After firing former Coach of the Year Brian Daboll, the New York Giants have one of the more intriguing head-coach openings in the NFL.
The team has some explosive young talent to build around in 22-year-old star wide receiver Malik Nabers, 22-year-old rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart, 23-year-old rookie running back Cam Skattebo, 24-year-old tight end Theo Johnson, 22-year-old rookie edge-rusher Abdul Carter, and 24-year-old defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux.
The Giants are also on track to have a top-five draft pick next April, and whoever takes over as Daboll's replacement will have a solid base to build from.
And while many expect New York to cast a wide net in its search for a new coach, and while there have been several high-profile names linked to the job already - Ole Miss' Lane Kiffin, former Super Bowl winner Mike McCarthy, North Carolina Tar Heels coach Bill Belichick - there's one name seemingly gaining some serious steam.
During the most recent episode of the New York Post's "Blue Rush" podcast, Giants beat writer Paul Schwartz revealed that Notre Dame's Marcus Freeman could be an intriguing name to watch.
"The Notre Dame coach (Freeman) … I know there is some high regard for him in the Giants building," Schwartz said. "He fits a very strong profile."
Schwartz is the second team insider in the last two days to name Freeman as a possible Giants target. ESPN's Jordan Raanan also mentioned the 39-year-old Freeman as a potential dark-horse candidate.
"Some names to keep an eye for Giants coach: interim Mike Kafka, Chargers DC Jesse Minter, Ex-Giant Antonio Pierce, Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo," Raanan tweeted. "An outside the box thought: Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman."
In four seasons as the Fighting Irish head coach, Freeman has posted a 40-12 record with four bowl wins and a College Football Playoff National Championship Game appearance last year.
Though he generated some NFL interest last year in regard to the Chicago Bears head-coaching vacancy, Freeman seems content staying where he is.
"To hear that the Bears have interest, it's humbling. It's the NFL. But it's also a reminder of with team success comes individual success," Freeman said back in January. "I have put zero thought into coaching in the NFL. All my attention has just been on getting this team prepared for every opportunity we have in front of us."
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