The New York Giants have made a significant change to their coaching staff, terminating defensive coordinator Shane Bowen following a disappointing loss to the Detroit Lions. This decision was confirmed by a source to ESPN”s Adam Schefter on Monday.
Interim head coach Mike Kafka took this step after the Giants, now at 2-10 for the season, squandered a double-digit lead and fell 34-27 in overtime against the Lions. This defeat marked their sixth consecutive loss and eliminated the team from playoff contention, as they became the first in the league to do so this season.
This season has been particularly challenging for the Giants, with five of their losses occurring after leading in the fourth quarter. The game against Detroit was also notable as it extended the team”s streak of road losses to 12, a franchise record. Out of the five games in which they held a double-digit lead this year, all have been away games, highlighting a troubling trend for the team.
Bowen, who is 38 years old, was appointed to his role by former head coach Brian Daboll before the start of the 2023 season, taking over from Wink Martindale. Prior to joining the Giants, Bowen spent six seasons with the Tennessee Titans, three of those as their defensive coordinator.
In response to Bowen”s departure, Charlie Bullen, the team”s outside linebackers coach, has been named the interim defensive coordinator, a move first reported by veteran NFL journalist Josina Anderson.
The Giants” struggles have been highlighted by their inability to protect leads, with last month”s loss to the Denver Broncos serving as a stark example. In that game, they led by more than 18 points with just six minutes remaining but ultimately lost in regulation, a rarity not seen since at least 1970. This ongoing issue has put immense pressure on the coaching staff and players alike.
As the Giants look to regroup, they will need to address these late-game failures to restore some competitiveness for the remainder of the season.
