Brian Daboll has been a football coach for a quarter-century, with 21 years’ experience in the National Football League alone. However, he’s only been a hot commodity in terms of head coaching job for the last two offseasons after being named AP Assistant Coach of the Year for the 2020 season.
Daboll quickly landed one of the biggest jobs out there, and now will get to forge his own path after working under luminaries like Nick Saban, Bill Belichick, and Sean McDermott.
So, what makes this the right time for Daboll to finally take his first crack at the top gig?
“I don’t know if there’s ever a perfect time, but I’ve been doing this for 25 years, 21 in the NFL, and been around the block and experienced a lot of different head coaches and how they do things,” Daboll said Monday in his introductory press conference. “All I know how to do is work with people, try to build a culture, and inspire everyone. I’ll listen, learn, and develop the people in our building – and that’s everyone, not just the players. Do I feel prepared? Yes. Do I also know there will be some challenges? Yes, but I know you have to be resilient in this league. It’s been quite a long journey. You know, 21 years seems like 50 years in normal time – and there’s stuff I’ve learned along the way.”
When asked about that, well, Daboll had a bit of a four-point belief system based on what he’s learned and who he has learned from:
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AUTHENTICITY: “You have to be authentic. Joe (Schoen) spoke of the mentors that I’ve had, and I owe those guys a lot. But I’ve learned you have to be yourself in this business. That’s what I aim to do. I’m a people person. I think I’m a good leader and I think that’s the first thing, to be authentic.”
CONSISTENCY: “You have to be consistent in this position. To get up in front of a room, with all the players out there after a bad game, you have to own it and talk to those guys and give them the things they didn’t do well and the things I didn’t do well and give that to them on a consistent basis. I think that helps in not riding the roller coaster, which probably, my younger days, I was on that coaster.”
COMMUNICATION: “Clearly communicating your expectations and standards goes a long way with these men. Obviously understand what you’re talking about, whether it’s knowledge of offense, defense, kicking game, whatever that may be.”
RELATABILITY: “At the end of the day, I’m a big relationship guy. I love my players, I want to get to know them off the field. I think that’s where it starts.”
Daboll also how important it is for a head coach, GM, and ownership group to all be in accord, because otherwise, “things start to go awry.” But, no matter where that accord lies, he’s going to lean on his own four-part plan above, specifically number one.
“I just try to be me. I care about my guys and their families, and want to see them do well and make money,” he said. “You’re in this building more than you’re with your family. There’s got to be a mutual respect, and if they know you genuinely care, that’s huge. I know it’s a results business, but to me it’s a relationship business. It’s important everyone can work together in a trusting matter.”
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