Joe Schoen: No ‘Hail Mary’s’ in trying to turn New York Giants around

Joe Schoen didn’t hide from responsibility for the mess that the New York Giants have been over the past two seasons when he met with the media after the announcement he would return for a fourth season as general manager.

“First and foremost, myself,” said Schoen when asked where responsibility fell following a 3-14 season. “We’re not good enough. We didn’t play well enough. I’ve got to do a better job assembling a roster with more talent so we can go out and compete at a higher level. So, I look inward, first and foremost.”

Schoen said his belief that he would be brought back “never wavered.”

Fixing the Giants after a combined 9-25 record the past two seasons is not an easy task. It won’t be made easier for Schoen by co-owner John Mara’s statement that “it better not take too long” for the product to get better.

Schoen said they will be “looking at the organization top to bottom, trying to figure out what’s best moving forward.”

Schoen knows there is a mountain to climb. He thinks the organization is in a position to have an opportunity to do so.

“We’re here. We’re picking third in the draft. As we built this thing, when [quarterback] Daniel [Jones] had the ACL a year ago, not knowing how he was going to come back, we also had to be conscious of what may be on the horizon. So, you’re working on parallel tracks,” Schoen said. “So, we’re sitting here with 40-plus million dollars in cap space and over 100 the following year. So, some teams are in this situation where maybe they need a quarterback and they don’t have the financial pieces or the draft resources. So, we are in good shape from that standpoint in terms of improving the roster via free agency, trades, or through the draft. I’ve got a lot of confidence in the people in the building, the process and I’ve got a lot of faith in the plan that we have in place moving forward.”

It’s all about the quarterback

Really, getting quarterback right has been what it has been about for Schoen since he took the job in 2022.

The Giants spent 2½ seasons trying to make it work with Jones, a timeline longer than Schoen may have anticipated after the Giants made the playoffs in that first season.

Schoen offered no regrets about the Jones situation.

“I wouldn’t change what we did,” Schoen said. “When I reflect on how that went down with Daniel (Jones), again, it’s the information you have. We had just won 10 games. You won a road playoff game. I just watched Dabs [Brian Daboll] for four years at Buffalo with Josh Allen. The year before that with Jalen [Hurts] and Tua [Tagovailoa] at Alabama. So, I’ve got a lot of confidence in the coaching staff.

“Again, I’ve got a lot of confidence in our process. We’ve done these quarterback deep dives the last two or three years, and, I would say the players that we were high on have went on to have solid rookie years or second years, whatever it may be. So, again, a lot of faith in my staff, a lot of faith in the coaching staff whether it’s the draft or free agency or who we sign, that they would be able to develop them.

“I wish it would have worked out with Daniel, but it didn’t. But it doesn’t deter me from taking one and having a lot of faith in the people that are in place to develop whoever it is.”

Schoen referenced the Jones contract, which was really a two-year deal.

“We’re not digging ourselves out of a financial hole or a lack of draft capital. We made a decision with Daniel after the playoff run. The way we structured the contract was we were going to do the best we can to try to surround him with weapons, upgrade the offensive line, which we did this year, and see how far we could go with Daniel. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out,” he said. “But, at the same time, our hands aren’t tied behind our back. Financially, we’re in good shape. We’re in a good salary cap situation. We have draft capital to make changes. I’ve got a lot of confidence in the plan, the people in this building and our process that we’ll do that.”

Schoen didn’t want to get into specifics regarding what the Giants will look for and where they might try to find it.

“We’ll look at any avenue we can to upgrade the position,” Schoen said. “We’ve talked before, in these situations, the film is one part of the equation. But, from a draft standpoint, you really got to get around these kids. I think it’s an important part of our process that we try to get around these kids every year, so when they are free agents or a trade opportunity presents itself, you’ve spent an ample amount of time with these guys on who they are as people and their ability to learn and process information.”

Schoen similarly offered no regrets about passing on J.J. McCarthy, Michael Penix and Bo Nix during the 2024 NFL Draft.

“I’m happy with Malik [Nabers] and where he was,” Schoen said.

No ‘Hail Mary’s’

In 2016, then-GM Jerry Reese went for a quick fix in free agency by throwing money at Olivier Vernon, Damon ‘Snacks’ Harrison and Jackrabbit Jenkins. The Giants got one playoff berth out of that, but things quickly fell apart and Reese was fired before the 2017 season was over.

In 2021, then-GM Dave Gettleman threw $72 million ($40 million guaranteed) at wide receiver Kenny Golladay, $63 million ($45 million guaranteed) and Leonard Williams, and also signed Kyle Rudolph and Adoree’ Jackson. The Giants won four games and Gettleman got fired, leaving Schoen a brutal salary cap mess.

Schoen, despite some financial flexibility (an estimated $54 million on a $272.5 million cap for 2025) said he won’t mortgage the future for a quick fix.

“I would never do that. I understand we’re going to build this thing the right way. I’m not going to do a Hail Mary for self-preservation or anything like that,” Schoen said. “We have a plan in place that we believe in and we’re going to stick with that. Again, I’ve got a tremendous amount of respect for ownership and what they believe in. We have really good communication with them. They understand where we are and where we’re trying to go. There will be no Hail Mary’s.”

Playoffs or bust?

The Giants face, on paper, the most difficult schedule in the NFL in 2025.

Does Schoen believe he and coach Brian Daboll are under a “make the playoffs or else?” mandate from ownership?

“No. Again, we’ve got to continue to build it the right way. If we have a really good roster and you get close and… I think John (Mara) said it to you guys earlier, it’s about progress. We’re at three wins. We didn’t make progress in the direction we wanted to this year and it’s not good enough. It starts with me and I understand that,” Schoen said. “But, to have an ultimatum, ‘You make the playoffs or you don’t,’ that changes things. But, that’s not it. John believes in the people in the building and Steve [Tisch] and they’re giving us the ability to build it the right way.”