New York Giants defensive coordinator Shane Bowen couldn’t survive another collapse.
The Giants are firing Bowen, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported on Monday, per sources informed of the decision.
Art Stapleton of NorthJersey.com first reported the news. The team has since announced Bowen's dismissal.
Outside linebackers coach Charlie Bullen will serve as the interim DC, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported.
It’s the first big move for interim head coach Mike Kafka.
“Made the tough decision today to let Shane go as our defensive coordinator," Kafka told reporters on Monday morning. "I got a lot of faith in Charlie. Obviously, these decisions aren’t easy, and Shane’s a good person, a good man, a good coach. Just the results weren’t what we wanted them to be. Charlie’s going to step up for us and rally the group."
The firing was weeks in the making. Bowen’s defense has given up big lead after big lead all season. Before he was fired earlier this month, ex-coach Brian Daboll continuously defended Bowen, who took over the Giants' defense in 2024 after three years as DC in Tennessee.
Big Blue’s defense under Bowen made sieves look solid.
In 2024, the Giants ranked 24th in yards allowed, 21st in points, and 28th in takeaways. Despite sporting a trove of talent on the defensive front -- Brian Burns, Dexter Lawrence, Kayvon Thibodeaux, first-rounder Abdul Carter -- the Giants were consistently blasted this season. Big Blue ranks 30th in yards allowed, 30th in points given up, and 30th in takeaways this season.
Worse than simply being a bad defense, the Giants' defense was the key reason New York lost a host of games. New York has blown five fourth-quarter leads of 10-plus points this season, most in the NFL.
Sunday’s collapse in Detroit was the decaying cherry on top of the mud pie that has been the Giants' defense this season. Despite Kafka’s offense moving the ball at will in Detroit, generating 517 yards, the Giants couldn’t get the stop needed late to secure the victory.
It wasn’t just that the Giants gave up 10 fourth-quarter points and the game-losing 69-yard run from Jahmyr Gibbs in overtime; it was the explosives that they got beat by. Three of the Lions' four touchdown drives came in three plays or fewer.
Players play and coaches coach. Bowen wasn’t the one missing tackles, taking poor angles, and busting coverages. But at the end of the day, his scheme didn’t put Giants players in a position to regularly succeed. The repeated problems were a sign of a systematic issue.
With Big Blue officially eliminated from playoff contention, they’ll try to pick up the pieces with a new defensive play-caller before an entirely new operation takes over in 2026.