Despite another losing season, the New York Giants are still showing faith in general manager Joe Schoen. The team announced that it will retain Schoen for the 2026 NFL season despite parting ways with head coach Brian Daboll in November.
Schoen was originally hired by the team ahead of the 2022 NFL season. After helping the team to a 9-7-1 record and a playoff berth in his first year on the job, Schoen has led the Giants to a 13-38 record over the past three seasons.
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Still, the Giants will give Schoen a year to get things right. The team announced Monday that Schon will lead the search for the team’s next head coach.
Given the team’s recent woes, Schoen needs to make sure he finds a candidate who can immediately mesh with the team’s existing core and return the Giants to a winning position. While Schoen was retained Monday, he could be on a short leash if the Giants struggle again next season.
While Schoen’s draft stock has been up and down, his success in 2025 could keep him around for another year. Jaxson Dart — the team’s first-round draft pick — has shown promise in his brief stint as a starter and has intriguing dual-threat ability that could appeal to the team’s next head coach. Cam Scatterbo looked like an impact running back before he suffered a serious ankle injury. Despite middling numbers, the team’s other first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Abdul Carter, rates highly according to PFF’s metrics. Schoen is also responsible for drafting Malik Nabors in 2024. Nabors was poised to have another great season, but was sidelined in Week 4 with a torn ACL.
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Schoen was also responsible for selecting Deonte Banks, Tyler Nubin, Evan Neal and John Michael Schmitz in the first or second round of recent drafts. Whether due to on-field performance or injuries, none of these players have lived up to expectations.
Schoen should also have a chance to add an impact player in the 2026 NFL Draft. Although the Giants had a chance to acquire the No. 1 overall pick, the team unexpectedly defeated the Dallas Cowboys in Week 18. Therefore, the Giants will select No. 5 with the fifth overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Although not the No. 1 pick, he should still bring elite talent to the team.
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After three consecutive miserable seasons, Schoen will need to find both a draft pick and the team’s next head coach if he wants to continue in his role for years to come. The Giants showed confidence in Schoen by bringing him back despite poor results, but that confidence could quickly evaporate if the team’s young core doesn’t come together next season.