Ranking New York Giants Head Coach Candidates

Mike Kafka, the current interim head coach and offensive coordinator since 2022, is the obvious in-house option. He’s better off staying as the OC in New York.

Kafka wouldn’t exactly take the Giants to new heights. He’s done a respectable job as OC, but interim coaches typically don’t earn a permanent spot. He’s an easy hire, but probably won’t bring about much change.

6. Bill Belichick

A legend in NFL history and UNC’s current head coach, Bill Belichick, has been floated around for New York. He has a history with the organization, serving on the coaching staff from 1979 to 1990.

At 73 years old, it’s hard to tell how effective Belichick would be in the NFL. The tail end of his time in New England didn’t go extremely well, and his college coaching career isn’t off to a hot start.

Belichick has love for the Giants, but has said he wouldn’t leave UNC for an NFL job. Nothing is impossible, but this one seems unlikely.

5. Kliff Kingsbury

Kliff Kingsbury is the current offensive coordinator for the Washington Commanders and a former head coach of the Arizona Cardinals. He’s more than competent as a coordinator. What he did in Jayden Daniels’s rookie year was magic, so the sky could be the limit with Dart.

Kingsbury spent four seasons in Arizona, amassing a 28-37-1 record. He led them to an 11-6 record in 2021, before being fired after a 4-13 2022. He could be a great fit for the Giants, but there are still better options.

4. Mike McCarthy

Mike McCarthy’s name is heavily in the conversation for New York’s head coaching vacancy. He’s a former Super Bowl champion, and he’s only missed the playoffs six times in 18 seasons as a head coach.

McCarthy was unceremoniously let go by the Dallas Cowboys in 2025. He ended his four seasons there with a 49-35 record. Some believe he got a raw deal from Dallas and could still coach at a high level.

3. Jon Gruden

Whether or not Jon Gruden is a great option for the Giants is up for interpretation. He’s a Super Bowl-winning head coach, granted it was back in 2003. His most recent head coaching tenure with the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders also turned into a bit of a mess.

Following some legal troubles between Gruden and the NFL, he seems to be back in good graces with sports media. He loves Dart and has been praising him all season long. He has the perfect personality for New York, but does he still have the coaching skills?

2. Klint Kubiak

It’s entirely too soon to throw Klint Kubiak’s name into the ring for head coaching jobs, but he’s doing a tremendous job. The first-year offensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks has Sam Darnold looking like a top-10 quarterback.

Kubiak has spent time with several NFL teams over his career, but is now catching fire in Seattle. He may not want to leave after just one season, but a strong offer could change anyone’s mind. Imagine what he could do with a QB like Dart.

1. Marcus Freeman

Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman is, while unlikely, a terrific option for the Giants. This team has a killer defense, and should make that its identity. Who better to do that than a former linebacker, turned defensive coordinator, turned head coach?

Freeman took over Notre Dame late in the 2021 season, only coaching one game that year. In the time since then, he’s put together a 40-12 record and is 5-2 in bowl games. He also led the Fighting Irish to a National Championship appearance last year.

Freeman would be new blood in the NFL, but he knows what it takes to win. At just 39 years old, he can bring a fresh energy to a team that desperately needs it.

End Of My New York Giants Rant

The Giants have a massively important decision to make in 2026. They’re likely already weighing candidates just days after Daboll’s departure. General manager Joe Schoen might be on thin ice now as well, and choosing the right coach can make or break his job.