Giants Would Not Have Changed Reporting Structure For Another HC; Titans, John Harbaugh Remained In Contact
The Giants considered other candidates, but this year’s first team to make a hire made no secret of John Harbaugh‘s frontrunner status. After a near-three-day delay, the longtime Ravens coach officially took the reins with the Giants on Saturday.
A key part of the delay stemmed from reporting structure. The Giants had previously had their head coach report to the GM, who in turn reported to ownership. Harbaugh confirmed last week he will join GM Joe Schoen in reporting to ownership. Had the Giants hired another coach, however, senior personnel consultant Chris Mara said (via The Athletic’s Dan Duggan) the team would not have signed off on that coach reporting directly to ownership.
Mara also indicated the Giants wanted the deal done before playoff teams could make strong pitches. We heard of potential Bills and Packers interest; the Buffalo job is now available. Mara and Harbaugh had not met before a summit at the coach’s home, but the two have been regularly communicating since that initial meeting. Chris Mara is taking on more responsibilities with brother John Mara battling cancer.
Harbaugh carried considerable leverage, being the rumored favorite in a few cities. The Titans had a big offer prepared, but the Giants convinced the high-profile coaching free agent not to take that meeting. The Falcons did meet with Harbaugh virtually but were unable to schedule a second interview.
A high Giants salary, believed to be around $20MM per year, played into that. The Giants made a strong first offer, per The Athletic’s Ian O’Connor, who reports New York initially came in at $18.5MM AAV. O’Connor confirms Harbaugh will make $20MM per year; that sits $13MM north of what the Giants were paying Brian Daboll.
The Giants and Harbaugh entered negotiations about a deal on January 15, but the sides did not have a signed agreement until Jan. 18. Although Harbaugh had canceled his Titans in-person interview, O’Connor reports the AFC South team remained in communication with the coach’s camp during the time between his Giants talks and the agreement becoming official. Other teams wondered if the delay in Harbaugh finalizing his Giants deal meant there was trouble afoot, and O’Connor adds at least one other club was set to make a nine-figure offer to the Super Bowl-winning HC if his Giants talks fizzled. The Falcons hired Kevin Stefanski hours after the official Harbaugh agreement; the Titans hired Robert Saleh on Monday night.
A Friday report indicated Schoen’s status served as an impediment during the Giants’ negotiations, but Harbaugh is signed to work with the fifth-year GM. Schoen confirmed Tuesday (via Duggan) he is “not worried” about both he and Harbaugh reporting to ownership, though this is a major change in Giants business.
Schoen is coming off three straight double-digit loss seasons, but Giants ownership let him run the coaching search. No Trent Baalke-like situation formed, as the Giants were able to bring Harbaugh aboard with Schoen still employed. Though, this partnership will be worth monitoring given Harbaugh’s power.
As the Giants-Harbaugh talks dragged on, the coach and Chris Mara met at an undisclosed location Friday, O’Connor adds. Though, Harbaugh did respond with a shrug emoji (to The Athletic) in a text message regarding his belief he would end up as Giants HC as of Friday night. The Giants’ reporting structure had been in place dating back to Bill Parcells, who reported to Hall of Fame GM George Young. Fellow two-time Super Bowl winner Tom Coughlin reported to Ernie Accorsi and then Jerry Reese, but Harbaugh possessed enough leverage to convince the Giants to change up. Coughlin helped arrange one of the Harbaugh-Mara meetings, ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan notes.
While Harbaugh called the reporting structure issue “overblown,” it is clear this was important to the second-chance HC. Mara added (via Raanan) Harbaugh does not have true final say, calling it “collaborative.” It would still stand to reason Harbaugh will hold the hammer over Schoen, given the latter’s struggles and the Giants altering their long-held workflow.
“I know that’s a big deal around here: ‘Final say,'” Mara said. “[Harbaugh] doesn’t have final say. It’s collaborative, and he’s the first to admit that. If he has final say with everything in that building, he wouldn’t be able to do his job. He’s going to be the most important cog in the wheel. Let’s put it that way. But in terms of final say, this is going to be a collaborative effort between ownership, general manager and coach.”
