Steve Wilks No Longer In Running For Giants’ Job?
The full assortment of Giants decision-makers only attended the Steve Wilks HC interview earlier this week, with co-owner Steve Tisch joining Big Blue brass in meeting with the Panthers’ DC. But Wilks may have to concentrate on other options going forward.
The Giants are believed to be down to three finalists for their top coaching job: Vikings OC Pat Shurmur and Patriots coordinators Matt Patricia and Josh McDaniels. Wilks did not make the cut after the first round of meetings, Paul Schwartz of the New York Post reports.
Each of these coaches are preparing for divisional-round games, so the Giants look to be willing to wait to make their hire. Patricia is said to prefer the Giants to the Lions, who were once reported to have zeroed in on Patricia as the favorite to land their job. McDaniels might be a better bet to become the next Colts coach as well; he interviewed for both Indianapolis and New York’s HC vacancies. The Cardinals are also in on Shurmur.
An unofficial agreement could be reached between the Giants and one of these candidates, a la the 49ers’ process with Kyle Shanahan, but New York must wait until the Vikings or Patriots is eliminated to make an official hire.
Schwartz notes the Giants believe McDaniels would work well with their next quarterback, or with Eli Manning, and the team may view Shurmur as the most well-rounded candidate. The New York-based reporter adds the Giants are also concerned McDaniels might still not be ready, considering what happened the first time he was a head coach, and might not be comfortable with a strong GM presence. The Giants are also unsure, per Schwartz, Patricia brings the “CEO-type” leadership Dave Gettleman covets in an HC.
Giants To Interview Steve Wilks Again?
- It sounds like Panthers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks will get second interviews with the Cardinals and Colts and he may also get a second go ’round with the Giants, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.It’s worth noting that Giants chairman Steve Tisch sat in on Wilks’ interview, which may be a sign that the team is serious about hiring him. As shown on PFR’s Head Coaching Search Tracker, Wilks may also be in the mix for the Lions’ vacancy.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/10/18
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:
Buffalo Bills
Chicago Bears
- CB Jonathon Mincy
Cleveland Browns
Dallas Cowboys
Green Bay Packers
New York Giants
- LB Thurston Armbrister
- OL Laurence Gibson
- RB Jalen Simmons
New York Jets
Matt Patricia Prefers Giants To Lions
The Patriots are bracing for Matt Patricia to leave, but it might not be for the Lions’ head coaching job. The defensive guru is also up for the Giants’ job and he prefers the G-Men to the Lions, Peter King of The MMQB hears. 
[RELATED: PFR’s 2018 Head Coaching Search Tracker]
If Patricia is offered the Giants’ head coaching position and accepts, it will have a domino effect reaching Detroit and beyond. If Patricia goes to the Giants, the Lions may pivot to Houston defensive coordinator Mike Vrabel, King hears. If that happens, Vrabel would be out of the running for the Colts’ HC job.
The Giants were abysmal in 2017, but they have lots of talent to work with on defense including cornerback Janoris Jenkins and defensive ends Jason Pierre-Paul and Olivier Vernon. If Patricia can get underperforming youngsters like Eli Apple on the right track, the Giants could return to having one of the better defensive units in the NFL. The Giants also have the No. 2 overall pick at their disposal, so Patricia’s preference towards New York is understandable.
Nick Saban Not Interested In Giants’ Job
Former Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians caused a stir today by hinting Alabama head coach Nick Saban — fresh off a National Championship — could be interested in the Giants’ head coaching vacancy. However, those rumors can be quickly stamped out, as Saban does not have any interest in coming to New York, according to Paul Schwartz of the New York Post (Twitter link). 
“It would not surprise me,” Arians said, when asked by FOX Sports’ Colin Cowherd if Saban would take the Giants’ position (Twitter link) . “And there’s a job he covets. It just happens to be open. But he’s got a dynasty right now, another dynamite recruiting class. Why he would do it, I don’t know, but it wouldn’t shock me if he did.”
Saban, of course, has spent time in the NFL both as a head coach and defensive coordinator, and memorably posted a 15-17 record with the Dolphins from 2006-07 before abruptly leaving to head back to the college game. Since then, he’s been remarkably successful, managing five titles with the Crimson Tide while sending a bevy of first-round picks to the pros.
