New York Giants linebacker Brian Burns, a vocal defender of fired head coach Brian Daboll, opened up Wednesday about the emotional toll of Monday’s shocking midseason dismissal, likening it to a painful breakup while urging teammates to rally.
“It’s tough. You develop a relationship with somebody,” Burns said. “You get to learn what they want, their ways, and they get to learn you as well. It’s tough. It’s like a breakup.”
The Pro Bowl pass rusher, who passionately declares that accountability lies with “everybody” — not just coaches — discovered the news mid-workout, learning upon return that interim coach Mike Kafka had replaced Daboll.
“I found out when everybody else found out,” he said. “I was working out when, I guess, the news dropped. I came back in and they told me.”
Burns, no stranger to upheaval after similar stints with the Carolina Panthers, emphasized continuity on defense under coordinator Shane Bowen.
“We’ve got the same scheme, same coordinator. Everything is pretty much the same as far as the game plan,” he said.
Yet Burns anticipates minor tweaks from Kafka, whose offensive background means limited prior rapport with defenders.
“I can’t speak for everybody. But me personally, we haven’t had a ton of conversations, but we’ve talked throughout the halls and out in practice. But we haven’t had like any in-depth conversations besides now,” he said.
As a captain, Burns preached unity amid evaluation.
“I hope the guys would stick together, come together, come even closer. I kind of just told them that in situations like this, everybody’s under evaluation,” he said. “Even though this is happening, nobody’s going to turn on the film and be like, ‘oh, this was after Daboll got fired, that’s why he’s playing this way.’ Nobody cares. So, I just told them, if there was ever a time to play your best ball, if there was ever a time to bond together, stick together, it’s now.”
Personally reflective, he confessed regret: “I do [feel like I let coach Daboll down]. That’s just me.”
Challenges loom — mood shifts, schedule tweaks — but Burns vows to lead by example, warning against distractions he’s witnessed before.
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