Schoen said (via Duggan) no Ravens front office staffers, as of now, are following Harbaugh to New York. Front office contracts generally run through the draft, though, so May could be a more notable point on the calendar with regards to any Baltimore-to-New York treks. But the Giants will be expected to target ex-Ravens in free agency, SNY’s Connor Hughes notes.
Baltimore has some notable players unsigned for 2026. All-Pro center Tyler Linderbaum has been a Ravens priority, but he is not a franchise tag candidate due to the tag formula grouping all O-line salaries together. This leads to guards being rarely tagged; centers always skate to free agency. Baltimore also has guard starter Daniel Faalele, tight end Isaiah Likely, safety Ar’Darius Washington and fullback Patrick Ricard set for free agency.
The Giants have used John Michael Schmitz as their starting center since drafting him in the 2023 second round, but the Minnesota product has not graded well yet. Linderbaum will be one of the most coveted free agents available if he reaches the market. With Todd Monken likely to become the Giants’ OC, an aggressive Linderbaum pursuit would make sense. While the veteran wants to stay in Baltimore, he and the Ravens were not close on a deal as of mid-November. The Ravens have exclusive negotiating rights with pending UFAs until the legal tampering period begins March 9.
Giants Finalize Deal To Hire John Harbaugh As Head Coach
The Giants have finalized a five-year deal with John Harbaugh to make him the team’s new head coach, per Ian Rapoport, Mike Garafolo, and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
“I’m proud and honored to the head coach of this historic franchise, and especially excited to work with the Mara and Tisch families,” Harbaugh said (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter). “But most of all, I can’t wait to get started with the great players on this football team to see what we can accomplish together.” The 63-year-old is set to host his first press conference as the Giants’ head coach on Tuesday, per Garafolo.
Harbaugh emerged as the leading candidate for the Giants’ head coaching vacancy shortly after he was fired by the Ravens last week. He visited New York on Wednesday for a lengthy in-person meeting, but no deal came together before Harbaugh flew back to his (current) home in Baltimore. On Wednesday night, however, it was reported that Harbaugh accepted the job, which kicked off a multi-day process to finalize the agreement. The five-year deal is expected to be worth at least $100MM, per FOX Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano, keeping Harbaugh as one of the highest-paid coaches in the league.
Compensation, however, was not the reason for this week’s delay, as that sum was agreed upon early in the negotiating process, according to Garafolo. Instead, Harbaugh wanted to change the Giants’ leadership hierarchy into one that more resembled the Ravens’. In the past, New York’s head coach has reported to the team’s general manager, who in turn reported to ownership, but in Baltimore, Harbaugh reported directly to owner Steve Bisciotti. The Giants agreed to Harbaugh’s terms and formalized the new reporting structure in his contract, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer.
“I report to [Giants owner] John Mara,” Harbaugh confirmed (via The Athletic’s Ian O’Connor). He added that he looks forward to forming a strong partnership with general manager Joe Schoen, who was a key part of the Giants’ full-court press to land the veteran head coach. It remains to be seen if there will be any other formal division of powers beyond the reporting structure written into Harbaugh’s deal.
Harbaugh will now get to work building his coaching staff. The Giants promised to spare no expense in hiring his assistants, many of whom will likely come from his previous staffs in Baltimore. Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken is considered the top candidate for the Giants’ OC job, though he is also scheduled for a second head coaching interview with the Browns. Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, who was Harbaugh’s assistant head coach in Baltimore in 2022 and 2023, is at the top of the team’s list of DC candidates.
After Harbaugh hires his top lieutenants, he will work with them to hire the rest of his staff. The Giants have already notified some of their incumbent coaches that they will be moving in a different direction, per The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson.
At the same time, Harbaugh – and his new staff, as they come aboard – will get to work evaluating New York’s roster to prepare for the offseason. None will be more important than quarterback Jaxson Dart, who Harbaugh had already scouted in advance of his trip to New York, where the two got some face time.
“I’m very excited about these players,” Harbaugh said (via O’Connor). “I spoke with Jaxson two or three times at length & I couldn’t be more impressed with him. Watched him on tape, he had a heckuva rookie season and he’s got the right mindset. That is one tough dude.”
