The speculation that has raged for months has finally been put to bed as the New York Giants fired head coach Brian Daboll today.
After a pair of losing seasons, including going 3-14 last year, Giants head coach Brian Daboll was in arguably the hottest seat in the NFL. There was little doubt that this was a make-or-break season for the 50-year-old. Following another ugly loss in Week 10 against the Chicago Bears and falling to 2-8, it seemed like it was a matter of time before he was ousted.
Well, that came on Monday morning, and in a rare move by the Giants, the organization fired Daboll in-season after going 20-40-1 in three and a half years with the team. Offensive coordinator and assistant head coach Mike Kafka will fill in as the interim HC for the rest of the season. But who will be the next full-time head coach of the Giants? We look to answer that question.
Steve Spagnuolo, Kansas City Chiefs Defensive Coordinator
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Beloved Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has a history with the Giants. He served as DC for Big Blue two different times, including in the year they stunned the New England Patriots to win the 2008 Super Bowl. After failing as the head coach of the then-St. Louis Rams 15 years ago, the 65-year-old has never gotten a second shot at a full-time job. The organization could be interested because of his links to not only their ’08 title team, but by being a key part of the Chiefs’ recent dynasty team. The organization will want someone linked to a history of winning.
Nick Saban, Retired
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Speaking of winning, no one understands it better than college football icon Nick Saban. The man who has won seven National Championships is currently retired, but there have been rumblings that he would be open to a return to the sidelines. However, the new NIL era of CFB doesn’t fit the 74-year-old. Trying one more time to exercise the NFL demons with a team he was once an assistant for early in his career is the sort of splashy move New York loves.
Jeff Hafley, Green Bay Packers Defensive Coordinator
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There is a real possibility that New York wants someone with some head coach experience to replace Daboll. That is why Green Bay Packers DC Jeff Hafley is an intriguing option. Beyond helping turn the Packers defense around and making them a dominant force the last two seasons, the 47-year-old formerly oversaw Boston College’s football program. It’s not NFL head coaching experience, but he has led a program, is young, and has a good resume in a prominent job in the pros.
Bill Belichick, North Carolina Head Coach
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After being forced out of New England in 2023, Bill Belichick badly wanted to return to the NFL. However, he had few interested teams. Instead, he went to North Carolina earlier this year, and that decision has been a disaster thus far. He has always admired the Giants organization after previously serving as a DC during the 80s, and has often been linked to coaching the team that beat him twice in the Super Bowl.
At 73, the NFL icon — and his girlfriend Jordon Hudson — would jump at the chance to leave Chapel Hill for Gotham and the opportunity to turn the G-Men around while breaking the record for most wins by a coach.
Joe Brady, Buffalo Bills Offensive Coordinator
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If the Giants decided to go with another coordinator without head coaching experience, Buffalo Bills OC Joe Brady should be at the top of their candidate list. He has been the Bills’ coordinator for three seasons, and the last two years, they have been among the best offenses in the league. During that time, he has helped improve Josh Allen’s overall game and led him to the MVP award last season.
With Jaxson Dart having a similar style to Allen, Brady may be a perfect choice to mold the first-round pick into a franchise QB.
Todd Monken, Baltimore Ravens Offensive Coordinator
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Another intriguing coordinator option to help turn Dart into a franchise QB would be Baltimore Ravens OC Todd Monken. During his career as an OC, he oversaw Jameis Winston in his best seasons, turned Stetson Bennett into a two-title-winning QB at Georgia, and led Lamar Jackson to another MVP and two All-Pro appearances. Most notably, all three have different approaches to the position.
The 60-year-old is long overdue for a head coaching job, and the Giants could be the team to finally give him that opportunity.
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After earning his journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos served as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sucka ... More about Jason Burgos