Giants interim coach Mike Kafka has made his first big staff move as the team has fired defensive coordinator Shane Bowen, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported on Monday morning.
Outside linebackers coach Charlie Bullen will serve as the interim defensive coordinator, NFL insider Josina Anderson reported.
This decision comes after the Giants blew a lead against the Lions on Sunday, then lost in overtime 34–27. New York officially became the first team eliminated from playoff contention as it sits with a 2–10 record.
Sunday’s blown loss wasn’t the first this season. The Giants have blown five fourth quarter leads of 10 points or more just this season, which is tied for the record of the most in a season, ESPN’s Field Yates reported. Here’s a look at all those disastrous finishes
The Giants lost all of these games pic.twitter.com/ghv0JBM2NG
— BetMGM 🦁 (@BetMGM) November 24, 2025
Through 12 games, the Giants rank 32nd in total defense, 32nd against the run game, 31st in scoring defense and 27th against the pass—some of the worst defensive stats in the league.
This was Bowen’s second season in New York after he was hired by now fired head coach Brian Daboll. He spent three seasons prior as the Titans’ defensive coordinator.
Kafka explains why it was the ‘right time’ to fire Bowen
After two games as interim coach, both of which were close, tough losses for the Giants, Kafka made the decision on his own to fire Bowen. After Sunday’s loss, Kafka was originally confident in Bowen’s ability to work as the defensive coordinator, but he changed his mind following his review of the tape.
“When I got the job, I didn't want to make a lot of rash decisions and jump to anything really quick,” Kafka said. “I wanted to have some time to sit back, evaluate, look at it and kind of figure out what the best thing to do was. Wanted to be calculated in how I handled it and I thought today was the right time.”
“... The results just weren't what we wanted them to be.”
"When I got the job, I didn't want to make a lot of rash decisions and jump to anything really quick. I wanted to have some time to sit back, evaluate, look at it and kind of figure out what the best thing to do was. Wanted to be calculated in how I handled it and I thought today… pic.twitter.com/x32JnquYBG
— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) November 24, 2025
On the flip side, Kafka said he has a lot of confidence in Bullen’s ability to rally the defense moving forward this season.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Giants Fire DC Shane Bowen After Disastrous OT Loss to the Lions.