Harbaugh coached a few current Giants during his time in Baltimore, including linebacker Chris Board and safety Beau Brade. Pending free agent right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor started his career as a Ravens fifth-round pick in 2017, and offensive lineman Reid Holskey spent his first NFL training camp under Harbaugh last summer. In general, though, he will be working with a brand-new group of players.
“I think the Giants roster is strong and it’s our job to make it stronger,” Harbaugh continued, per O’Connor. “We are going to compete for the playoffs and for championships. I expect and want to make the playoffs next year.”
That proclamation will gladden the hearts of Giants fans who have only witnessed two playoff berths since the team’s 2011 Super Bowl victory. New York has gone through multiple attempted rebuilds since, including their latest effort led by Schoen and Daboll that featured a wild card win in their first year and a 13-38 record since. Daboll was removed in November with the team headed for its third straight season with double-digit losses.
Consistent playoff appearances were a hallmark of Harbaugh’s time in Baltimore. The Ravens made the postseason in 12 of his 18 seasons as head coach, including five straight berths to start his tenure, culminating in a 2012 Super Bowl win. In the last eight seasons with Lamar Jackson, the team qualified for the playoffs six times, though Baltimore never won more than one game in a single postseason. Those struggles, as well as a concerning pattern of blown double-digit leads, were ultimately the impetus behind Harbaugh’s firing in Baltimore.
Harbaugh will be looking to bring that regular-season success to New York along with the strong culture and coaching staff he built in Baltimore. The Giants have a tight cap situation at the moment, but they could use Harbaugh’s reputation to draw a strong free agent class at more affordable prices. The team is also slated for the No. 5 pick in April’s draft, which will be one of Harbaugh’s biggest early decisions as a head coach.
Joe Schoen’s Status Factoring Into Giants’ Delay With John Harbaugh?
Early in the Giants’ John Harbaugh courtship, a rumor suggested the high-profile HC free agent would not have an issue working with GM Joe Schoen. The Giants are planning to retain Schoen, but the embattled exec’s status may be a factor in Harbaugh’s deal not being done yet.
As of Friday afternoon, the deal is not done. The sides were working on contract language this morning, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who adds money is not believed to be an issue. Harbaugh is expected to receive a deal in the $20MM-per-year range, which will place him among the NFL’s highest-paid HCs.
But an issue may be forming with regard to organizational power. Rumblings have emerged Schoen’s role in the Giants’ new setup has been a partial cause of this delay, according to the New York Daily News’ Pat Leonard. Harbaugh, 63, was believed to have a Titans offer in place. He also appeared to be the Falcons’ top choice, and the Browns wanted to meet with him. This created considerable leverage, and it should translate to the 18-year HC veteran having at least some personnel say.
Schoen certainly is not in a position to win a power struggle here, but he is believed to have spoken with Harbaugh many times since his Ravens firing. That would point to the four-year Giants GM being in the team’s Harbaugh-era plan, but Leonard adds several sources informed him Harbaugh would likely want Schoen gone or at least see the GM’s power reduced. This could lead to a setup with Harbaugh carrying final personnel say, should he want it.
The Giants are prepared to give Harbaugh a monster deal to succeed Brian Daboll, who had come over from Buffalo with Schoen. It would be odd for Giants ownership, who needed to confirm Schoen was merely keeping his job for 2025, to back a GM who has yet to produce a 10-win season. There are likely more factors at play here, but Schoen’s role being one of them is interesting.
Any Harbaugh proposed changes to Schoen-overseen departments were expected to “create discomfort” during the process, per Leonard. Schoen’s modernization of the Giants’ operation was believed to be a selling point for the team, which kept him after firing Daboll in November. Potential moves to remove staffers with ties to ownership, with the potential for Harbaugh to bring in some of his own people, also loom as an issue.
