Giants linked to two possible HC candidates after Daboll firing

Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Giants linked to two possible HC candidates after Brian Daboll firing

By Ernesto Cova | Last updated Nov 11, 2025 10:17 AM ET

After another close loss and falling to 2-8, the New York Giants finally pulled the plug on head coach Brian Daboll.

That wasn't necessarily a surprising decision, given that he seemed to be on the hot seat at the beginning of the season.

Then again, with an improving offense despite some key injuries and given his seemingly close relationship with QB Jaxson Dart, the timing seemed a little off. With that in mind, NFL analyst Peter Schrager pointed to two candidates with local ties who could draw some consideration to replace Daboll.

Could Giants go after Jeff Hafley or Steve Spagnuolo?

Two names with strong NJ or Giants "connections"' I'd start keeping an eye on as NYG starts this thorough HC search:

1. Jeff Hafley, Packers DC, Montvale, NJ native; HC at Boston College 2020-2023

2. Steve Spagnuolo, Chiefs DC, Giants Super Bowl winning DC + onetime interim HC
— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) November 10, 2025

Even if so, perhaps the Giants will want to go in a different direction. As much as these two elite defensive coordinators deserve their shot, they might want to go with an offensive-minded coach to develop their young quarterback.

Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak is expected to be a sought-after commodity in the next hiring cycle. Other young coaches, like Kliff Kingsbury or Jim Bob Cooter, could also get a look.

The Giants have been better than their record shows. With a promising rookie signal-caller to build the team around, there should be no shortage of potential suitors.

Ernesto Cova

Ernesto is a bilingual (English-Spanish) sports writer with over eight years of experience covering major leagues such as the NBA, NFL, and MLB. Ernesto’s work focuses on providing insightful, up-to-date coverage of sports, blending his expertise in sports psychology with a passion for analyzing player performance, team dynamics, and trade developments across various sports leagues

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