Giants To Interview Jim Schwartz
The Giants have formally requested an interview with Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The interview is expected to take place this weekend in Philadelphia. 
[RELATED: 2018 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker]
As of Wednesday morning, the Giants had not submitted a request to speak with Schwartz, leading to speculation that the team had cooled on him. Apparently, that is not the case. It was reported last month that Schwartz might be the frontrunner for the job and that may still be the case now that the Giants have finally put the wheels in motion.
Here is the rundown of where things stand in the Giants’ head coaching search:
- Josh McDaniels, offensive coordinator (Patriots): To be interviewed on 1/5
- Matt Patricia, defensive coordinator (Patriots): Requested interview
- Jim Schwartz, defensive coordinator (Eagles): To be interviewed
- Pat Shurmur, offensive coordinator (Vikings): To be interviewed on 1/6
- Steve Spagnuolo, interim head coach/DC (Giants): To be interviewed on 1/3
- Eric Studesville, former assistant head coach/RBs (Broncos): To be interviewed on 1/5
- Steve Wilks, defensive coordinator (Panthers): Requested interview
Schwartz, meanwhile, is also up for the Cardinals’ vacancy.
Giants Cooling On Jim Schwartz?
UPDATE: The Giants submitted a request to interview Schwartz on Wednesday afternoon.
Late last month, it was reported that Jim Schwartz was among the favorites (or possibly the favorite) to become the next head coach of the Giants. It now seems possible that the Giants have cooled on him. To date, the Cardinals are the only team to have formally requested an interview with Schwartz, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via PFT). 
[RELATED: 2018 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker]
The Eagles defensive coordinator was thought to be among this year’s hottest coaching names. He was listed as one of the NFL’s Career Development Advisory Panel’s top candidates and he was quickly linked to the G-Men after Ben McAdoo was handed a pink slip. For one reason or another, the Giants may be having second thoughts about Schwartz.
It’s possible that the Giants fear fan backlash related to Schwartz’s rough tenure as the head coach of the Lions. It’s also possible that new GM Dave Gettleman isn’t as big of a fan of him as others in the organization. Whatever the case may be, it’s a situation to keep an eye on. Logic dictates that the Giants probably won’t consider him at all if they do not submit a request to speak with him in the coming days.
2018 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker
Several NFL teams are currently hunting for a new head coach, and amidst reports about interview requests and potential candidates, it’s easy to lose track of the latest updates in the shuffle. So we’ll use this space – which will be updated until every team has hired a new head coach – to keep track of the most recent news and rumors. It can be found on the right-hand sidebar under “PFR Features.”
Listed below are the head coaching candidates that have been linked to each of the teams with vacancies, along with their current status. If and when other teams decide to make head coaching changes, they’ll be added to this list. Here’s the current breakdown:
Updated 2-11-18 (2:35pm CT)
Arizona Cardinals
- Steve Wilks, defensive coordinator (Panthers): Hired
- Keith Armstrong, special teams coordinator (Falcons): Interviewed on 1/8; interviewed for a second time on 1/19
- James Bettcher, defensive coordinator (Cardinals): Interviewed on 1/3
- John DeFilippo, quarterbacks coach (Eagles): Interviewed 1/5; expected to receive second interview
- Brian Flores, linebackers coach (Patriots): Interviewed on 1/6; expected to receive second interview
- Matt Patricia, defensive coordinator (Patriots): Interviewed on 1/6
- Jim Schwartz, defensive coordinator (Eagles): Interviewed on 1/5
- Pat Shurmur, offensive coordinator (Vikings): Interviewed on 1/5
- Mike Munchak, offensive line coach (Steelers): Interviewed on 1/7; declined to take second interview
Chicago Bears
- Matt Nagy, offensive coordinator (Chiefs): Hired
- John DeFilippo, quarterbacks coach (Eagles): Interviewed on 1/6
- George Edwards, defensive coordinator (Vikings): Interviewed on 1/4
- Vic Fangio, defensive coordinator (Bears): Interviewed on 1/3
- Josh McDaniels, offensive coordinator (Patriots): Interviewed on 1/5
- Pat Shurmur, offensive coordinator (Vikings): Interviewed on 1/5
- Steve Wilks, defensive coordinator (Panthers): Requested interview
Detroit Lions
- Matt Patricia, defensive coordinator (Patriots): Hired
- Teryl Austin, defensive coordinator (Lions): Interviewed on 1/2
- Jim Bob Cooter, offensive coordinator (Lions): Interviewed on 1/2
- Winston Moss, assistant head coach/LBs (Packers): Interviewed on 1/4
- Pat Shurmur, offensive coordinator (Vikings): Interviewed on 1/4
- Mike Vrabel, defensive coordinator (Texans): Interviewed on 1/3
- Steve Wilks, defensive coordinator (Panthers): Declined to be interviewed
Indianapolis Colts
Second search
- Frank Reich, offensive coordinator (Eagles): Hired
- Dan Campbell, tight ends coach (Saints): Interviewed on 2/8
- Leslie Frazier, defensive coordinator (Bills): Interviewed on 2/10
- Dave Toub, special teams coordinator (Chiefs): Mentioned as candidate
Original search
- Josh McDaniels, offensive coordinator (Patriots): Announced as head coach; rejected position
- Kris Richard, defensive coordinator (Seahawks): Interviewed on 1/5
- Mike Vrabel, defensive coordinator (Texans): Interviewed on 1/6
- Matt Nagy, offensive coordinator (Chiefs): Interviewed on 1/7
- Matt Rhule, head coach (Baylor): Interviewed; withdrew from consideration
- Steve Wilks, defensive coordinator (Panthers): No longer scheduled to interview
New York Giants
- Pat Shurmur, offensive coordinator (Vikings): Hired
- Josh McDaniels, offensive coordinator (Patriots): Interviewed on 1/5
- Mike Munchak, offensive line coach (Steelers): Dark horse candidate?