We have seen new coaching hires lead to GM changes recently. The Jaguars booted Trent Baalke because his presence running their HC search was impeding a chance to hire strong candidates, and Liam Coen signed on shortly after that firing. In 2019, the Jets fired Mike Maccagnan after his first draft with new HC hire Adam Gase. In 2017, the Bills made the same move with Doug Whaley, ousting him months after hiring Sean McDermott. Eventually, GMs handpicked by the coaches — Joe Douglas, Brandon Beane — arrived in those AFC East cities post-draft.
Schoen said he did not envision his presence hurting the Giants’ GM search, and Harbaugh making New York his first visit pointed to a future working with Schoen. But this process dragging on has certainly become interesting. Considering the role Schoen has played in the Harbaugh search, it would surprise if the Giants traveled down this road. But this will be a situation to monitor as the team continues work on hammering out the expected HC’s contract.
Latest On John Harbaugh: Giants, Contract, Manning, Staff, Titans, Falcons
John Harbaugh‘s impending deal with the Giants will make him one of the highest-paid coaches in the league. According to Jordan Schultz, the contract is expected to be worth nearly $100MM over five years.
[RELATED: John Harbaugh Expected To Become Giants’ Next HC, Pending Finalized Agreement]
It’s not a surprise that Harbaugh will earn such a lucrative payday; there were rumblings that the Giants were basically willing to pay him whatever he wanted. The nearly $20MM average annual salary would top the rumored $17MM annual salary he was earning in Baltimore, and it would rival the lucrative contracts signed by Andy Reid ($20MM/year) and Sean Payton ($18MM/year).
Of course, money wasn’t the only reason that Harbaugh committed to the Giants, as it sounds like other suitors were willing to open the check books for the former Super Bowl-winning coach. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Titans had an offer ready for Harbaugh and were willing to do whatever it took to get him in Tennessee. Harbaugh had a meeting scheduled with the Titans for this morning, and Rapoport notes that Titans leadership was indeed planning to fly to the coach’s Maryland home today. However, the organization was informed last night that Harbaugh was finalizing his deal with the Giants.
Harbaugh did his research prior to his handshake deal with the Giants, reaching out to coaches, executives, and even former players. According to Russini, Harbaugh talked with Giants GM Joe Schoen everyday after he was let go by the Ravens. The coach also reached out to a number of the positional coaches from Brian Daboll’s staff to “pick their brains on the state of the roster,” per Connor Hughes of SNYtv. To top it all off, Harbaugh even spoke with Eli Manning about the opportunity, according to veteran reporter Gary Myers.
Now, Harbaugh will be tasked with turning around a franchise that’s only made two postseason appearances since their Super Bowl XLVI victory. Some pundits initially wondered if Harbaugh may avoid a relatively tough NFC East. However, Ian O’Connor of The Athletic notes that when he pointed out that the Falcons and the NFC South would represent the easiest playoff path for the coach, Harbaugh’s camp indicated that he wasn’t afraid of the NFC East competition.
To help him top the division and return to relevance, Harbaugh will have to fill out his coaching staff. We heard earlier today that Ravens OC Todd Monken was likely to join his former boss in the same role in New York, and a number of other coaches are expected to follow. According to Ralph Vacchiano of Fox Sports, Harbaugh will likely “bring a lot of his Ravens staff” to New York, and the new head coach isn’t anticipating resistance from the Ravens. Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic echoes that sentiment, although the reporter warns that the Ravens may try to retain a handful of their preferred coaches.
Harbaugh may also be recruiting some members of previous staffs to New York. According to Hughes, Anthony Weaver is among the Giants targets for defensive coordinator. Weaver spent three years on Harbaugh’s staff in Baltimore, serving as the team’s defensive line coach. He was a candidate to replace Mike Macdonald as the Ravens defensive coordinator in 2022, but Harbaugh ended up opting for Zach Orr, opening the door for Weaver to leave for the DC role in Miami. Now, Harbaugh has a chance to reunite with the coach in his next stop.
John Harbaugh Didn’t Lose Locker Room?
In an appearance today on The Pat McAfee Show, ESPN’s Adam Schefter pushed back on one of the narratives that gained traction in the wake of John Harbaugh‘s dismissal in Baltimore. As McAfee suggested the insiders had seen this coming, Schefter voiced his dissent to the notion Harbaugh had lost the locker room.
