Bryan Cox's Reaction to Plane Seating Arrangement Was 'Final Straw' Before Giants Exit

New York Giants assistant coach Bryan Cox took exception to where he was situated on the team's flight home 33-15 loss to the New England Patriots, according to The Athletic's Dan Duggan.

Interim head coach Mike Kafka declined to provide specifics behind why he fired Cox, who worked with the defensive line.

Duggan provided more context Wednesday.

"Sources say the final straw was Cox's reaction to the seating arrangement being changed on the flight home from the Patriots game," the Giants insider said. "The assistant coaches typically sit near the front of the plane, but they were moved to the back on that flight."

Kafka, meanwhile, once again sidestepped a question about the dismissal:

Duggan wrote how things have been a little tense within the coaching staff after the firing of Brian Daboll in November. Cox specifically was "very close" with Daboll, and the alleged plane incident certainly hints at wider issues.

Some fans will have argued Cox's job should've been in jeopardy purely on the merits.

The Giants' defensive line has fallen well short of expectations. Abdul Carter was supposed to be one of the safest picks in the draft, yet he has just 1.5 sacks through 13 appearances. Dexter Lawrence's three-year Pro Bowl streak is likely coming to an end as he has 0.5 sacks and two tackles for loss. New York is allowing an NFL-worst 5.8 yards per carry on the ground.

The front seven was supposed to be a strength with so much talent at the team's disposal, and that has been far from the case.

An overhaul of the staff looks inevitable with the Giants sitting at 2-11. Cox was one of the coaches Daboll hired upon his arrival in 2022, so he may have been on the way out anyway.