The NFL values production from both players and coaches. Earlier this season, the Tennessee Titans fired head coach Brian Callahan, and the New York Giants dismissed head coach Brian Daboll after disappointing starts to 2025. While mid-season firings are undesirable, they can be necessary for struggling franchises. After the Week 12 Sunday NFL games, the Las Vegas Raiders dismissed offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, and the Giants fired defensive coordinator Shane Bowen.
The Raiders hired Chip Kelly as offensive coordinator to strengthen Pete Carroll’s first year as Las Vegas head coach. Kelly led Ohio State to a national championship last season, becoming the NFL’s highest-paid coordinator. But the Raiders’ offense produced only 15 points per game, 269 yards, and an NFL-high 41 sacks. After a decisive loss to the Browns, the team fired Kelly.
Similarly, the New York Giants have suffered a disappointing start. After the team blew a 10-point lead against the Detroit Lions, defensive coordinator Shane Bowen was dismissed. This was interim coach Mike Kafka’s first significant move. Notably, Detroit’s comeback marked the fifth time this season the Giants’ defense lost a double-digit lead.
These mid-season firings signal that both the Raiders and Giants are gearing up for a full rebuild. For the Giants, this means searching for a new head coach who can reshape the team into a contender. In Las Vegas, the future of Pete Carroll is uncertain, but the move to replace Kelly reflects the team’s intention to rebuild, regardless of who leads on the sidelines.