- Matt Patricia, defensive coordinator (Patriots): Interviewed on 1/5
- Jim Schwartz, defensive coordinator (Eagles): Interview put on hold
- Steve Spagnuolo, interim head coach/DC (Giants): Interviewed on 1/3
- Eric Studesville, former assistant head coach/RBs (Broncos): Interviewed on 1/10
- Steve Wilks, defensive coordinator (Panthers): Interviewed on 1/9
Oakland Raiders
- Jon Gruden, ESPN commentator: Hired
- Bobby Johnson, tight ends coach (Raiders): Interviewed
- Tee Martin, offensive coordinator (USC): Interviewed
Tennessee Titans
- Mike Vrabel, defensive coordinator (Texans): Hired
- Josh McDaniels, offensive coordinator (Patriots): Mentioned as candidate
- Frank Reich, offensive coordinator (Eagles): Mentioned as candidate
- Matt LaFleur, offensive coordinator (Rams): Interviewed on 1/19
- Steve Wilks, defensive coordinator (Panthers): Interviewed on 1/18
Giants To Interview Pat Shurmur Saturday
Pat Shurmur will be a busy man this week. The Vikings offensive coordinator has four interviews lined up in the coming days, tweets Mike Garafolo of NFL.com: in addition to his previously reported Thursday meeting with the Lions, Shurmur will interview with the Cardinals (Thursday), Bears (Friday), and Giants (Saturday). Shurmur is currently linked to four vacancies in the NFL, tied with Panthers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks for tops among candidates. Given that Minnesota has secured a first-round playoff bye, Shurmur is free to interview as he chooses this week.
Giants To Interview Steve Spagnuolo On Wednesday
The Giants will initiate their head coaching interview process by meeting with interim head coach/defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo on Wednesday, per Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (Twitter link). 
Spagnuolo, 58, began his second stint as New York’s defensive play-caller in 2015, and subsequently took over as the club’s interim head coach after Ben McAdoo was fired earlier this season. In four games as head coach, Spagnuolo posted a record of 1-3. Nearly everything went wrong for the Giants in 2017, and Spagnuolo’s defense wasn’t immune to dysfunction, as the unit dealt with off-field issues en route to a No. 24 rating in defensive DVOA.
If new general manager Dave Gettleman does opt to retain Spagnuolo, he’ll be keeping someone with head coaching experience. Spagnuolo, who’s been an NFL coach since 1999, was the Rams’ head coach from 2009-11, but never finished with more than seven wins and posted a 10-38 overall record.
Meanwhile, the Giants put in a request to interview Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur for their head coaching vacancy, and that request has evidently been approved. Shurmur will interview with Big Blue on Saturday, tweets Garafolo.
Colts, Giants, Bears To Interview Josh McDaniels This Week
The Colts, Giants, and Bears will each interview Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels for their head coaching vacancies this week, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com and Ben Volin of the Boston Globe (Twitter links). Indianapolis will meet with McDaniels on Thursday, while New York and Chicago will interview him on Friday.
It’s not difficult to process why the Colts, Giants, or Bears — or any NFL club with a coaching vacancy — would express interest in McDaniels, as he’s fresh off leading New England to the No. 1 overall ranking in offensive DVOA. The Patriots also finished first in yards, second in scoring, and could soon see quarterback Tom Brady earn his third MVP award. Additionally, McDaniels is still only 41 years old, has prior head coaching experience, and offers the Bill Belichick-pedigree.
The Colts and Bears have thus far been linked to four candidates as they seek to replace Chuck Pagano and John Fox, respectively. Indianapolis will meet with McDaniels, Steve Wilks (Panthers), Kris Richard (Seahawks), and Mike Vrabel (Texans), while Chicago will interview McDaniels, Wilks, Pat Shurmur (Vikings), and John DeFilippo (Eagles). New York’s search, meanwhile, is six deep thus far: McDaniels, Wilks, Shurmur, Matt Patricia (Patriots), Jim Schwartz (Eagles), and Eric Studesville (ex-Broncos).
