LAS VEGAS — The way Jon Feliciano saw it, there were two trains steaming at each other riding the same track. There was a chance one of them would veer off and the crisis would be averted.
But, maybe not and then a head-on collision was destined to occur.
This was how Feliciano, the Giants’ starting center in 2022, viewed the Brian Daboll-Wink Martindale dynamic.
“I think it was unfortunate how that Wink and Dabes thing ended up,’’ said Feliciano, now the 49ers’ starting right guard. “I love both of them as coaches. I mean, once you get to know Wink and once you get to know Dabes it could be magic or it could end up how it ended up.’’
How it ended up was Martindale storming out of the room after cursing out Daboll the day after the Giants ended their season with a record of 6-11, leaving Daboll and the Giants in need of a new defensive coordinator.
“I think they’re both strong personalities and as you’ve seen, Dabes can explode,’’ Feliciano said. “As a guy that knows him, I know what you’re gonna get, and it’s not like a personal thing, it’s not anything but Dabes wants to win real, real bad. Even in Buffalo, he has more weight on his shoulders now that he’s the head coach. What did he do wrong that’s messing up the moment? And Wink is a strong dude. That’s probably what happened.’’
Feliciano insists he thoroughly enjoyed his one-and-done year with the Giants, but he is onto bigger and better things. As the 49ers right guard, he is preparing to block for Christian McCaffrey and protect Brock Purdy against the Chiefs in Super Bowl 2024.
Left tackle extraordinaire Trent Williams is the highest-rated lineman on the team — no shock there — but in 16 games and seven starts for his new team, Feliciano is the team’s second-highest rated lineman. Not bad for a 31-year-old signed to a one-year deal for $2.25 million.
Feliciano was part of a culture injection Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen wanted to bring to the Giants, as the three were together for three seasons with the Bills. Feliciano started 15 games at center, and the nine-year NFL veteran called the 2022 campaign “one of my favorite seasons.’’ He was able to play in front of his father and several family members — he was born in East Meadow, L.I., but grew up in South Florida — and was a needed and valued leader on the field and in the locker room.
“To go with them to a new spot where there’s no expectations, they haven’t played well in a number of years,’’ Feliciano said. “Going there and being a leader and helping them turn it around, get into the playoffs, we had a playoff win, and doing it in New York it meant a lot more.’’
There was talk of bringing back Feliciano, but he sensed, correctly, that the Giants wanted to get younger at the center position — they selected John Michael Schmitz in the second round of the 2023 draft. There was also something else gnawing at Feliciano.
“At that point, when things were coming down to the wire with the Niners, there was some talk with the Giants,’’ Feliciano said, “but ultimately the Niners, I believed, could get to the Super Bowl, and look where we’re at.’’
Look where they’re at.
As center for the Giants, Feliciano graded out at 58.2 last season, according to Pro Football Focus. He has thrived at right guard for the Niners, with a grade of 81.2, allowing no sacks in 257 pass-block snaps. The 49ers previously had a problem getting McCaffrey going on runs to the right side, but with Feliciano moving in alongside right tackle Colton McKivitz, that is no longer a concern.
It was a gradual promotion. Feliciano first stepped in at left guard when Aaron Banks went down with a toe injury. On Thanksgiving, Feliciano was summoned to play right guard after a knee issue sidelined Spencer Burford. Feliciano was in and was not coming out.
He started the playoff victories over the Packers and Lions, and there is no reason to believe he will be anywhere but in the lineup Sunday at Allegiant Stadium to knock heads with the Chiefs.
Feliciano helped Saquon Barkley rush for a career-high 1,312 yards last season, but he calls McCaffrey “the best running back in the league.’’ His choice to hook on with the 49ers worked out splendidly for him.
“When you’re on such a good team and you handle your block, Christian’s great at making that safety miss and taking a play that’s blocked for 4 or 5 for 15, 25, sometimes a home run,’’ Feliciano said. “That helps you look good, too.’’