“I don’t think that information right there could be any…less true,” Schefter exclaimed. “The players were coming to his office, crying, hugging him, sending him ‘goodbyes,’ calling him one by one. If they felt that way, why are Mark Andrews and Zay Flowers and Isaiah Likely and all these players coming in crying, hugging him, giving him these long, warm goodbyes. I’m not buying it.”
[RELATED: Assessing Lamar Jackson’s Role In Ravens’ Coaching Decision]
As the interview continued, McAfee appealed to one of his frequent guests, former NFL center A.Q. Shipley to back up what Schefter was claiming. Shipley, who played for Harbaugh and the Ravens back in 2013, the second season of his eight-year career, called Harbaugh his favorite coach, after which Schefter chimed in to say that “that would be consistent with the type of things” that he had heard from other players. Shipley pointed to instances in which Harbaugh had his players’ backs and spoke to the respect that those moments garnered within Shipley and his teammates.
As McAfee went on to question why the departure would occur, if that were the case, Schefter mused on the concept that, sometimes, it’s just time for a change. He pointed to the Broncos as a two-time example of this fact, first utilizing the example of Dan Reeves. Reeves coached Denver for the first 12 years of his coaching career, amassed a 110-73-1 record, made the playoffs six times, won the division five times, advanced to the AFC Championship four times, and advanced to three Super Bowls but lost all three. Then-owner Pat Bowlen opted to part ways with Reeves and promoted Wade Phillips. Though, two years later Bowlen circled back to Mike Shanahan, who would win back-to-back Super Bowls shortly after, the first championships in franchise history.
Later on, in Denver, John Fox stepped in as head coach, and in a short, four-year stint went 46-18, winning the AFC West every season but losing his only Super Bowl appearance in 2013. Once again, the Broncos decided to move on from success, and Gary Kubiak won them their third Super Bowl the next year. Harbaugh had so much success up front, winning nine playoff games in his first five years, but as the franchise concluded his 18th season seeing only four more playoff wins in the 13 years since their Super Bowl victory, it’s clear there was a similar feeling with owner Steve Bisciotti.
It’s not all gloom for Harbaugh, though, as Ralph Vacchiano of FOX Sports reports that nine suitors have already emerged for Harbaugh; there are only seven open jobs in the NFL right now, including Baltimore. That means three teams with head coaches in place already have kicked the tires to inquire about his possible interest. The Dolphins are one such team, per Vacchiano, though Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald pushes back on that notion, “citing people on both sides.” And, though the other teams remain unnamed, Vacchiano also mentions “a big push” that could come from a team “playing this weekend in the wild-card playoff round.”
Harbaugh has most notably been made the No. 1 target for the Giants. They’ve made it no small secret that they are interested in hiring him, and according to Vacchiano, “they are high on Harbaugh’s list,” too. A source from the team claimed, “They have no reason to believe that Harbaugh is not seeking excessive power in the organization or that he feels he wouldn’t be able to work with (general manager Joe Schoen).” And, though Harbaugh has yet to set a meeting with the team, NFL insider Gary Myers backs Vacchiano’s report up, saying himself that Harbaugh “has genuine interest” in the job in New York. In fact, Harbaugh hasn’t made meetings yet with any teams, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the 63-year-old free agent is not expected to take part in any interviews until next week.
In Baltimore, though, the Ravens have hit the ground running in search of only the fourth head coach in franchise history. Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver and Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak are both names that have come to the forefront early, but according to Jamison Hensley of ESPN, Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter is a name to watch out for as the hiring process picks up. Kubiak is the only one of the three not to have already worked in Baltimore or coached on the defensive side of the ball. Weaver was assistant head coach/defensive line coach for the Ravens not long ago, while Minter worked with the team’s defensive backs from 2017-20.
What’s interesting is that all three candidates have zero head coaching experience. That’s obviously not something that scares off the Ravens, though, considering Harbaugh’s 18 years for the team were his first in a head coaching role. What’s more important, it seems, is the potential that Weaver or Minter could be able to reestablish the defensive identity that made Baltimore such a feared opponent in Harbaugh’s early years, or the idea that an offensive-minded candidate like Kubiak may be just what Lamar Jackson needs to deliver the franchise’s third Super Bowl, one that Jackson promised the day they took him as the last pick in the first round.
