The New York Giants’ season has been a grind, and now, it’s taken another turn off the field. Assistant defensive line coach Bryan Cox is out, and while the team hasn’t officially explained the move, reports suggest the tipping point came after a team flight that didn’t exactly go smoothly-at least not for Cox.
According to multiple sources, the issue stemmed from a change in seating arrangements following the Giants’ recent road loss to the Patriots. Traditionally, assistant coaches sit near the front of the team plane.
But after that game in Foxborough, they were reassigned to the back. That shift didn’t sit well with Cox, a longtime NFL veteran and a close associate of former head coach Brian Daboll.
His reaction to the move reportedly didn’t go over well with the organization, and not long after, Cox was let go.
While interim head coach Mike Kafka has declined to provide details, the timing and context point to deeper issues within the coaching ranks. The Giants have been navigating internal friction all season, and Cox’s departure appears to be the latest symptom of a team that’s been struggling to find its footing both on and off the field.
Cox, a former Pro Bowl linebacker with more than a decade of playing experience, brought a wealth of knowledge and intensity to the Giants’ defensive staff when he joined in 2022. Before that, he’d logged coaching stints with the Falcons, Buccaneers, Dolphins, Browns, and Jets. His ties to Daboll were well-known, and with Daboll dismissed earlier this season, Cox’s position may have already been on shaky ground.
Now, with the Giants sitting at 2-11 and in the basement of the NFC East heading into Week 15, the focus shifts to how this team regroups after the bye. They’re set to face the Washington Commanders on Sunday, and while the playoffs are long out of reach, there’s still pride-and jobs-on the line.
The Giants’ loss to New England on December 1, a 33-15 defeat, underscored just how far this team has to go. With interim leadership in place and staff changes continuing, the next few weeks will be a test of resilience for a franchise that’s clearly in transition.