PHOENIX — When a team that most everyone expects will be bad turns out to be pretty darn good, there is plenty of credit to be distributed. In the case of the Giants, the majority of that credit goes to Brian Daboll, their first-year head coach.

Daboll took a roster and molded it into a team. Not close to the most talented roster and not close to the most talented team but cohesive and prepared and ready to play most every week. There is no doubt the Giants were a well-coached group, and the person who orchestrated it all Thursday night was deservedly recognized for his handiwork when Daboll was named the 2022 NFL Associated Press Coach of the Year during the NFL Honors ceremony.

“I just think it’s a testament to the coaches, the players, really the people in the building from ownership on down,’’ Daboll said, clutching the trophy and clearly emotional. “Eking out some wins, obviously the wins help but it’s really a collective effort. I know I’m the head coach, but there’s a lot of people in our building that contributed to our success this year. I’m very thankful for the people I get to work with each day.’’

Daboll, 47, was one of the three finalists, along with Doug Pederson of the Jaguars and Kyle Shanahan of the 49ers. Daboll received 16 first-place votes and 123 total points to outpace Shanahan, who got 12 votes for first and 100 points. Pederson had 75 points, with five first-place votes.

When his name was announced by Deion Sanders, Daboll kissed his wife, Beth, stood up and excitedly slapped hands with Saquon Barkley as the two exchanged a hearty hug.

Barkley, on his 26th birthday, was one of three finalists for Comeback Player of the Year, along with Christian McCaffrey of the 49ers and Geno Smith of the Seahawks. Smith won the award.

When first-year general manager Joe Schoen — who brought Daboll in after their four years together in Buffalo — was asked to characterize the 2022 Giants, he said: “Maybe we weren’t the most talented, but we did have a good team. Guys cared about each other. The culture was good, and the process we had in place. I think the dividends showed on Sundays.’’

Schoen, in a video released by the Giants, congratulated Daboll on the award: “Couldn’t happen to a better person. Much deserved.’’

That speaks directly to how Daboll was able to get more from less after he inehited a team that went 4-13 in 2021. The Giants started out hot, winning six of their first seven games, slid midway through the season and finished 9-7-1 to make the playoffs for the first time since 2016. They even won a playoff game, beating the Vikings 30-24 in Minneapolis, before getting crushed by the Eagles 38-7 at Philadelphia.

“I’m just a piece,’’ Daboll said. “There’s a lot of great people in that building. You wish you could give awards out to a lot of people because there’s a lot of people in the building who deserve it a helluva lot more than me.’’

This was no quick ascension for Daboll. He took the long road to his first head-coaching job, breaking into the NFL in 2000. He described his journey as “a lot of good, there was a lot of hardship.’’

When he finally got a head-coaching position, Daboll was ready to excel in the job.

“Twenty-one years, seven different teams, I think,’’ Daboll said. “It’s a tremendous honor. You don’t think about that when you take a job. You’re thankful that you have an opportunity to lead a team and try to build a culture.’’

Previously, Daboll was named the Coach of the Year by the Pro Football Writers Association of America and the NFC Coach of the Year by 101 Awards. The AP award is considered the official coach of the year award. Daboll is the fifth Giants coach to win the award, joining Allie Sherman (1961 and 1962), Bill Parcells (1986), Dan Reeves (1993) and Jim Fassel (1997).

Daboll became the fifth coach in the modern era of Giants history to lead the team to the playoffs in his first season, joining Sherman (1961), Reeves (1993), Fassel (1997) and Ben McAdoo (2016).

Giants outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux finished fourth in voting for the Defensive Rookie of the Year award, which went to Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner.

Daboll, who made the trip from New Jersey with his wife and two of their children, said, “I’d rather be playing down here.’’ Instead, he will watch Super Bowl LVII back home.

“I’m gonna sit back, eat a tray full of nachos, drink a six pack and then I’ll start my diet,’’ Daboll said. “I’m just gonna watch it as a fan.’’