Giants To Retain GM Joe Schoen
The Giants are among the teams with a head coaching vacancy. They will not be hiring a new general manager this winter, though.
Joe Schoen has been informed he will remain in place for 2026, Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post reports. That news comes as little surprise given recent reporting on where this situation stood. Schoen has been in place since 2022, having been hired alongside Brian Daboll that year. Daboll was fired midway through the campaign, but that has not led to a complete housecleaning.
As part of their statement announcing Schoen will remain in his post, the Giants said, “Continuity and stability in the front office is important to our progress.”
The Giants’ desire for front office stability will lead to a fifth season for Schoen, who will be in position to hire his second head coach. Schoen chose Daboll after the two formed a rapport working together in Buffalo. They initially fared well in New York, which finished 9-7-1 and earned a playoff berth in 2022. Daboll won Coach of the Year honors for his effort, but things spiraled from there. The Giants posted a combined 4-13 mark under Daboll and interim head coach Mike Kafka in 2025, their third straight year of missing the postseason. They’ve gone a dismal 13-38 since 2023.
Although the Schoen-led Giants have struggled mightily for most of his tenure, their head coaching vacancy is considered attractive based on some of the talent he has acquired. That includes Schoen draft picks in quarterback Jaxson Dart, wide receiver Malik Nabers, pass rushersKayvon Thibodeaux and Abdul Carter, and running back Cam Skattebo, among others.
Indeed, in their statement, the Giants noted, “We believe in our young core of talent, which we can build around for future success.”
In order for the Giants to get maximum value out of that “young core of talent,” Schoen can’t miss on another head coaching pick. Schoen, who’s leading the search, has already put together the list of candidates he’d like to interview, Connor Hughes of SNY reports. The 46-year-old said weeks ago that he didn’t expect his presence to scare away any potential hires. Fortunately for the Giants, they’ve received “positive feedback” from HC candidates over the decision to keep Schoen, per Josina Anderson of The Exhibit.
While the Giants haven’t formally requested any interviews yet, several names have come up in the rumor mill since Daboll’s firing in early November. Kafka, who went 2-5 in an interim role, may get a look, but Daboll’s full-time successor seems more likely to come from outside the organization.
Former Packers and Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy, ex-Raiders HC and onetime Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce, Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady and Broncos quarterbacks coach Davis Webb are among potential candidates who have emerged in recent days. Those are just a few possibilities, though, and Schoen is sure to discuss the position with several coaches as he attempts to turn around the franchise.
Connor Byrne contributed to this post.
Giants Planning To Stick With Joe Schoen; Joe Brady, Davis Webb On HC Radar
5:15pm: Stefanski looms as a strong candidate to be dismissed soon, and Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer names him (video link) as a coach to watch closely as the hiring cycle takes shape. Colleague Ralph Vacchiano agrees, and he predicts Stefanski will rise to the top of the Giants’ list of preferred hires if/when he hits the market. Meanwhile, a number of HC candidates have mentioned Stefanski in conversations with Scoop City‘s James Palmer knowing he will be an attractive option for multiple teams. It remains to be seen if the Giants will be one on that front, but that would come as little surprise.
9:33am: Joe Schoen has received praise for modernizing the Giants’ organization, but that has not translated to wins. The Giants will end this season with three or four wins; this follows a 3-14 campaign in which John Mara said his patience had nearly run out. Brian Daboll paid for the Giants’ struggles, but his former Bills coworker has not.
As it stands, Schoen is expected to stay on, with CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones noting his expectation of the embattled GM being given the chance to hire a second coach. One way the Giants could deviate from this planned course: a Trent Baalke-like situation forming.
Last year, the Jaguars had Baalke running their coaching search, keeping the struggling GM after firing Doug Pederson. Weeks into that search, it became clear candidates were expressing hesitancy working with Baalke. This affected the Jags’ pursuit of Ben Johnson, among others. When Liam Coen initially declined a second interview, Shad Khan pulled the plug and fired Baalke. That decision led Coen to Jacksonville. A coach not wanting to work with Schoen could change the Giants’ plans, SI.com’s Albert Breer offers.
