's 11 guys on the field. They need to be doing the same thing. They need to be on the same page. And unfortunately, we haven't been able to do that. And again, that starts with me and that's what we got to figure out. It's not, it's not just talent. You all got to be on the same page, and everybody's got to be rowing in the same direction and doing their jobs. That's what we're tasked with. That's part of what we need to figure out moving forward is how to get these pieces to be on the same page and execute at a high level so we can win consistently.

Q: It's a bottom-line business, why do you deserve to be the one to see it through based on the results under your leadership?

SCHOEN: Yeah, I understand your question. Again, I think somebody asked the same thing earlier, but again, I'm going to control what I can control, which is support Kafka over the next four weeks. Ownership should and will evaluate the entire football operation at the end of it. I'm just going to continue to support Kafka and his staff and do the best we can over these last four weeks.

Q: Did you misevaluate the significance of leadership on your team by letting guys go like trading (defensive lineman) Leonard (Williams), letting (safety) Julian Love go, (safety) Xavier McKinney, (running back) Saquon Barkley. Do you think that has played a part in the fact that your team isn't able to finish and doesn't have enough leadership to get to the finish line and get wins?

SCHOEN: I think we have, I know we have leadership on this team, I'll say that. Like (outside linebacker) Brian Burns is a very good leader, he's done a good job. I hear you on those guys, but you're at different points in the build. Okay, you want to rush the passer, protect the passer and get a quarterback, okay. Rush the passer, protect the passer and have a quarterback. In the context of those decisions, if you bring back a safety, now you don't have a pass rusher. If you bring back a running back, you don't get (offensive lineman) Jermaine Eluemunor, you don't get (guard) Jon Runyan. In order to be productive at some of those positions, it helps to have the other. So, I understand the leadership portion. We do have leaders on this team. Offensively, Jaxson has stepped into that role. (Running back Cam Skattebo) Skatt is a future leader for us. (Tackle) Andrew Thomas has done a good job. Defensively, we've got guys. So, leadership is always going to be important and we try to have it in every room. Like nobody talks about (tight end) Chris Manhertz, but the development of Theo Johnson and (tight end Daniel Bellinger) Belly. (Running back) Devin Singletary, a guy in that room that has really been instrumental in Skatt and (Running back) Tyrone Tracy's development. So, your best players don't always have to be your leaders. You would like them to be but in today's day and age, it's getting harder and harder to find those guys, but we're always going to look for leadership and again, specifically at the quarterback position, I think we have a very good future leader in Jaxson Dart.

Q: On the defensive side of the ball, you've invested a significant amount of resources there, whether it's draft picks, whether it's free agent dollars, players you've let go but the guys that you've decided you want to turn the defense around with. To have the defense be in the current state that it is a wildly underwhelming or underperforming at this point. I mean, what went wrong and how do you need to change because these are your guys. This is the guys the organization pinpointed to add and it's been a failure to this point.

SCHOEN: Yeah, exactly. I mentioned it earlier. We were 30th last year, we're 30th this year with the addition of those talents. So, we have got to do a better job. We got to do a better job.

Q: How close do you think this team is to truly competing?

SCHOEN: We're two wins. We're not there. We got to do better. I mean, it is what it is. Two wins.

Q: You said a couple times that Jaxson makes this an attractive job. Do you have to take into consideration what Jaxson will find attractive in a head coach?

SCHOEN: You're going to take that into account if he has an opinion. But again, like all due respect to Jaxson, he's been here for nine months. You want to lean on him and if it's an offensive mind or concepts or something, but you've got people in the building that have been doing this for over 20 years and networks around the league and know what it looks like and have been doing it for a long time. So, I respect Jaxson a lot. We have great communication. Talk to him about a lot of things and as it gets closer, that's something we'll have conversations about. But, again, the weight of the decision won't …

Q: I didn't mean to say he's going to have a voice in it, but are you still playing matchmaker?

SCHOEN: Well, the entire team, it's not just offensively. Again, who can come in and lead the entire team offensively, defensively. Obviously, you do have a young quarterback and that's going to be important, the development of Jaxson that he continues to progress the way he has. That's obviously going to weigh heavy into the decision.

