For the fourth time in seven years, the New York Giants are facing the task of searching for a new head coach. Giants owner John Mara appears keen to avoid candidates from the New England coaching tree, especially following unsuccessful tenures from former Patriots assistants Joe Judge and Brian Daboll. However, there are prominent figures with Foxboro connections that merit consideration, including Josh McDaniels and Bill Belichick.
Although McDaniels has experienced challenges in his previous head coaching roles—with records of 11-17 with the Denver Broncos and 9-16 during his time with the Las Vegas Raiders—his current work as the Patriots offensive coordinator has been noteworthy. He has successfully helped elevate quarterback Drake Maye, positioning him as a frontrunner for the NFL MVP award early this season.
The Giants may see potential in pairing McDaniels with their promising rookie quarterback, Jaxson Dart. According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, the team is expected to explore a wide array of candidates to replace Daboll. He emphasized that Dart’s development will be significant in their decision-making process.
Breer highlighted the attractiveness of the Giants’ position, noting the presence of several key players, such as Malik Nabers, Andrew Thomas, Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, and Dexter Lawrence, which could create a strong foundation for the new coach to build upon. He acknowledged that the Giants have historically found success by hiring coaches who were let go by other teams, pointing to Tom Coughlin as an example. Coughlin was dismissed by the Jacksonville Jaguars before leading the Giants to two Super Bowl victories.
While Breer does not rule out McDaniels as a potential candidate, he notes that many will question his past decisions in both Las Vegas and Indianapolis. His earlier stints raise concerns about his fit in the Giants’ structure moving forward.
On the other hand, the possibility of Bill Belichick returning to the NFL is seen as highly improbable. Breer elaborated on the challenges associated with hiring the seasoned coach, primarily his age and concerns over succession planning. He emphasized that any team considering Belichick would need assurance that a capable successor could be prepared without conflicts of interest.
Overall, the Giants’ search for a new head coach is filled with uncertainty as they reflect on their previous choices and seek to revitalize their team. The exploration of notable candidates like McDaniels could lead to a hopeful rebuilding phase, given their young talent and past successes with experienced coaches.