Thus far, the Giants have interviewed six candidates in their bid to replace Ben McAdoo. Here’s where things stand:
- Josh McDaniels, offensive coordinator (Patriots): Interviewed on 1/5
- Matt Patricia, defensive coordinator (Patriots): Interviewed on 1/5
- Jim Schwartz, defensive coordinator (Eagles): Interview put on hold
- Pat Shurmur, offensive coordinator (Vikings): Interviewed on 1/6
- Steve Spagnuolo, interim head coach/DC (Giants): Interviewed on 1/3
- Eric Studesville, former assistant head coach/RBs (Broncos): To be interviewed on 1/10
- Steve Wilks, defensive coordinator (Panthers): Interviewed on 1/9
Giants Chairman To Sit In On Steve Wilks Interview
If the Giants want to, they can close things out with Steve Wilks today. Giants chairman Steve Tisch will sit on on Tuesday’s interview with the head coaching candidate, sources tell Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). 
Garafolo cautions that Wilks is not necessarily the favorite for the job. This is also his first interview, so he’ll have to really blow the Giants away in order to secure the job. Then again, the Giants know that they’ll risk losing Wilks if they allow him to continue his tour. The Cardinals, Lions, and Colts all plan on speaking with Wilks in the coming days, as shown on PFR’s Head Coaching Search Tracker.
In addition to Wilks, the G-Men are also considering Josh McDaniels, Matt Patricia, Jim Schwartz (though his interview has been put on hold), Pat Shurmur, Steve Spagnuolo, and Eric Studesville.
Giants Get First Steve Wilks Meeting
The Giants will complete both Wilks’ and Eric Studesville‘s interviews by Wednesday, with the former Broncos running backs coach set for a Wednesday powwow, per ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan (Twitter link). This duo will mark the fifth and sixth interviews the Giants will have conducted. After these summits, Big Blue management could be ready to make a decision. With the Eagles still in the playoffs and no Jim Schwartz interview conducted, it could put the Giants to a decision: wait on Schwartz and risk losing some of these aforementioned candidates or hire one of them instead.
Steve Wilks has set up three interviews for this week. The Giants will receive the first opportunity to meet with the Panthers’ DC, with ESPN.com’s Josina Anderson reporting (on Twitter) Wilks will trek to New Jersey to meet with the Dave Gettleman-led group on Tuesday before flying to Arizona to meet with the Cardinals on Wednesday. Following those meetings, the Colts will host Wilks on Thursday, Mike Wells of ESPN.com tweets. These aren’t the only teams interested in securing a sitdown with Wilks. The Lions remain interested in doing so as well, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets.
The Giants will complete both Wilks’ and Eric Studesville‘s interviews by Wednesday, with the former Broncos running backs coach set for a Wednesday powwow, per ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan (Twitter link). This duo will mark the fifth and sixth interviews the Giants will have conducted. After these summits, Big Blue management could be ready to make a decision. With the Eagles still in the playoffs and no Jim Schwartz interview conducted, it could put the Giants to a decision: wait on Schwartz and risk losing some of these aforementioned candidates or hire one of them instead.
- The Browns‘ interviews with OC candidates Ken Zampese and Sean Ryan will take place this week. Rapoport reports (via Twitter) Zampese will receive the first meeting, which will occur today, with Ryan’s interview scheduled for Wednesday. A second-generation NFL assistant, Zampese spent the past 15 seasons with the Bengals before his second year as OC ended after just two games. A nine-year Giants staffer who is currently the Texans’ QBs coach, Ryan does not have any history with Hue Jackson like Zampese does.
Giants/Josh McDaniels Union Unlikely?
- A Josh McDaniels/Giants union is at least a possibility, with Dave Gettleman and Co. interviewing the Patriots’ OC this week. But ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano does not foresee this hire happening, viewing McDaniels as likely to end up elsewhere and noting both he and the Giants might not be each other’s first choices (Twitter links). McDaniels has met with the Giants, Colts and Bears. Graziano speculates (via Twitter) the Colts are the likely frontrunners.
- The Giants have not hired a GM that didn’t have ties to the team since George Young in 1979, and Tom Rock of Newsday notes Kevin Abrams may be in line to succeed Dave Gettleman down the line. The newly hired general manager is 66 years old and kept the 46-year-old Abrams on as assistant GM while firing another Giants GM interviewee in Marc Ross. Abrams has been the Giants’ assistant GM for the past 16 seasons, serving in this post now through three GMs’ tenures. The longtime exec has been sitting in on the franchise’s HC interviews this time as well.
