After the Giants fired head coach Brian Daboll on Monday and named Mike Kafka the interim head coach, discussion has focused on who will lead the Giants in 2026. Several names have been mentioned, but one brought up by NFL insider Gary Myers would be particularly intriguing:University of North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick, who helped the Giants win two Super Bowls as defensive coordinator in the 1980s.
Myers spoke to Outkick’s Armando Salguero about the Giants vacancy, and he said if given the chance, Belichick would immediately agree to take the job and return to the NFL.
“He’d walk from Chapel Hill to East Rutherford for this job,” Myers told Salguero. “I really believe that.”
Myers said Belichick’s motivation to return to the NFL would be partly to break the NFL’s all-time wins record currently held by Pro Football Hall of Fame coach Don Shula, along with proving he can succeed without Tom Brady, whom Belichick coached for 20 seasons with the New England Patriots and won six Super Bowls.
“I think (Belichick) desperately wants the 15 victories to pass Shula and he desperately wants to win a Super Bowl without Brady,” Myers said.
Belichick was with the Giants from 1979-90, starting as a defensive assistant before working his way up to defensive coordinator. With Bill Parcells as the Giants head coach, the team won two Super Bowls. More recently, Belichick agreed to coach North Carolina in December 2024 and has since compiled a 4-5 record. The Tar Heels are two games away from bowl eligibility with three games remaining in the regular season.
Belichick has also dealt with coverage of his relationship with Jordon Hudson. Hudson has played a significant role in Belichick’s life, but controversy has surrounded her. During a CBS Sunday Morning interview with Belichick, Hudson interjected to stop certain lines of questioning. There were also questions about whether she had influence on decisions about the school’s football program. However, the school disclosed that Hudson only helped with personal matters, including his book release media tour.
Concerns about Hudson’s involvement led many people, including former Patriots players, to question whether Belichick was the right fit for North Carolina. Those concerns were downplayed by the school’s chancellor, Lee Roberts, who pointed to Belichick’s significant impact on the program, particularly in ticket sales. Myers said their relationship could potentially concern the Giants because it could provide a distraction.
“If it’s become this big an issue in Chapel Hill, can you imagine what it would be like in New York?”
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