Giants To Interview Pat Shurmur
The Giants have requested to interview Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, according to ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan (on Twitter). The Vikings have the ability to block the interview, but they are expected to allow him to pursue this vacancy and the many others that he is in line for. 
Shurmur is already a hot candidate as the Bears, Cardinals, and Lions have already submitted requests to interview him. Last month, the league’s NFL’s Career Development Advisory Panel listed him as one of 12 recommended head coaching candidates. At this point, it seems likely that the Vikings will have to find themselves a new offensive coordinator for 2018.
Shurmer, 52, served as the Browns’ head coach in 2011 and 2012 and finished out with a disappointing 9-23 record. He was also the Eagles’ interim head coach for one game in 2015. His career win/loss record isn’t exactly a selling point, but he also didn’t have a lot to work with in Cleveland. This year, he’s earned another shot by transforming Case Keenum into a quality QB.
Of course, the Giants and other teams looking to hire Shurmur will have to work around the Vikings’ playoff schedule. Minnesota doesn’t start the postseason until January 14th, so he’ll likely have an opportunity to sit down with GM Dave Gettleman & Co. before the divisional round.
Shurmur joins Josh McDaniels and Matt Patricia of the Patriots, Panthers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, and former Broncos assistant head coach Eric Studesville candidates set to interview with the G-Men.
Giants To Interview Eric Studesville On Friday
The Giants are set to interview Eric Studesville for their head coaching job on Friday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Studesville was the Broncos’ assistant head coach/running backs coach for the Broncos until Monday when he was fired. 
The Giants moved quickly to hire a GM and their head coaching search may be conducted with the same sense of urgency in mind. Dave Gettleman & Co. already have a solid list of candidates after requesting permission to talk to Josh McDaniels and Matt Patricia of the Patriots as well as Panthers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks.
It was previously said that interim head coach/defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo would receive consideration for the full-time post, but it’s not clear if Gettleman views him as a candidate. Recently, Gettleman informed the team’s coaching staff that he will not stand in the way of any of them interviewing for jobs elsewhere.
Pugh Hopes To Remain With Giants In 2018
- Giants center Weston Richburg said he has been medically cleared from a concussion for about a month, Dan Duggan of NJ Advanced Media writes. Richburg said he wanted to return to the field but was unable to due to being placed on injured reserve. He suffered the concussion in Week 4 and missed the next three games before being placed on IR. Richburg is set to be a free agent in 2018.
- Also a free agent in 2018, Giants guard Justin Pugh hopes it works out and he can return to the team, ESPN’s Jordan Ranaan writes. Pugh suffered a season-ending back injury in December but it is expected to be healed in a month without surgery.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/1/18
Here are the latest reserve/futures contract signings from around the NFL. These deals will go into effect on the first day of the 2018 league year, with players joining their respective clubs’ offseason 90-man rosters:
Baltimore Ravens
- QB Josh Woodrum
- RB John Crockett
- FB Ricky Ortiz
- OT Steven Moore
Buffalo Bills
- WR Rod Streater
Chicago Bears
Cincinnati Bengals
- LB Carl Bradford
- K Jon Brown
- LB Connor Harris
- OT Javarius Leamon
- OG Oni Omoile
- TE Scott Orndoff
- CB Sojourn Shelton
- SS Robenson Therezie
- WR Kermit Whitfield
Cleveland Browns
- WR C.J. Board
- LB Austin Calitro
- DB Trevon Hartfield
- WR Bug Howard
- RB Josh Rounds
- OL Victor Salako
- DB B.W. Webb
- WR Kasen Williams
Denver Broncos
- DT Paul Boyette
- WR River Cracraft
- WR Jordan Leslie
- DE Stansly Maponga
- DB Jordan Moore
- TE Brian Parker
- WR Tim Patrick
- OT Jeremiah Poutasi
- LB Marcus Rush
- DE Jhaustin Thomas
Detroit Lions
- CB Adairius Barnes
- TE Brandon Barnes
- DE Alex Barrett
- WR Dontez Ford
- DT Toby Johnson
- C Leo Koloamatangi
- S Rolan Milligan
- T Dan Skipper
- QB Alek Torgersen
- DE Jeremiah Valoaga
Indianapolis Colts
- TE Mo Alie-Cox
- WR Dres Anderson
- DT Johnathan Calvin
- WR Kolby Listenbee
- LB Arthur Miley
- LB Josh Perry
- QB Phillip Walker
- G Isaiah Williams
New York Giants
- OL Ethan Cooper
- WR Amba Etta-Tawo
- K Marshall Koehn
- DB Jeremiah McKinnon
- P Austin Rehkow
- DB Tim Scott
- WR Canaan Severin
- DT Kristjan Sokoli
- DE Jordan Williams
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- WR Jake Lampman
Washington Redskins
- OL Alex Balducci
- DL Tavaris Barnes
- TE Chris Bazile
- RB Kenny Hilliard
- OL Cameron Jefferson
- OL John Kling
- LB Alex McCalister
- LB Cassanova McKinzy
- DL Ondre Pipkins
- DB James Sample
- S Orion Stewart