Giants legend Victor Cruz discusses the state of the team after retaining a coach and general manager despite a disappointing season

Less than three weeks ago New York Giants controlled the NFL draft and tentatively held the No. 1 pick. They then scored 45 points, their most in more than 10 years, and won.

The Giants are now in line to pick the third in the projectand many experts say at most two quarterbacks deserve to be selected early.

The two teams ahead of the Giants — the Titans and Browns — are likely in the quarterback market.

It was the Giants’ worst season in a generation. Their .176 winning percentage with a 3-14 record was the fourth lowest in franchise history. And yet, owner John Mara made the unpopular decision to let go of head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen.

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New York Giants’ Victor Cruz celebrates after scoring a 24-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife Stadium on November 20, 2011. in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

However, firing Dabol would mean the Giants would have their fifth head coach in 10 seasons, not including interims. It’s not a perfect process, especially considering that Tom Coughlin was manning a 12-man station.

And while Giants fans may not like the decision, Victor Cruz understands this.

“I think at some point you have to provide some continuity, don’t you? You can’t just fire every coach. You have to give some guys a little streak to know if they’re the guys,” Cruz told Fox News Digital in a recent interview.

Cruz said the players, especially the veteran players, “love” Dabol, which led to Marr’s decision. But they need to fight next year if Dabol and Shaun want to survive.

“I’m not saying we have to win 13 games, 12 games, but we have to at least be competitive next year so the fans can have a better taste in their mouths,” Cruz said. He even admitted that the tandem could survive if the Giants “suck” again.

“I think it depends on what level we defend at, right? How much do we advocate? Are we 3-14 again or are we 9-8? 8-9? a couple of pieces?” he said.

New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll on the sideline against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on January 5, 2025. (Eric Hartline/Imagn Images)

“Now, if we’re going to be a three-win team next year, you’ve got to blow it up because obviously it’s not working. But if we’re middling — 9-8, 8-9, in contention — maybe a wild card — and we’re here, then I say, “Okay, let’s figure out what we need to get over that last hump.”

The G-Men aren’t likely to sniff the Super Bowl for a while, so maybe the players will be throwing some parties for the big game this year. Cruz is, and he’s partnering with Finish Ultimate dishwasher detergent ahead of next month’s trip to New Orleans. The brand is giving away a $10,000 prize so fans can throw their dream Super Bowl party.

“Since I’ve been retired, I’ve been chilling and laying things out by the bedside, it just helps get tough stains out. It helps when I’m cooking, there’s different dishes in here, and the dishes have these tough stains,” Cruz said.

“Finish Ultimate is just the way to go for tough stains and I wouldn’t use any other brand but Finish Ultimate.”

The Giants are focused on the draft, and even if the Titans and Browns let Cam Ward or Sheader Sanders beat the Giants, Cruz would say thanks but no thanks and try to get a familiar name.

“I think we need to get one of those veteran guys in free agency, build our roster for another year, be competitive next year and then go all in Arch Manning next year after that,” Cruz said. “Now we’ve put together a team through the draft and free agency. We have a draft year to go against guys, build our roster in the right direction, deepen all those positions. … Then we’ll take a quarterback in free agency and see what happens.”

So who does Cruz want to finish third?

New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll speaks during a news conference in Munich, Germany on November 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Lennart Preiss)

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“I like it Travis Hunter. Did you put him with Malik Nabers and give him some plays on defense? come on It’s hard to miss. This is the game I’m talking about. He’s the kind of guy you can’t game plan for. Imagine a team having to game plan a guy on defense and then saying, “Oh, by the way, he’s going to play 30 snaps on offense.” He’s a guy who can really do good things for us.

“He is a great person. He’s a great kid. It’s going to be a ton of fun there, and him and Malik Nabers together, seeing their energy and imagining that together, not only on the field but in a wealth of marketing off the field, those guys are going to crush it in New York.

“And I just think that the two of them together could also help each other and feed off each other and help each other grow at the same time so they can be together and face all the ups and downs that are going to happen. And they can be the glue that holds this team together and keeps everyone positive.”

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