With the Giants on bye this week, I figured I’d mix it up a bit for this week’s blog. Ever since Daboll was fired last month, I’ve been hearing a bunch of names thrown around as potential candidates to be the next head coach of Big Blue. Below are some of the options I like and some I absolutely don’t. I’ve grouped them into three categories based on how realistic I think each candidate actually is.
Group 1: Pipe Dreams
Marcus Freeman- Current HC of Notre Dame
With Notre Dame missing out on the College Football Playoff and opting out of a potential bowl game, the Fighting Irish are left in an interesting spot. Without getting into the discourse behind the committee's decision to leave them out, it feels possible that a change could be in order. Do I think Freeman is fired? No. Do I think he steps down to take a job in the NFL? No. But not impossible. Freeman changed the culture in South Bend, and, similar to someone I'll mention later, he holds his guys accountable. I do think he's a great coach who will make the jump to the pros at some point. It's just not time quite yet.
Jon Gruden- Out of Coaching
Since watching Jaxson Dart's segment on 'Gruden's QB Class', I've been salivating at the thought of seeing him on the Giants' sideline. Gruden has a very old-school, no BS style of coaching, and the Giants desperately need that kind of voice in their locker room. He also told Dart in the interview that he sees his potential, but he needs to learn to slide more. Something that couldn't be more evident at this point. But as much as I would love to see it, Gruden is still in the process of suing the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell, as he alleges the league carried out a “malicious” plot to ruin his NFL career. Therefore, a return to coaching seems unlikely for now.
Group 2: Possible, But Probably Not
Lou Anarumo- Current DC of the Colts
There has been a lot of buzz around Anarumo as a potential candidate, and much of it seems tied to his connections with the Giants and the New York area. He grew up a diehard Giants fan in Staten Island, and he also has family ties to the organization, as his son, Louis, is one of the team’s top scouts. As cool as it would be to see a lifelong fan get the chance to live out a dream, I am not completely sold on his outlook as a head coach. Last season, he led a Bengals defense that finished 25th in the league before he was let go, and this year, he has not shown major improvement in Indianapolis. Overall, not my favorite choice.
Joe Brady- Current OC of the Bills
The last time the Giants poached a Bills offensive coordinator, things didn't work out, but if they were able to do it again, I would still be on board. Brady was the passing game coordinator for the infamous 2019 LSU Tigers and has since become the OC in Buffalo, where he has led them to the second-best scoring offense in the NFL. He is a great football mind who has worked closely with both Joe Burrow and Josh Allen. I love the idea of pairing him with Jaxson Dart and watching that partnership help Dart grow even more as a pro. As much as I like the fit, I just do not see Brady leaving Buffalo yet. He is only 36 years old and likely wants to keep building his résumé before making the jump to a head coaching job.
Group 3: Realistic
Mike McCarthy- Out of Coaching
As of right now, McCarthy appears to be the favorite to land the Giants' head coaching job. McCarthy, who is out of coaching this year, last coached in Dallas, where he led the Cowboys to three straight 12–5 seasons. He was ultimately let go because he could not finish the job in the playoffs. He consistently put Dallas in a position to earn a top seed, but he could never deliver when it mattered most, which is similar to how things ended for him in Green Bay. That said, the Giants need to learn how to win again before they worry about chasing a Lombardi. I would not love the hire, but I do believe McCarthy could help the G-Men become competitive in the short term and help Jaxson Dart develop.
Klint Kubiak- Current OC of the Seahawks
Kubiak is the belle of the ball among coordinators expected to make the jump to head coach next year. He has boosted Seattle to a top-ten offense this season and brings exactly the kind of creativity the Giants offense desperately needs. The idea of him designing an offense built around Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo, while developing Jaxson Dart, is incredibly appealing to me. Out of all the candidates, Kubiak is the one I want the most (behind Gruden); the only real concern to me is his lack of experience, which has burned the Giants multiple times in the past. As exciting as he is, trusting another first-time head coach comes with some understandable fear for Giants fans.
Big Blue still has four more games until we find out which of these guys will get the job next year. They're back at home this weekend against the struggling 3-10 Commanders.
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