Early Life & Background
Brian Daboll was born on April 14, 1975 in Welland, Ontario, Canada.
He grew up in West Seneca, New York, raised by his grandparents (and mother), after his family moved to the U.S.
Daboll attended Saint Francis High School (Hamburg, NY) where he played football, then went on to play as a safety at the University of Rochester, graduating in 1997 with a degree in economics.
Coaching History
Early Coaching — College & Entry into NFL
-
In 1997, Daboll began his coaching career as a volunteer assistant at the College of William & Mary.
-
From 1998–1999 he worked as a graduate assistant at Michigan State University — at the time under head coach Nick Saban.
-
He entered the NFL in 2000 with the New England Patriots as a defensive assistant under head coach Bill Belichick; later he was promoted to wide receivers coach (2002–2006).
NFL Coordinator & Assistant Roles
Following his time as WR coach:
-
2007–2008: Quarterbacks coach for the New York Jets.
-
2009–2010: Offensive coordinator (OC) for the Cleveland Browns.
-
2011: OC for the Miami Dolphins.
-
2012: OC for the Kansas City Chiefs.
-
2013–2016: Returned to New England Patriots as tight ends coach. During this stint, the Patriots won multiple Super Bowls.
College Football — Alabama Stint
-
In February 2017, Daboll made a return to college football — hired as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Alabama Crimson Tide under Nick Saban.
-
That season, Alabama won the national championship.
-
Despite success, his stay at Alabama lasted a single season, after which he transitioned back to the NFL.
Buffalo Bills & Peak Success
-
From 2018 to 2021, Daboll served as offensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills.
-
During this period, he was instrumental in developing quarterback play — widely credited with helping transform the Bills’ offense.
-
For his work, he earned the 2020 AP NFL Assistant Coach of the Year award.
Head Coach: New York Giants & 2025 Firing
-
In January 2022 Daboll was hired as head coach of the New York Giants.
-
His first season (2022) saw initial success — 9-7-1 record, a playoff appearance, and earned him the AP NFL Coach of the Year honor.
-
But subsequent seasons saw decline: by 2025, after a poor 2-8 start and multiple late-game collapses, the Giants fired Daboll on November 10, 2025.
-
His overall Giants head-coaching record stands at 20-40-1.
Salary & Earnings (What We Know)
Precise publicly available figures for Daboll’s salary over his career vary depending on role (assistant, coordinator, head coach) and contracts — full contract details aren’t always disclosed. However:
-
As a highly regarded OC (especially with the Buffalo Bills after NFTD success), he would have been among the higher-paid coordinators in the NFL — given his awards and performance.
-
As head coach of an NFL franchise (Giants), his compensation would reflect the typical head-coach salary range for the league.
-
Indirectly, when he joined Alabama as OC in 2017, the announcement welcomed “Brian, his wife Beth and their family to Tuscaloosa,” implying that his family status was a factor — a sign that contracts and roles considered family relocation support.
Given the lack of verified public contract numbers for all years, it’s difficult to quote a definitive salary — but his progression (assistant → coordinator → head coach) indicates growing compensation over time.
Family & Personal Life
-
Brian Daboll is married to Beth Daboll. Together they have a blended family of six children.
-
His upbringing — raised by grandparents along with his mother — shaped a strong work ethic and close-knit family values.
-
Throughout his coaching career, the family has relocated multiple times (NFL teams, college job), showing support and adaptability alongside the demanding life of an NFL coach.
Alabama — Significance of the 2017 Chapter
Daboll’s single season at Alabama in 2017 stands out as an important turning point:
-
Working under Nick Saban, he led one of the top college football programs in the U.S. as OC with a national championship.
-
This demonstrated his ability to succeed at both the collegiate and professional levels, strengthening his résumé and opening doors for future NFL coordinator and head coach opportunities.
-
His time at Alabama also underscores his versatility and adaptability — shifting from decades in NFL assistant/coordinator roles back to college, then back to NFL — reflecting a willingness to embrace challenging transitions for career growth.
Conclusion — Legacy & What Brian Daboll Represents
Brian Daboll’s coaching journey is marked by resilience, adaptation, and peaks of success. From modest beginnings in college football to multiple Super Bowl wins as an assistant, to championship-level performance at Alabama, and recognition as both Assistant Coach and Head Coach of the Year — his career shows how consistent work ethic, learning under legendary coaches, and flexibility can lead to success in the high-stakes world of American football.
His final chapter with the New York Giants may have ended in 2025 with a firing, but his past achievements — especially his 2022 turnaround of the Giants and his performance with the Bills — leave a legacy of a coach capable of impactful offensive innovation and mentorship.
