While most of the country hated the Chiefs largely because of Chiefs fatigue, NY fans were fuming, too. They watched nearby Philadelphia win a Super Bowl while their teams are mired in futility.
To say it has been a miserable year for a New York football fan is an understatement. The Giants had the worst season in their 100-year franchise history, and the Jets fired general manager Joe Douglas and head coach Robert Saleh. Now, QB Aaron Rodgers is reportedly gone.
We can hate the Eagles all we want, but we would be fools not to respect them. This organization is well-run, and the Giants and Jets can learn plenty from the Eagles about running a football operation. I’ll focus on the Giants in this piece because it would be too much for one article to critique both the Giants and Jets.
Let’s start with this: the Giants are arrogant. They love boasting about their four Super Bowl titles but never mind that they were earned years ago. So, step one is clear: Deep-six the arrogance and replace it with reality.
Instead, do what the Eagles do: build a team with a good job of scouting and developing players. The Eagles also do a great job of drafting players that fit the culture of their city–not necessarily the most talented guys, but always guys with grit and determination. Giants? They don’t do due diligence in finding players that fit the team concept. Odell Beckham Jr. is a prime example. The Eagles also draft players from winning programs, like Georgia, while the Giants focus on highlight-reel guys. The Eagles also know how to get it right with third- and fourth-rounders. When was the last time anyone could say that about the Giants?
Put it together, and the result is the Eagles play like a team, and the Giants don’t.
Want more? (There is more.) The Eagles are not afraid to change course if they make a mistake. Consider how the team drafted Jalen Hurts when they realized Carson Wentz wasn’t a championship-level QB. Contrast that move to the Giants and how long it took the team to remove Daniel Jones as their #1 QB. When they did, guess what? His replacements were no better.
The worst comparison is how the Eagles took advantage when the Giants no longer wanted to keep Saquon Barkley in the fold. The Eagles, on the other hand, valued what they saw in Barkley and paid him accordingly. What did they get in return? It was a Super Bowl championship.
What about the coaching? The Eagles’ coaching is top-notch. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, and offensive line head coach Jeff Stoutland do a great job developing and preparing players for success. No one can say the same about Brian Daboll and his staff. From top to bottom, the Giants need an upgrade, which means investing in seasoned/quality staff who have had success elsewhere.
The same approach goes for the front office. Howie Roseman’s name (the Eagles GM) was mentioned multiple times during Sunday’s broadcast. The announcers mentioned how good he is at his job, especially for uncovering diamonds in the rough, players that (once developed) will contribute big time. Iowa’s Cooper DeJean is an example, and he delivered on Sunday with a pick-6. Jalyx Hunt and Tyler Steen are two more examples.
Finally, the Eagles don’t do what the Giants do—hire family and friends in the front office. Besides family affiliation, you can’t give me a big reason why Chris Mara is in the Giants’ front office.
If the Giants are serious about fielding a championship-level team, they should emulate the Eagles. Otherwise, downtrodden Giants fans can expect more of what they’ve been getting–bad football.
