The New York Giants were the first NFL team to fire its head coach this season, dismissing both Ben McAdoo and general manager Jerry Reese in December. With Dave Gettleman now in place as the team’s new GM, the search for a new coach begins in 2018.
Gettleman has already stated that Eli Manning is his starting quarterback in 2018, though that, of course, is far from in stone. Manning is coming off the worst season of his NYC tenure, and there really isn’t any reason to believe that he can resurrect his career and lead the Giants to a Super Bowl at this point.
“I think it has to be somebody who either has had head coaching experience or at least has been a coordinator for a significant period of time,” said Giants’ owner John Mara. “If you don’t have that, the odds are really stacked against you. It’s not impossible for you to succeed without that, but I think the more experience that that individual has, as either a head coach or as a coordinator on either side of the ball, is very important.
Effectively, that rules out a number of the younger coordinators in the NFL who are up and coming such as Frank Reich or Matt Nagy.
2018 NFL Head Coach Odds & Candidates
Chicago Bears
Detroit Lions
Indianapolis Colts
Though Mara has stated that he isn’t necessarily looking for someone with experience on either side of the ball in particular, you have to think that the Giants are going to want someone with an offensive mind. Immediately, that brings up Josh McDaniels, New England’s offensive coordinator, and a man who has certainly earned a second chance at a head coaching gig.
McDaniels was still just 33 years old at the time he was in charge of the Broncos, and he was handicapped with Kyle Orton and Tim Tebow as his starting quarterbacks during his time at Mile High.
The Giants formally requested permission of the Patriots to speak with both McDaniels and defensive coordinator Matt Patricia on Monday. Both men figure to have interviews with Gettleman and the brass of the Giants in the next few days.
The fit makes sense, not just because McDaniels might be able to get the best out of Manning, but because he might be the right guy to groom the next quarterback in line. For all that Tebow did wrong during his NFL career, the fact that he was ultimately able to win a playoff game the next season should be at least somewhat attributed to what McDaniels brought out of him during his rookie campaign.
Should the Giants look for a defensive mind, Jim Schwartz will be at the top of their list. Schwartz was relatively unsuccessful as the Lions head coach from 2009 through 2013, but he has since led the rebirth of the Eagles defense.
On Monday, BetDSI.eu posted odds on who will be the Giants’ head coach in Week 1 of the 2018 season. McDaniels is the +200 favorite.
New York Giants Head Coach in Week 1 of the 2018 Regular Season
Josh McDaniels +200
Jim Schwartz +300
Mike Shula +800
Matt Patricia +800
Steve Wilks +900
Mike Munchak +1200
Mike Smith +15000
Brian Kelly +20000
Nick Saban +50000
Field -150
