The New York Giants’ 100th season ended in utter embarrassment, but what was even more disheartening was John Mara’s explanation the following day.

Shortly after announcing that head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen would return for the 2025 season, Mara seemed to set the stage for their possible dismissal if things do not improve next year.

“It better not take too long (to improve the product),” Mara told reporters. “I’m about out of patience.”

It seems everyone else has already run out of patience, John.

Allowing Schoen and Daboll to stay makes sense if justified correctly. But instead of providing support for his decision, Mara only hinted that he might have to let them go if the team doesn’t start winning again. This kind of inconsistency has been a persistent issue for the franchise over the last decade, raising concerns about its future.

“I know this won’t be the most popular decision among Giants fans, but we believe it’s the right choice moving forward,” Mara stated.

Schoen and Daboll’s record stands at 18-32-1, including one playoff appearance and a playoff win in their first season. Daboll was honored as NFL Coach of the Year in 2022, when the team started with a 7-2 record, largely due to an unexpectedly strong defense. However, that season’s defensive coordinator, Wink Martindale, left after clashes with Daboll, and Martindale is now at the University of Michigan.

Since that promising start, the Giants have struggled with a record of 12-31-1 (including playoffs). While wanting stability is admirable, the significant regression they’ve shown is unacceptable. Mara’s history of poor hiring decisions (like choosing Dave Gettleman as GM and Pat Shurmur and Joe Judge as head coaches) has created ongoing instability, and it appears he is only now attempting to halt the cycle.

“Starting over sets you back greatly,” Mara explained. “When you believe in the leaders of your organization, you must have the patience to stick with them. If we’re still having the same conversation a year from now, I’ll accept the blame for it. But we trust that this is the right choice for our future.”

This was the same session where he acknowledged his diminishing patience. It’s a confusing message for frustrated fans.

Yes, Daboll has faced challenges with quarterback Daniel Jones, whose injuries and struggles have forced Tommy DeVito, Drew Lock, and Tyrod Taylor into starting roles over the last two seasons. However, the offense has only looked dynamic in two late-season games against the struggling Indianapolis Colts in the 2022 (38 points) and 2024 seasons (45 points).

Mara didn’t hold anyone else responsible for the team’s failures but seemed to contradict himself in his statements. He could benefit from taking notes from Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, who understands winning despite current challenges.

“This situation rests on my shoulders,” Kraft told the media after the Patriots moved on from Jerod Mayo following one season. “I feel terrible for him because I placed him in a difficult position. I know he has the skills to coach in this league. He just needed more time before stepping into this role. As a fan, I wish to bring in a coach who can lead us back to the playoffs and hopefully to championships.”

Kraft’s reflection, humility, and confidence are qualities Mara should strive to embrace.

Mara has also shared his ideas for improvements in the upcoming offseason. Here’s a summary of his key points:

• The defense was disappointing, and he placed the blame on coordinator Shane Bowen.
• Daboll should step down from calling offensive plays (though the coach insisted he raised this issue in their meeting).
• He did not clarify whether the roster Schoen took over from Gettleman is better than the one they concluded the season with.
• The Giants did not intentionally lose against the Philadelphia Eagles’ second-string team, featuring Tanner McKee as quarterback, after giving up the No. 1 draft pick a week earlier.
• Schoen and Daboll remain the right personnel for their positions.

Schoen’s early draft picks, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Evan Neal, have been disappointing at best, especially considering they were selected fifth and seventh overall in the 2022 draft. However, Mara expressed positivity about the 2024 draft class, which included Malik Nabers at No. 6 and running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. in the fifth round, while second-round safety Tyler Nubin also showed promise.

Schoen mentioned he respects ownership too much to spend recklessly this offseason. However, with rising pressure, a spending spree on free agents is expected, a pattern that has hindered the team for years, similar to the previous regime led by Gettleman, who retired rather than being fired by Mara.

It’s the same cycle repeating itself. Providing free sodas during the final game of the season doesn’t fix the problems.

Once again, we are confronted with dysfunction.

Perhaps Mara is optimistic enough to think that enduring another poor season might finally lead to discovering a future quarterback in the 2026 draft, which could have better candidates for that position. It’s clear the Giants are in desperate need of a quarterback. Mara stating it out loud only increases the stakes for acquiring one through trade, free agency, or the draft.

In a division known for its annual turnover in champions, the Giants haven’t clinched the NFC East title since the 2011 season. The harsh reality is that the franchise has largely been a punchline ever since, and changing that narrative soon seems unlikely.

With Mara at the helm of the organization, and co-owner Steve Tisch—who holds a 50% stake in the team but allows the Maras to oversee football operations—seems happy to collect revenue and maintain the value and prominence of his family name.

Over the past decade, the Giants have recorded a dismal 57-106-1. Notably, the New York Jets, who share a stadium with the Giants but often seem to think they are superior, have achieved just one more victory in that same timeframe. Only the Jacksonville Jaguars have experienced a lower rate of success.

This is the caliber of company John Mara has aligned himself with. Unless he alters his approach—or more importantly, steps aside—they will continue to languish at the bottom of the NFL standings.