Giants To Interview Eric Studesville Tuesday
- Former Broncos assistant head coach/running backs Eric Studesville was scheduled to interview for the Giants‘ head coaching vacancy over the weekend, but weather-related concerns forced that meeting to be pushed back. Instead, New York will interview Studesville on Tuesday, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. Studesville, who had been employed in Denver since 2010, was fired earlier this week. While he’s never been a head coach, the 50-year-old Studesville did serve as an interim HC during the 2010 campaign.
2018 Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Tracker
While at least six NFL teams are making head coaching changes this offseason, the number of clubs replacing offensive and/or defensive coordinators figures to be much higher than that. In addition to all those teams hiring new head coaches, who may want to bring in their own assistants, several clubs also figure to make changes on one side of the ball or the other after getting disappointing results in 2017. And, of course, the teams whose coordinators landed head coaching jobs will need to replace them.
With reports circulating on potential candidates, interview requests, and actual meetings, we’ll use the space below to keep tabs on all the latest updates on teams hiring new offensive and/or defensive coordinators. This post, which will be updated daily, can be found under the “PFR Features” menu on the right-hand side of the site.
Updated 3-6-18 (5:53pm CT)
Offensive Coordinators
Arizona Cardinals (Out: Harold Goodwin)
- Mike McCoy, former head coach (Chargers): Hired
- Darrell Bevell, offensive coordinator (Seahawks): Interviewed on 1/22
- John DeFilippo, quarterbacks coach (Eagles): Mentioned as candidate
Buffalo Bills (Out: Rick Dennison)
- Brian Daboll, offensive coordinator (Alabama): Hired
- Rob Chudzinski, offensive coordinator (Colts): Mentioned as candidate
- Mike McCoy, former offensive coordinator (Broncos): Won’t be considered
Carolina Panthers (Out: Mike Shula)
- Norv Turner, former offensive coordinator (Vikings): Hired
Chicago Bears (Out: Dowell Loggains)
- Mark Helfrich, former head coach (Oregon): Hired
Cincinnati Bengals
- Bill Lazor, interim offensive coordinator (Bengals): Retained
Cleveland Browns (vacant)
- Todd Haley, former offensive coordinator (Steelers): Hired
- Ben McAdoo, former head coach (Giants): Interviewed on 1/16
- Mike Mularkey, former head coach (Titans): Mentioned as candidate
- Sean Ryan, quarterbacks coach (Texans): Interviewed on 1/10
- Ken Zampese, former offensive coordinator (Bengals): To be interviewed?; hired as QBs coach
Denver Broncos
- Bill Musgrave, interim offensive coordinator (Broncos): Retained
Detroit Lions
- Jim Bob Cooter, offensive coordinator (Lions): Retained
Green Bay Packers (Out: Edgar Bennett)
- Joe Philbin, assistant head coach/offensive line (Colts): Hired
- Ben McAdoo, former head coach (Giants): Mentioned as candidate
- James Campen, offensive line coach (Packers): Mentioned as candidate
Indianapolis Colts (Out: Rob Chudzinski)
- Nick Sirianni, wide receivers coach (Chargers): Hired
- Darrell Bevell, former offensive coordinator (Seahawks): Viewed as top target
- Jake Peetz, quarterbacks coach (Raiders): No longer expected to be hired
Kansas City Chiefs (Out: Matt Nagy)
- Eric Bieniemy, running backs coach (Chiefs): Promoted
Miami Dolphins (Out: Clyde Christensen)
- Dowell Loggains, former offensive coordinator (Bears): Hired
Minnesota Vikings (Out: Pat Shurmur)
- John DeFilippo, quarterbacks coach (Eagles): To be hired
- Darrell Bevell, former offensive coordinator (Seahawks): Interviewed on 1/26
- Dan Campbell, tight ends coach (Saints): Interviewed on 1/30
- Ben McAdoo, former head coach (Giants): Mentioned as candidate
- Mike McCoy, former offensive coordinator (Broncos): Mentioned as candidate
- Sean Ryan, quarterbacks coach (Texans): Interviewed on 1/29
- Kevin Stefanski, quarterbacks coach (Vikings): Iinterviewed on 1/27-1/28
