Once the 2025 season concludes, the New York Giants will begin their head-coaching search in earnest.
The Giants fired former head coach Brian Daboll during the season, which was long overdue.
Now, general manager Joe Schoen, who somehow survived, is going to be leading the team's search for a replacement.
ESPN's Jordan Raanan has provided a sizeable list of candidates the Giants are expected to interview for their vacancy.
The list includes the following former head coaches: Mike McCarthy, Antonio Pierce, Vance Joseph and Mike Kafka.
The list also includes these defensive coordinators: Los Angeles Rams' Chris Shula, Los Angeles Chargers' Jesse Minter, Indianapolis Colts Lou Anarumo and Green Bay Packers' Jeff Hafley.
We would immediately cross Kafka and Pierce off the list of potential hires.
Kafka hasn't shown us anything as the interim head coach and the Giants desperately need a clean break from the current staff.
Pierce had a messy stint with the Las Vegas Raiders after securing the full-time job in 2024 and made a lot of mistakes. Perhaps Pierce has since learned from those mistakes, but the Giants can't afford to roll the dice to find out.
Joseph coached the Denver Broncos for two years and his defensive prowess would be a great fit for a Giants defense that has plenty of talent but needs some direction. He's easily the second-best option on the list of former head coaches from Raanan.
A Super Bowl-winning coach, McCarthy is the most experienced and accomplished of the group. He checks the box of an offensive-minded coach who has worked with some good to great quarterbacks, all of which will benefit Jaxson Dart.
You also know what you're getting with McCarthy, who isn't a sexy name but will bring stability and a steady hand to a locker room that needs it.
All four of the coordinators mentioned are defensive-minded coaches and will be strong candidates in this cycle. We would easily put all four above Pierce and Kafka, and they are more intriguing than retreads like McCarthy and Joseph.
Their ability to provide a sound plan for Dart will be paramount for their hopes of landing Big Blue's gig, assuming they want it.
We wonder if the Giants will be hesitant to hire another first-time head coach, though, seeing as how the last two failed miserably.
More NFL News
- Patriots will tie NFL record with Week 18 win over Dolphins
- New Dolphins QB poached from Raiders had Tom Brady endorsement
- Matt Eberflus might have sealed his fate after taking shot at Cowboys
- Chiefs Super Bowl champ predicted to leave KC for $40M Titans deal