Giants GM Joe Schoen Faces the Heat as Former Players Thrive in Seattle
Joe Schoen walked into Tuesday’s press conference already behind schedule - 30 minutes late, to be exact - and things didn’t get much smoother from there. The New York Giants general manager was met with tough, pointed questions about his team’s 2-11 record, his decision-making, and whether he’s still the right man for the job. It was a bye week, but there was no break from the scrutiny.
For 22 minutes, Schoen fielded questions that cut right to the heart of the Giants’ struggles. Why hasn’t head coach Brian Daboll taken more heat?
Why haven’t things clicked since Schoen took over in 2022? And perhaps most pressing - why are some of the Giants’ most productive former players now starring for a team 3,000 miles away?
The Seattle Seahawks - Beneficiaries of Big Blue’s Missteps
While the Giants slog through a lost season, the Seattle Seahawks are surging - and they’ve got a few familiar faces to thank. Two former Giants, Leonard Williams and Julian Love, are now key pieces of Seattle’s defense. Their exits from New York, and subsequent success in the Pacific Northwest, are adding fuel to the fire under Schoen.
Let’s start with Julian Love. After the 2022 season, the Giants opted not to re-sign the young safety.
Seattle pounced, locking him up with a three-year, $36 million deal. Love didn’t just settle in - he thrived, earning a Pro Bowl nod in his first year as a Seahawk.
His versatility and leadership have helped stabilize a secondary that’s among the league’s most aggressive.
Then there’s Leonard Williams. Schoen traded the veteran defensive lineman midway through the 2023 season, receiving a second- and fifth-round pick in return.
That second-rounder turned into Tyler Nubin, who’s been a solid addition for the Giants. But Williams has been more than solid in Seattle - he’s been dominant.
In 38 games with the Seahawks, he’s logged 22 sacks and 32 tackles for loss, anchoring a front that’s helped Seattle climb to the top tier of NFC defenses.
When asked about those decisions, Schoen didn’t shy away from the logic behind them.
“You’re at different points in the build,” he said. “You want to rush the passer, protect the passer, and get a quarterback.
That’s the formula. If you bring back a safety, maybe you can’t get a pass rusher.
If you bring back a running back, maybe you don’t get Jermaine Eluemunor or Jon Runyan.”
It’s a fair point - roster building is about trade-offs. But when the players you let walk are starring for a 9-3 team while your own squad sits at 2-11, the optics are hard to ignore.
The One That Got Away: Sam Darnold
The Seahawks’ success isn’t just about defense. It’s also about a quarterback who nearly ended up back in New York.
Sam Darnold, once the Jets’ would-be franchise savior, was reportedly on the Giants’ radar this past offseason. With Daniel Jones out of the picture - now looking rejuvenated in Indianapolis - the Giants were in the market for a signal-caller. Schoen brought in three quarterbacks to compete, but none of them were Darnold.
Seattle made the move instead, signing Darnold to a three-year, $100.5 million deal. And while his play has had its ups and downs, the numbers tell a clear story: Darnold ranks seventh in the league in passing yards, passing touchdowns, and passer rating. He’s been efficient, confident, and - most importantly - consistent enough to keep the Seahawks tied for first in the NFC West.
That’s three key starters - Darnold, Williams, and Love - all thriving in Seattle, all of whom could’ve been part of the Giants’ rebuild. Instead, they’re helping the Seahawks make a serious push toward January football.
What’s Next for Schoen and the Giants?
To his credit, Schoen didn’t deflect or dodge. He owned the decisions, explained the rationale, and kept his cool. But with the Giants spiraling and former players flourishing elsewhere, the pressure is mounting.
This isn’t just about missing on talent - it’s about timing, roster construction, and the razor-thin margin between rebuilding and regressing. Schoen has made bold moves.
Some have paid off. Others, like letting Love and Williams walk, are now casting long shadows.
And as the Seahawks continue to rise, powered in part by former Giants, fans in New York are left to wonder: Did the front office give away too much, too soon?
For now, the Giants are stuck in a holding pattern, searching for answers. Meanwhile, Seattle is reaping the benefits - and not looking back.