“Yeah, I do. I have a lot of confidence in Shane and his entire staff.”

What a difference a few hours can make. Interim New York Giants head coach Mike Kafka appeared to be offering support to defensive coordinator Shane Bowen in the regular postgame press conference that followed another gut-punch of a loss on Sunday but, by Monday morning, rumours were already abounding that Bowen was out on his ear, with linebackers coach Charlie Bullen set to step into his shoes for the rest of the season.

Sitting at 2-10 through 12 weeks, the Giants are now officially unable to make the postseason — although the writing has been on the wall for several Sundays — and clearly believe that now is the time to make a change. With head coach Brian Daboll forced to fall on his sword just a couple of weeks ago, Bowen’s exits is another step towards Big Blue cleaning house in preparation for yet another reset in 2026.

The Giants have let slip no fewer than five fourth-quarter leads of 10 points or more this season, and rank close to bottom of all the meaningful defensive stats through two-thirds of the regular season. Despite that, Kafka insisted that losing to Detroit in overtime having led going into the final period wasn’t a case of ‘same old Giants’.

“I wouldn’t say it’s the same old story,” the interim HC claimed. “I think we had an opportunity at the end of the game [and] took a really good team to overtime. We’ve just got to find a way to finish those games.

“I really believe in our players. I believe in our coaches. They’re battling their heart out for us. [It’s just a case of] continuing to have that mentality, that aggressive mentality and continue to ramp it up come practice time this week. That’s the only thing we can look at right now: where can we get better, where can we improve? Take those little things and let’s really work them. Let’s detail them out and make sure that doesn’t happen again.”

Of course, press conferences don’t usually reveal a person’s true feelings, and Kafka must surely be frustrated at seeing an opportunity to take down one of the leading teams, not just in the NFC, but the entire NFL, slip through the Giants’ fingers.

“Listen, this is a team game,” he continued. “Everybody’s got to work together on it — special teams, offense, defense. So, there’s not one group. It’s all of us. It’s the players, it’s the coaches, it’s the staff, it’s the whole organisation finding a way to win. And so, we’ve got to find ways to get better, find a way to create an edge for ourselves and that’s what we’re going to do. I’m going to evaluate everything, across the board, [to see] where can we find an edge to go win a football game? That’s where we’re at right now.”

That edge will now come without Bowen’s input, even the DC obviously wasn’t the one missing tackles and giving up multiple explosive plays that allowed the Lions to keep in touch with New York throughout Sunday’s game, and then put the result beyond doubt when Jahmyr Gibbs gashed the defense for 69 yards and the final touchdown of the night. In a game where the offense, with Jameis Winston under center, put up in excess of 500 yards, a modicum of support from the other side of the line would have been welcomed.

Bowen arrived highly-rated from Tennessee in 2024, but has not been able to capitalise on a bevy of talented players — not least trade acquisition Brian Burns and first round draft pick Abdul Carter — and the Giants continue to languish at the bottom of the NFC East.

Outside linebackers coach Bullen will now be handed the reins, according to NFL insider Tom Pelissero, and must hope that he has the support of Giants fans for the final weeks of the campaign. Bowen had a target on his back from week one, and it was only stubborness from Daboll that kept in the role of DC beyond the head coach’s own tenure.

Bowen’s defenses excelled against the run in Tennessee, leading the league through 2021–22 and showing strong early red-zone efficiency. His approach emphasises fundamentals, simplified schemes and front-four pressure over heavy blitzing, which should have worked with the Giants undoubted talent in that area, but his units have traditionally struggled in pass defense, overall consistency and late-game execution — issues that became more visible — and, ultimately, untenable, with the Giants.

“I have a lot of faith in Charlie and I know he’s ready for the task,” Kafka said, while addressing the media over Bowen’s departure.