Bill Belichick’s storied coaching tree has finally withered. Two years removed from the league, his ventures both in college and the pros have faltered. His brief college stint at UNC has already gone off the rails. The Tar Heels sit at 4-5, but the latest blow comes from the NFL. The New York Giants’ decision to fire head coach Brian Daboll on Monday signals a major setback for Belichick’s once-dominant legacy.

Daboll, who compiled a 20-40-1 record over three-plus seasons, was the last active NFL head coach directly connected to Belichick. His dismissal follows a string of failed tenures from former Belichick assistants, including Jerod Mayo, Josh McDaniels, Brian Flores, Bill O’Brien, Matt Patricia, and Joe Judge. On Monday, Seth Wickersham shared the news on X: “Brian Daboll’s dismissal means that there are no current NFL head coaches from Bill Belichick’s tree.”

Just a couple of years ago, Daboll earned the 2022 NFL Coach of the Year award for leading his program to the first playoffs in over six years. However, he couldn’t replicate that success in his fourth season. After back-to-back seasons totaling just nine wins against twenty-five losses, patience was running thin in New Jersey. President John Mara and Chairman Steve Tisch gave Daboll another shot, hoping for a revived offense. “Better not take too long because I’ve just about run out of patience,” he said. But then came a 2-8 record; zero wins on the road, and Daboll was facing the heat.

Four of their losses came after holding double-digit leads. Against the Denver Broncos, Jaxon Dart’s offense was leading 32-30, with 37 seconds left on the clock. However, a 39-yard field goal by Wil Lutz during the last few seconds sealed their fate. Against Chicago, the NY Giants had secured a 20-17 lead in the fourth quarter. But within the next two minutes, Caleb Williams sprinted for a 17-yard run, taking the lead, 24-20. On the next drive, the Giants could only scramble for 11 yards, which cost them another winnable game.

Following eight losses, including a four-game losing streak, frustration boiled over, and Daboll was fired.“The past few seasons have been nothing short of disappointing, and we have not met our expectations for this franchise,” President Mara and Chairman Tisch stated. “We understand the frustrations of our fans, and we will work to deliver a significantly improved product. We appreciate Coach Daboll for his contributions to our organization. We wish the Daboll family all the best in the future.”

Internally, reports suggested the organization believed the team’s talent exceeded its results. “The feeling internally, I’m told, is that the #Giants believe the talent is better than the results have shown — evident by four losses despite holding 10-point leads,” insider Connor Hughes wrote on X. Assistant head coach and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka has been named interim head coach.

Presently, Assistant Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator Mike Kafka has been named the interim head coach.

After Brian Daboll’s firing, the NFL bids adieu to Bill Belichick’s head coaching tree.

Brian Daboll won five Super Bowl rings with Bill Belichick

Brian Daboli worked with Bill Belichick across two separate stints. He first came to the New England Patriots as a defensive coaching assistant in 2000 and was promoted to wide receivers coach two years later. With Belichick at the helm and Tom Brady as the starting quarterback, over the six years, Daboll would go on to collect three Super Bowl rings with the Patriots.

He then went on to work across the New York Jets, Browns, Miami Dolphins, and Kansas Chiefs, returning to the Patriots in 2013. This time, he arrived at Foxborough in the capacity of tight ends coach, mentoring former NFL star Rob Gronkowski. “I’ve had many great tight end position coaches, but Brian Daboll…he brought the best out of you,” Gronkowski said back in 2022. “He had that niche to get you to enjoy the game and go out there and play at your full potential.”

Belichick himself praised Daboll and other assistants for their eagerness to continue learning. Last year, at the 2025 ACC Football kickoff, the NFL legend spoke to Sports Illustrated, noting that they had taken the long route in their coaching careers. Resisting the urge to immediately jump on the head coaching bandwagon, they took their time, investing in themselves and keeping a constant learning approach.

During Daboll’s second tenure, he helped the Patriots win two Super Bowls. After the 2016 season, he transitioned to the collegiate circuit at Alabama, where he joined legendary coach Nick Saban’s coaching staff.