As the NFL regular season winds down, several teams are beginning to turn their attention toward the offseason. The New York Giants are already there.
Yes, the Giants last week became the first NFL team eliminated from playoff contention. But the organization shifted its focus even earlier with the November firing of head coach Brian Daboll, who went 2-8 in 2025 prior to his dismissal.
In announcing the move, team president and CEO John Mara revealed that general manager Joe Schoen would be retained to lead the search for the next head coach. On one hand, the job should have no shortage of suitors, as promising rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart and a few other staples – including wide receiver Malik Nabers, left tackle Andrew Thomas and defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence – constitute a solid foundation on which the next coach can build. But the Giants have typically skewed toward the familiar in past searches, and it remains to be seen whether the organization will go outside the box this time around.
With Mara having stated his impatience with the franchise’s trajectory, the team would surely pay attention if a sitting head coach with a proven track record were to become available in the next five-plus weeks. But failing that, the Giants will be left to sort through an array of candidates from differing backgrounds.
With all that in mind, here’s an early ranking of the potential coaching candidates for New York based on how viable each looks for the vacancy:
10. Mike Kafka, Giants interim coach
Tasked with seeing out the season, Kafka has made a strong initial impression, including implementing an aggressive game plan that helped the Giants storm to a 10-point lead on the road against a Detroit Lions team that eventually proved too formidable in overtime. But close calls didn’t cut it for Daboll, and they won’t get Kafka the full-time job, either. Interim coaches tend to have an exceedingly difficult time convincing owners to hold off on wider searches, and Kafka’s candidacy will hinge on the entire team showing serious progress in a short amount of time.
9. Antonio Pierce, former Las Vegas Raiders head coach
If Big Blue’s brain trust wants to mine organizational connections with head-coaching experience, it stands to reason that Pierce would be of some interest. A Pro Bowl selection in 2006 who helped lead the team to a Super Bowl 42 title the following year, the former Giants linebacker had plenty of success with the organization during his playing days. He also helped pull the Raiders out of a tailspin when he took over for as interim coach in 2023, though his full-time stint leading the team would last just one year. Maybe he’s not immediately at the top of the list, but it wouldn’t be a surprise for Pierce to at least get an interview.
8. Jesse Minter, Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator
Any franchise seeking a rapid turnaround would be wise to look in Jim Harbaugh’s direction. No, they won’t be prying away the Chargers coach, who managed a six-win improvement and wild-card berth in Year 1 at the helm. But Minter’s stout defenses have been integral to Harbaugh’s success, and the 42-year-old figures to become a fixture of the coaching interview circuit in January. His zone-heavy scheme could cause some whiplash for personnel accustomed to a healthy dose of man coverage, and Los Angeles hasn’t been as consistent as it was a year ago, when the defense surrendered the fewest points of any team. But even if he seems like a long shot, he should be intriguing to an organization that clearly hasn’t gotten the desired return on investment from its defensive talent.
7. Vance Joseph, Denver Broncos defensive coordinator
The vision of a fearsome pass rush keying the Giants’ resurgence never fully came to life, even with Brian Burns enjoying a career year. Joseph, who orchestrates the NFL’s most dominant unit in a Broncos defense on pace to shatter the single-season sack record, could be the right man to get the group going. His two-year run at the helm for Denver didn’t inspire much faith, but he was also left to pay the toll for the franchise’s inability to move on from the Peyton Manning era, particularly at quarterback. A second chance should be in store, even if it doesn’t end up materializing with the Giants.
6. Matt Nagy, Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith or Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury could also occupy this spot, as the Giants understandably would be interested in an offensive mind with head-coaching experience. But are any of the available options all that enticing? Even with Kansas City’s offense merely scraping by, Nagy might be next in line for another shot at a top job given the pedestrian crop of candidates coming from the offensive coordinator ranks. If the Giants go with him or another option with similar credentials, it will speak volumes about how highly the organization is prioritizing Dart’s development relative to all other factors.
5. Steve Spagnuolo, Chiefs defensive coordinator
If the Giants truly want to turn to the familiar in their moment of need, they could give Spagnuolo a look for a third time. New York brass interviewed the defensive coordinator twice – in 2016 and 2018, following his run as interim head coach after Ben McAdoo’s firing – but opted against giving him the top job both times. A reconsideration seems unlikely given where things stand for the franchise and Spagnuolo, who turns 66 later in December. But he should get another interview, and maybe he’ll get a look as someone who can help get the Giants’ house in order in the short term.
4. Jeff Hafley, Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator
Boston College alumnus John Mara sure has an affinity for his alma mater, and Hafley – who was head coach at the school from 2020-23 – could benefit from his tie-in. But the candidacy of the Montvale, New Jersey, native is about far more than mere connections. His aggressive Green Bay defense could provide a blueprint for Big Blue, especially as it pertains to the utilization of promising rookie pass rusher Abdul Carter, who has drawn comparisons to fellow Penn State product Micah Parsons.
3. Mike McCarthy, former Dallas Cowboys head coach
Sitting out a season might pay off for McCarthy, who could be an attractive option in a pool of candidates with few assurances. He’s certainly a familiar figure to Giants leadership after interviewing with the team in 2020 before joining the rival Cowboys. Given his extensive track record as a head coach, play-caller and quarterback developer, he could present a higher floor than some of the less established alternatives. This, too, might be an enticing on-ramp for the 61-year-old, who is accustomed to having to work around existing infrastructure after his time in Dallas.
2. Lou Anarumo, Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator
After being dumped by the Cincinnati Bengals, Anarumo has breathed new life into a previously stagnant Colts defense. In the process, he’s re-established himself as someone who could receive consideration for his first head-coaching gig. There are certainly strong links to the Giants, where Anarumo served as defensive backs coach in 2018. He also overlapped with Schoen during his six-year run as an assistant with the Miami Dolphins, and his son, Louis, is a pro scout for New York. Anarumo interviewed for the Giants’ vacancy in 2022 amid the Bengals’ Super Bowl run, and perhaps now the timing could be right for the partnership to come together.
1. Chris Shula, Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator
The grandson of legendary former coach Don Shula would certainly fit in well with a franchise that’s long on legacy. But Shula has made a name for himself this season, becoming arguably the hottest assistant coach thanks to his work guiding a defense that ranks 31st in overall spending, according to Over The Cap. Plucking the next big name from the Sean McVay coaching tree might be appealing to Mara and Schoen, even though the 39-year-old is greener than some of the other options and lacks head-coaching experience. But his work developing young talent could push him to the top of the list, and the possibility that he could bring along some McVay-minded assistants for his offensive staff could help assuage any concerns about going the defensive route.