New York Giants (Out: Mike Sullivan)
- Mike Shula, former offensive coordinator (Panthers): To be hired
- Darrell Bevell, former offensive coordinator (Seahawks): Mentioned as candidate
- John DeFilippo, quarterbacks coach (Eagles): Mentioned as candidate
- Harold Goodwin, former offensive coordinator (Cardinals): Mentioned as candidate
- Deuce Staley, running backs coach (Eagles): Mentioned as candidate
- Kevin Stefanski, quarterbacks coach (Vikings): Denied permission to interview
New York Jets (Out: John Morton)
- Jeremy Bates, quarterbacks coach (Jets): Promoted
- Todd Haley, former offensive coordinator (Steelers): Mentioned as candidate
Oakland Raiders (Out: Todd Downing)
- Greg Olson, quarterbacks coach (Rams): Hired
- John Morton, offensive coordinator (Jets): Mentioned as candidate
Philadelphia Eagles (Out: Frank Reich)
- Mike Groh, wide receivers coach (Eagles): To be hired
- Duce Staley, running backs coach (Eagles): Interviewed on 2/19
Pittsburgh Steelers (Out: Todd Haley)
- Randy Fichtner, quarterbacks coach (Steelers): Promoted
- Kirby Wilson, former running backs coach (Browns): Mentioned as candidate
Seattle Seahawks (Out: Darrell Bevell)
- Brian Schottenheimer, quarterbacks coach (Colts): Hired
- John DeFilippo, quarterbacks coach (Eagles): Seahawks had interest
- Steve Sarkisian, offensive coordinator (Falcons): Mentioned as candidate, Falcons won’t allow interview
Tennessee Titans (Out: Terry Robiskie)
- Matt LaFleur, offensive coordinator (Rams): Hired
- Brian Callahan, former quarterbacks coach (Lions): Interviewed on 1/24
- Ryan Day, co-offensive coordinator (Ohio State): Will not be hired
Defensive Coordinators
Arizona Cardinals (Out: James Bettcher)
- Al Holcomb, linebackers coach (Panthers): Hired
Baltimore Ravens (Out: Dean Pees)
- Don Martindale, linebackers coach (Ravens): Promoted
- Teryl Austin, defensive coordinator (Lions): Mentioned as candidate
- Chuck Pagano, former head coach (Colts): Ravens had interest
Carolina Panthers (Out: Steve Wilks)
- Eric Washington, defensive line coach (Panthers): Promoted
Chicago Bears
- Vic Fangio, defensive coordinator (Bears): Retained
Cincinnati Bengals (Out: Paul Guenther)
- Teryl Austin, defensive coordinator (Lions): Hired
- Vic Fangio, defensive coordinator (Bears): Bengals had interest
- Paul Guenther, defensive coordinator (Bengals): Bengals had hoped to retain
Detroit Lions
- Paul Pasqualoni, defensive line coach (Boston College): Hired
Green Bay Packers (Out: Dom Capers)
- Mike Pettine, former head coach (Browns): Hired
- Teryl Austin, defensive coordinator (Lions): Interview permission denied
- Gus Bradley, defensive coordinator (Chargers): Interview requested
- Vic Fangio, defensive coordinator (Bears): Viewed as top target
- Winston Moss, assistant head coach/linebackers (Packers): Interviewed
- Darren Perry, safeties coach (Packers): Interviewed on 1/8
- Joe Whitt, cornerbacks coach (Packers): Interviewed
Houston Texans (Out: Mike Vrabel)
- Romeo Crennel, assistant head coach (Texans): Hired
Indianapolis Colts (Out: Ted Monachino)
- Matt Eberflus, linebackers coach (Cowboys): Hired
Los Angeles Chargers
- Gus Bradley, defensive coordinator (Chargers): Retained
New England Patriots (Out: Matt Patricia)
- Brian Flores, linebackers coach (Patriots): Will call defenisve plays
- Aaron Glenn, secondary coach (Saints): Mentioned as candidate
New York Giants
- James Bettcher, former defensive coordinator (Cardinals): Hired
- Jack Del Rio, former head coach (Raiders): Viewed as frontrunner
- Steve Spagnuolo, defensive coordinator (Giants): Possible to remain in place
Oakland Raiders (Out: John Pagano)
- Paul Guenther, defensive coordinator (Bengals): Hired
Seattle Seahawks (Out: Kris Richard)
- Ken Norton Jr., former defensive coordinator (Raiders): Hired
Tennessee Titans (Out: Dick LeBeau)
- Dean Pees, former defensive coordinator (Ravens): Hired
- Darren Perry, cornerbacks coach (Packers): Mentioned as candidate
- James Bettcher, former defensive coordinator (Cardinals): Interviewed on 1/23
