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‘Tension’ Building Between Giants’ Brian Daboll, Wink Martindale, per Report

As the Giants' 2023 season continues to be a major step back from last year, tension is reportedly building between head coach Brian Daboll and Wink Martindale.

Tim Capurso

‘Tension’ Building Between Giants’ Brian Daboll, Wink Martindale, per Report
‘Tension’ Building Between Giants’ Brian Daboll, Wink Martindale, per Report /
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The Giants' major step backwards this season appears to be causing problems with the organization. 

According to a report from Fox Sports NFL insider Jay Glazer, there is 'tension' building between New York head coach Brian Daboll and defensive coordinator Don 'Wink' Martindale. 

"These guys are in a bad place,” Glazer said Sunday during the Fox pregame show. "Bad place to the point where, I don't see them actually continuing their relationship after this season, maybe not even during this season. Could be a mutual parting of the ways. When I talked to people inside that organization, they're saying the tension between these two, you could feel it. It's just getting worse."

Glazer even speculates that the relationship between Daboll and Martindale may be close to an ending point. Daboll and Martindale, both in their second years with the Giants, spearheaded a turnaround that saw a five-win improvement from 2021 to 2022, as well as the franchise's first playoff victory since 2011. But New York has reverted back to the losing ways that have plagued them for much of the past decade- and it's apparently creating problems internally. Giants safety Xavier McKinney had hinted at such problems earlier this year when he stated that the team's leaders aren't being allowed to lead. 

The Giants have dealt with injuries, most notably to starting quarterback Daniel Jones and backup Tyrod Taylor, and a tougher schedule, but it's tough to make excuses for Daboll and Martindale, given how successful they were last year with a worse roster. 

If Daboll and Martindale don't mend their relationship, this Giants season could get really ugly. 

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Tim Capurso
TIM CAPURSO

Tim Capurso is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. Prior to joining SI in November 2023, he wrote for RotoBaller and ClutchPoints, where he was the lead editor for MLB, college football and NFL coverage. A lifelong Yankees and Giants fan, Capurso grew up just outside New York City and now lives near Philadelphia. When he's not writing, he enjoys reading, exercising and spending time with his family, including his three-legged cat Willow, who, unfortunately, is an Eagles fan.

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