Q: What do you view as your part in five wins in the last 30 games? Because you said it starts with me. But what specifically do you think you have failed on and how is it translating in losses on the field. Is it drafting? Is it free agency? How do you view it?

SCHOEN: It's five wins over the last two years. It's not good enough. It's not good enough. Like you can go through, I'm not going to make excuses. It's not good enough. And I don't want to go through individually different scenarios. There's context to a lot of things, but it's five wins, it's not good enough and we've got to get better.

Q: Would you agree it's fair to talk about the details a little bit though, because like several coaches have lost their jobs now because they weren't good enough. So, what is your part specifically?

SCHOEN: Yeah, it's five wins and it's not good enough. I understand your question and I'm also a realist. I understand. It's what have you done for me lately? I've been in the league for 26 years and it's not good enough and we're going to look at the entire football operation. Everything. From free agency decisions, draft decisions, coaching, execution. What can we do better? What can we do better? Because there are pieces here. There are pieces here. Why aren't we maximizing what we have? And that's going to be our mission this offseason to figure that out.

Q: When you say why are we not maximizing what we have, I think some people would say you don't have enough. So, I'm asking where have you erred in that as far as composing the roster, building the roster, keeping draft picks on the roster who have not contributed, who don't look like they're going to contribute into the future and who create depth issues on the roster that seem to become glaring issues when these games are on the line?
SCHOEN: Well, I'll just say this, nobody's perfect and the chances of me batting a thousand are gone because I've made mistakes, okay. Everybody's going to make mistakes and we're going to get some things right. As long as you're learning from those mistakes and you reflect on the process in place and where you went wrong and you can continue to get better, that's what's most important. I'm better today than I was four years ago when I got this job. A year from now, God willing I'm standing here, I'm going to be better than I am today and that's all I can do. That's all I can do, that's all my staff can do. We continue to evaluate the process. Were there some things we did where we missed in our process or we strayed from what we believe in? There's a chance that happened. Okay, lesson learned. Lesson learned, don't make it again. But again, as you go through it there have been a lot of decisions that have went right. Okay, so what can we learn from that? As long as we're learning and continuing to get better and don't make the same mistakes twice, then that's progress and that's what we're going to continue to focus on our process to get this organization back where it belongs. Again, it's the gold standard, it's still the New York Giants, in the greatest city in the world, flagship franchise, great ownership, young quarterback, I'm excited about it. I'm excited about the guys that are here. Have I screwed up and have I made mistakes? Absolutely. Absolutely. But I'm not going to make the same mistake twice and we're going to continue to get better and we're going to look at everything, everything. Coaching, coordinators, strength (and conditioning), I mean, every single thing, every part of the organization. We're going to do everything we can to get this thing going in the right direction.

Q: Are you prepared if once these four games, once the season is over, if John and Steve and anyone else in ownership bring you into a room to prove to them, to convince them that you're the right guy to move forward as general manager here?

SCHOEN: Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely.

Q: Where do you think you strayed from the process? Can you talk about that? It sounds like you've already kind of evaluated that a little bit.

SCHOEN: Yeah, nobody focuses on what went wrong more than me, I'll just say that. You're continually beating yourself up because these aren't - it's not like the head coach and hey, we didn't get it last night against New England, but I'm going to go to the game plan next week and we're going to forget everything about what happened against New England. These are decisions that live on and whether it's the draft or free agency or hiring a coach, you've got to live with those decisions. Again, we're just going to continually evaluate the process. I do, I know I'm not going to get into details, but there are some early on where we strayed from maybe what we believe in and I've got to live with that, I've got to learn from it, educate my staff on what we can do better, and again, with the people we have in the building and the collaborative approach, we're going to get this thing right. We're going to get this thing right and we're just going to get it going in the right direction.

Q: Is it possible that a coaching candidate might want to have their own GM, that they might not necessarily want to have a pre-existing general manager in place?

SCHOEN: The calls we've gotten, I think we're going to be able to fill the job.