Only in New York
When the New York Giants are supposed to win, they lose. And when they’re supposed to lose, they win.
In a feat that only Big Blue could pull off, the Giants managed to win the final games of the season and while that’s great for the culture and the locker room, it comes at a cost. Those two “moral victories” sent the Giants into a full draft freefall.
What’s in a Number? Only the future of the franchise.
Just a week ago, the Giants were staring at the possibility of the No. 1 overall pick if they lost to the Las Vegas Raiders. Had they lost to the Dallas Cowboys today, they would have locked in the No. 2 pick. Instead, they now sit somewhere between No. 3 and No. 7, depending on how the remaining Sunday games shake out. (Nothing is official until those games conclude.)
Culture wins are nice. Draft position matters more.
While the team made it clear this win was for owner John Mara who has been noticeably absent from practices and road games while undergoing cancer treatment, it doesn’t change the reality facing this roster. The Giants are not in a great salary cap position heading into the 2026 season, and they desperately need as much draft capital as possible to build real depth.
That’s why these late-season wins sting. They feel good in the moment, but the long-term implications are harder to ignore.
Does Joe Go?
With Black Monday looming, the first major decision the Giants must make is what to do with General Manager Joe Schoen.
Is he staying or is he going?
All signs point to Schoen remaining in place. Multiple national and local media reports (along with my own sources) indicate the Giants plan to keep him as GM. That is most likely the case since the organization needs to find a head coach, along with both an offensive and defensive coordinator.
Given Mara’s health concerns, it wouldn’t be surprising if ownership opts for stability rather than chaos, keeping Schoen in an effort to maintain some level of continuity.
Still. This is New York. And anything can change in a New York minute.
A Long List
The Giants’ head coaching search should officially kick into gear once the regular season ends on Monday and coaches become available to interview. A long list of names has already been floated, with Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski reportedly at the top of that list just days ago.
Cleveland is expected to move on from Stefanski, and honestly? I wouldn’t hate it. He will bring a little AFC North toughness to the NFC East and we could use more of that here.
Speaking of the AFC North, rumors have also circulated around potential head coaching changes in Pittsburgh and Baltimore, though neither appears likely at this point. Still, if either organization did make a move, you can be sure the Giants’ front office would be on the phone immediately trying to get one of those coaches in the building.
Manic Monday
Monday should be an interesting day. Not just for the Giants, but for the league as a whole.
Coaches will be fired. The playoff picture will become clear. And so will the final draft order.
For the Giants, that clarity may come with the uncomfortable realization that winning when it doesn’t matter can still hurt just as much as losing.
