The LA Chargers' Week 4 loss to the New York Giants looks even worse in hindsight now that Brian Daboll has been shown the door. New York relieved Daboll of his duties on Monday in a move that many thought would come after the 2024 season.
Daboll's departure doesn't just make the Chargers' previous result look worse, it has a direct impact on the future of the team. Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter is one of the hottest names in the coaching market and a marquee position just opened.
After failing with an offensive-minded coach, the Giants may look to pair their young franchise quarterback with a defensive-minded head coach. Matt Sidney of GMEN HQ thinks this could be a route the Giants take, listing Minter as one of his candidates to watch moving forward.
"If Big Blue is serious about getting something out of their loaded defensive front, Minter makes a lot of sense. This team’s poured premium picks and money into guys like Abdul Carter, Brian Burns, Dexter Lawrence, and Kayvon Thibodeaux. Get someone who knows how to use them. Dart will need an offensive mind to help him grow — but that can be the OC," Sidney writes.
"The next head coach needs to fix the culture, and Minter’s the type who could actually do it."
Giants fans are already eyeballing Chargers' DC Jesse Minter as a Brian Daboll replacement
This is the sales pitch the Giants' front office may sell itself on moving forward. The Giants are undoubtedly talented on the defensive side of the ball, they just haven't add anyone capable of maximizing that talent.
The offense can take care of itself with the right offensive coordinator hire. Jaxson Dart, Cam Skattebo and Malik Nabers make up one of the best young trios in the league. All the Giants need to find is the next play-calling wunderkind. Just go and poach someone from a Sean McVay or Kyle Shanahan offense.
Or hire another head coach who is on his way to being fired, Mike McDaniel. But that is a completely different conversation.
Minter doesn't just possess the ability to get the most out of this Giants defense, he also carries something that has been missing in New York for years: culture. Minter has coached on two different Harbaugh-led coaching staff. That culture doesn't grow on trees.
That may be the biggest selling point for the Giants. New York doesn't just need someone who can get the most out of the roster, the team needs someone who can reset the culture. Harbaugh reset a broken culture on the Chargers and did so with Minter by his side. He knows what it takes.
Minter is going to be in the mix for all the head coach vacancies this upcoming winter. But with the Giants, it really feels like he may have found his home to leave the Chargers after just two seasons.