The New York Giants have decided to keep general manager Joe Schoen despite finishing the season with a disappointing 4-13 record. The announcement came after the team concluded its third consecutive losing season, signaling ownership’s commitment to stability in the front office.
Co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch acknowledged the frustration surrounding the 2025 campaign but emphasized the importance of maintaining continuity. They expressed confidence that Schoen’s leadership is crucial for the long-term progress of the franchise.
Ownership’s Perspective on Continuity
The Giants’ leadership highlighted their belief in the young core of players that Schoen has helped assemble. Notably, last year’s draft classes have produced promising talents such as quarterback Jaxson Dart, wide receiver Malik Nabers, edge rusher Abdul Carter, and running backs Cam Skattebo and Tyrone Tracy Jr. Mara praised the quality of data being used in personnel decisions as the best he has experienced in his tenure.
Schoen’s front office has been praised in the past for assembling what appeared to be a strong foundation. This optimistic view appears to have played a significant role in the decision to retain him despite the subpar win-loss record.
Challenges and Criticisms of Schoen’s Tenure
While Schoen’s first season saw the Giants reach the playoffs at 9-7-1, the subsequent two seasons have been underwhelming with a combined 7-27 record. The Giants now have a .255 winning percentage since 2023, bettered only by the Tennessee Titans. Such results have put Schoen’s draft and personnel decisions under scrutiny.
Some of Schoen’s notable moves faced criticism, including signing quarterback Daniel Jones to a long-term contract only to cut him less than two years later. Running back Saquon Barkley departed for Philadelphia as a free agent and won Offensive Player of the Year and a Super Bowl in his first season with the Eagles. Safety Xavier McKinney, another key free-agent loss, became an All-Pro with the Green Bay Packers.
Schoen’s first-round draft selections have had mixed success. Offensive tackle Evan Neal missed the entire season due to injury, cornerback Deonte Banks primarily contributed on special teams, and outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux has not yet developed into the expected Pro Bowl-caliber player.
Focus on the Coaching Search
Following the firing of coach Brian Daboll, Schoen has taken charge of the team’s coaching search. Ownership praised him for handling the process during a difficult period, including as Mara battles cancer. Mike Kafka, the interim coach who led the team in the final games, is expected to be among the candidates interviewed.
Schoen submitted a list of coaching candidates to the ownership group last week. The search is set to intensify now that the NFL regular season has ended.
Reflection and Future Outlook
Schoen openly acknowledged that mistakes were made after accelerating the rebuild following their initial playoff success. He emphasized the importance of learning from errors and improving over time, stating, “I’m better today than I was four years ago when I got this job.”
Despite the challenging track record, the Giants maintain hope that their young roster, coupled with continued stability in the front office, will lead to future success. The organization holds the fifth overall pick in the upcoming NFL draft, aiming to add more key players around their current core.
The decision to retain Joe Schoen underlines the Giants’ belief that sustained growth requires patience, even through difficult seasons and tough personnel choices.
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