In football, head coach firings have become ever so common at both the college and professional levels. With this frenzy of vacancies, many coaches will get big opportunities, but those fired will have to establish fresh identities in new homes.
This hits close to Happy Valley, after Penn State made such a decision. Following former head coach James Franklin's exit, the Nittany Lions must identify a new leader. It just may possibly involve a swap with a recently dismissed pro coach, as the collegiate coaching market heats up.
Is Brian Daboll a new Penn State head coach candidate following dismissal from the Giants?
The New York Giants dismissed head coach Brian Daboll after a 20-40-1 record during his time in New York, a move similar to the Nittany Lions' decision after disappointing midseason results.
For Daboll, returning to college coaching appears sensible, since it was at college where he first established himself as a coach. He helped Alabama secure the 2017 National Championship as offensive coordinator under the renowned head coach Nick Saban. Daboll then pivoted to the same role in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills before he landed with the Giants.
His successful reputation may see him return to the college level and be considered for the Penn State gig, especially given his offensive prowess, as the blue and white need a passing overhaul.
Although this move makes sense for the Nittany Lions and Daboll, given the clear risks involved, the opening in New York also makes a lot of sense for Franklin. It could be a better fit for him than Daboll at Penn State, presenting a possible scenario in which the teams end up swapping head coaches.
Swapping James Franklin and Brian Daboll is a coaching carousel no one saw coming
New York is an organization in turmoil, last making the playoffs in 2022 during Daboll's first year in charge, and it needs a quick turnaround for everyone involved with the team.
Hiring Franklin could be the first piece of the puzzle in steering the ship in the right direction, as he already showed at Vanderbilt and then at Penn State that he can turn a dysfunctional team around and lead it to success.
This is precisely what the Giants need: a revitalized culture. Franklin can provide this. While the New York media is notoriously critical and will be skeptical of such a hire, it's hard to argue that Franklin doesn't have what it takes to build such a team.
Such skepticism arises because of concern about his reputation in big games. The disappointing outlook for the Giants offers him an opportunity to coach with lower initial expectations and help him find a home despite these qualms.
Defying those big-game expectations will be crucial for Franklin moving forward in his career. A move to the pros could do so by offering a fresh start, despite his current claims indicating he wants to stay at the college level.
James Franklin's connections to Giants are too loud to ignore
On the gridiron, it also makes sense. It will be a fresh stop in Franklin's career journey and the Giants can reunite with some of his own former stars.
New York has an offense led by former Penn State tight end Theo Johnson, who saw a breakout season in 2025 so far with a team-high five receiving touchdowns at the time of Daboll's firing.
Franklin could reconnect with Johnson in New York, helping him thrive with an offensive scheme that utilizes the TE heavily in the passing game. For a Giants team that is thin at wide receivers after Malik Nabers' injury, this is essential. Franklin can help with that.
In New York, they found a standout at running back in Cam Skattebo, who excels in both receiving and rushing. However, he's out for the season. The Giants need answers as Skattebo rehabs.
Franklin demonstrated his ability to develop versatile RBs who can both receive and run, as seen with Saquon Barkley, a former Giant and Nittany Lion who now plays for the Eagles. Franklin can continue this trend with Skattebo when he returns and help him fulfill his full potential, as he seemed poised to do initially.
On the defensive side of the ball, the reasons to hire Franklin remain compelling for the Giants. At Penn State, he built a tough defense characterized by its relentless pass rush, which brought back the Stix City Tradition in Happy Valley. The most recent Stix City alumnus to head to the NFL is, coincidentally, Giants rusher Abdul Carter, who had a disappointing start to his career with only 0.5 sacks.
Getting the former first-round pick to live up to his potential could be made easier by the hiring of his former coach. With a Giants pass rush that is layered with stars, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Brian Burns, Dexter Lawrence II, and Carter, Franklin will be licking his chops to plan up a defense with such talent.
Obviously, their questions cast doubt over the fit for both sides. At quarterback, especially, can Franklin properly guide young players and push them past their potential?
This is of utmost importance to New York after the breakout of its rookie QB Jaxson Dart, and the handling of five-star QB Drew Allar at Penn State might discourage them from giving Franklin the job. Allar fell short of his expected potential under Franklin.
Although this appears to be accurate, the Giants have ample cap space in 2026, with nearly all their star defense players under contract. This enables any coach to lead and construct a new unit aligned with their scheme, and Franklin may be able to find success.
He demonstrated his ability to attract top talent by recruiting them to play for him, as evidenced by the many de-commits following Franklin's firing. He can likely do the same in the NFL, leveraging the available resources and the appeal of the big city.
Is the NFL the right place for Franklin?
Even Saban took the risk of jumping to the pros at one point with the Dolphins. While that situation didn't work out and highlighted the risks, it also showed the ability to rebrand after facing difficulties, as Saban then joined Alabama and became immortalized.
Franklin isn't the same type of coach as Saban, but what he can learn from that situation is that you need to find the right fit for the coach. While it might not have been at Penn State for Franklin, New York could be worth the risk for both sides to see if it's a good match.
Giants' owner John Mara already recruited Daboll and current GM Joe Schoen from the Buffalo Bills, which Penn State alumni and booster Terry Pegula owns. These hirings likely created some tension for Pegula, being the owner of one of the New York NFL teams. If Mara aims to sustain the organizational rivalry, this would be another contentious move, given the deeper connection to the Nittany Lions.
For Franklin, the ability to strike back remains, Many Penn State fans also support the Eagles, who have an annual divisional matchup with the Giants and now employ Barkley at RB. It cause be distraught to see Franklin lead New York to greatness. For Barkley, it would be even harder to play his old team, which he left for a rival, if his old coach were at the helm.
While nothing seems inevitable and the move seems unlikely for all sides, given the pure coincidental nature of the openings, all parties involved should consider this scenario, as the fit seems too natural to ignore.