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Giants Now: Tom Coughlin commends Brian Daboll's journey to becoming head coach

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Tom Coughlin commends Brian Daboll's journey to becoming Giants HC

Brian Daboll began his coaching career in 1997 as a volunteer assistant at the College of William & Mary.

More than 25 years later, Daboll officially won his first postseason game as an NFL head coach with the Giants' Wild Card victory over the Vikings. The 47-year-old coach had a long and interesting journey to get to where he is today, one that included stops with six different NFL teams and three college programs before being named the head coach of the New York Giants.

Two-time Super Bowl Champion coach Tom Coughlin recently discussed Daboll's winding path to the Giants in an interview with The New York Post.

"You learn really fast about your profession and it's not all glamor,'' Coughlin told The Post, "and how difficult it is. You go home and tell your wife what the situation really is. You pay a price. There is a maturation process, I believe...

"Obviously he's paid his dues. He's a guy that has won and has that aura about him. Brian has been in some great situations. He coached with [Bill] Belichick for what, 12 years? And then he had this really nice thing going in Buffalo. Those are wonderful experiences.''

Daboll was a part of five Super Bowl Championship teams while coaching under Belichick in New England, and also won a College National Championship during his one season in Alabama under Nick Saban.

His success as Alabama's offensive coordinator landed him the same role for the Buffalo Bills in 2018. Over the course of the next four seasons, he would help develop Buffalo's offense to one of the best in the NFL and helped groom Josh Allen into one of the league's top young quarterbacks. He was named the AP NFL Assistant Coach of the Year in 2020.

Despite the recent success, Daboll had to endure some failures along the way in order to help him grow as a coach. After leaving the Patriots in 2006 to become the Jets quarterback coach, Daboll did not last more than two seasons in any of his next four roles, including his time as as offensive coordinator for the Browns (2009-10), Dolphins (2011) and Chiefs (2012).

"It took 20-plus years," Daboll said. "Some guys are in the league for three and get an opportunity. I think every journey's different, mine certainly was a longer one. I'm still fairly young but it certainly took a long time.''

Coughlin, who coached in college and the NFL for over 25 years before landing his first opportunity as a head coach, knows all about Daboll's experience.

"There's no question about it, there's things you have to go through," he said.

View photos of head coach Brian Daboll's time with the New York Giants.

View rare photos of the historic rivalry between the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles.

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