Giants' Brian Daboll: 'I Wish I Handled Things a Little Bit Differently' in 2023

New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll is admitting there are things about the 2023 season he would have changed with the benefit of hindsight.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Daboll said there were times "I wish I handled things a little bit differently, certainly."

In particular, the relationship between Daboll and defensive coordinator Wink Martindale was under scrutiny late in the season.

Fox Sports' Jay Glazer reported on Nov. 26 that people within the Giants organization said "you could feel" the tension between Daboll and Martindale.

Glazer's report came two weeks after the two men appeared to be having a heated discussion on the sidelines during a 49-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Nov. 12, though Martindale downplayed the situation when asked about it.

After the season ended, ESPN's Jordan Raanan reported Martindale "cursed out" Daboll during a meeting on Jan. 8 after Daboll fired outside linebackers coach Drew Wilkins and defensive assistant Kevin Wilkins.

Raanan noted on Tuesday there were "several" Giants assistants who were "unhappy" with the work atmosphere.

Daboll also had an incident on the sidelines in which he appeared to toss a tablet in the direction of Daniel Jones after the quarterback threw a pick-six to Devon Witherspoon in a 24-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 4.

Martindale and the Giants agreed to a parting of ways on Jan. 10. Shane Bowen was hired as New York's new defensive coordinator on Feb. 7. He is one of seven new coaches on the staff going into next season.

Expectations were high for the Giants going into 2023. They were coming off a surprise playoff appearance and a 9-6-1 record the previous year that culminated with Daboll being named Coach of the Year.

Things went awry right out of the gate with a 40-0 loss to the Cowboys in Week 1. The Giants lost eight of their first 10 games, though they were better down the stretch with a 4-3 record over the final seven weeks.