Brian Daboll has quickly moved from an NFL storyline to a major topic in college football circles. Only days after being dismissed by the New York Giants, his name has emerged as a surprising option in Penn State’s search for a new head coach.
The program is evaluating several candidates after parting ways with its previous coach, and Daboll has been tagged as an unusual but intriguing possibility. His background gives the rumors some weight.
Daboll’s recent seasons with the Giants spiraled badly, and his final year was marked by instability, regression, and internal issues on the coaching staff. Critics believe that jumping straight into a major college job would be risky for both sides.
Fans on the internet have a mixed reaction to the new rumor. Here are some of the most notable fan comments from B/R CFB’s post about the rumor on Instagram.
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“Boy F*CK NO!!!” a fan wrote.
“Ima miss you Daboll and honestly it’s not your fault… you was just the scapegoat,” a fan wrote.
“Is he gonna sabotage Penn State like he did the Giants?” a fan wrote.
“It would be so funny to him becoming Penn State Head coach! Just because he gets to face Wink Martindale who’s currently the defensive coordinator in Michigan!” a fan wrote.
“If he wants to coach there it should be a no brainer. They’re not getting Cignetti or Kiffin,” a fan wrote.
“I mean his family is already associated with PSU. It’d make sense that he’d want the job,” a fan wrote.
Other Penn State candidates include Brian Hartline, Pat Fitzgerald, Will Stein, Brent Key, and Bob Chesney.
His NFL tenure began with promise. He elevated the Giants in his first season and brought fresh optimism to the franchise. That early success is part of why some within Penn State circles see him as a potential high-ceiling hire.
The Giants Fired Brian Daboll
The New York Giants officially parted ways with Brian Daboll on November 10, 2025, ending a tenure that started with promise but collapsed over the next two seasons. Daboll arrived in 2022 and made an immediate impact, guiding the Giants to the playoffs and earning NFL Coach of the Year honors.
Those expectations never materialized. The Giants regressed to 6–11 in 2023 and then hit a low point with a 3–14 finish in 2024. By the time the team opened the 2025 season with a 2–8 record, the organization decided it was time to move on.
For the Giants, the move has signaled a reset. For Daboll, it set off immediate speculation about what comes next, and opened the door to the Penn State rumor that has taken over the headlines.
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