Michigan is heading into a new era-again.
The university announced Wednesday afternoon that it has parted ways with head coach Sherrone Moore, citing an “inappropriate relationship with a staff member.” It’s a sudden and significant shakeup for a program that’s been navigating transition after transition in recent seasons.
With Moore out, the Wolverines are back in the market for a head coach. And as always, when a job of this magnitude opens up, the rumor mill spins fast. One name that’s already being floated: Brian Daboll.
Yes, that Brian Daboll-the former New York Giants head coach and longtime NFL assistant with deep ties to the New England Patriots. Before Penn State landed Matt Campbell, Daboll was reportedly under serious consideration for that job. Now, his name is surfacing again, this time in connection with Ann Arbor.
Daboll’s résumé is an intriguing fit for a college program looking to stabilize and build around a rising star at quarterback. He’s no stranger to the college game, and more importantly, he’s got a well-earned reputation for developing quarterbacks and crafting creative offenses. For a team with someone like Bryce Underwood under center-a player widely regarded as one of the most talented young signal-callers in the country-that’s a big deal.
Underwood is the kind of quarterback you build a program around. If Michigan can keep him on campus and pair him with a coach like Daboll, who knows how to maximize quarterback talent, the potential is sky-high.
Daboll’s track record includes stints as a defensive assistant with the Patriots from 2000 to 2001, a run as wide receivers coach from 2002 to 2006, and a return to New England as tight ends coach from 2013 to 2016. That’s a lot of time spent in the trenches of one of the NFL’s most successful dynasties, learning under Bill Belichick and helping mold some of the league’s most efficient offenses.
He may have been let go by the Giants on November 10, but that doesn’t erase his offensive acumen. If anything, it opens the door for a return to the college ranks-where his ability to scheme and develop talent could be a massive asset to a program like Michigan.
The Wolverines are at a crossroads. The next hire will shape not just the next season, but the trajectory of the program for years to come. If they’re serious about building around Underwood and keeping the offense humming, Daboll is a name worth watching closely.