Schoen has naturally said he does not anticipate his presence hurting the Giants’ search, but it will be interesting to see if that is the case. The Giants have been one of the NFL’s worst teams over the past nine seasons, qualifying for the playoffs once in that span. They have gone through four full-time HCs since ousting Tom Coughlin. Schoen has been on the job since 2022; the Giants are 12-38 since 2023.
That said, The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson notes one expected HC candidate referred to this as the top available job due to the Giants’ rostering Jaxson Dart, some skill-position talent and a formidable defensive line. That D-line, it can be argued, did not play to its potential this season; Dart has also lacked both Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo for most of the year. But those players’ presences stand to help New York’s sales pitches to candidates. Though, plenty of needs exist along this roster.
Mara is battling cancer, and Schoen staying on would give the Giants some stability during this search. Schoen’s 2022 playoff berth being rather fluky notwithstanding, it is clear he has support in the building. It would have to be expected Schoen’s seat would be scorching should he indeed have the chance to hire a second coach, but plenty of names are being connected to this search.
Mike McCarthy, Antonio Pierce, Lou Anarumo and, if he is indeed fired by the Browns, Kevin Stefanski, are among candidates expected to be considered to replace Daboll. The current Bills OC — Joe Brady — is also on the radar, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero report.
Brady was not with the Bills when Schoen was in Buffalo, with the ex-Panthers OC arriving as QBs coach weeks after Schoen departed for the Big Apple. Considering the dearth of offense-oriented candidates in this year’s pool, Brady should have plenty of interview opportunities if he indeed wants to leave Buffalo. But the Giants firing a former Josh Allen whisperer only to hire another would be an odd move.
One outside-the-box candidate who could join the lot of aspirants: Davis Webb, per Rapoport and Pelissero. Webb has not yet reached the coordinator level, residing as the Broncos’ QBs coach, but he has an extensive past in New York as a backup/third-string option.
Webb only wrapped his playing career after the 2022 season, being hired on Sean Payton‘s staff. While the Broncos are highly unlikely to lose OC Joe Lombardi — who is not seen as a head coaching candidate — Webb could be poached for an OC position elsewhere. A jump from the position coaching level to HC is highly uncommon, but the Giants appear willing to at least consider the prospect. Webb is just 30.
Even in a league that saw Sean McVay coach the Rams at 31 and Josh McDaniels begin his Broncos HC tenure at 33, this age range is considered a bit young for the job. Webb, though, has seen his stock rise while in Denver. He already earned a prominent assistant job without any previous experience, and the Bills wanted him for their staff before his playing career ended. Webb turned that down to stay on as a Giants backup for one more season; that doubled as Schoen’s first with the team.
Drafting First-Round QB Still On Table For Giants
DECEMBER 31: During his latest episode of Breaking Big Blue, ESPN’s Jordan Raanan notes no one around the NFL is operating with the belief Schoen is in danger of being fired. The team’s head coaching future remains unclear, but it increasingly appears as though no front office moves will be coming.
DECEMBER 28: At times this year, it seemed a low period for the Giants franchise was coming to an end and starting to head uphill as we saw early success with offensive rookies Jaxson Dart and Cam Skattebo. Some of those opinions have waned as the season has worn on, to the point that some see the Giants utilizing their first-round pick on a quarterback for the second draft in a row. 
After the Giants tried and failed to move up to No. 1 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft to take Cam Ward, there was some speculation that they may attempt to trade back into the back of the first round for another quarterback option, perhaps Shedeur Sanders or Dart. The Saints had been tied to Dart, as well, but after he slipped by their No. 9 overall pick, all eyes were on New Orleans to trade back into the first round, as well. Ultimately, it was New York that pulled the trigger and landed Dart.
Expectations for Dart’s first season varied wildly. Some viewed a short leash for veteran starter Russell Wilson, while others thought Dart could hold a clipboard throughout his entire rookie campaign. After an 0-3 start to the season in which the Giants scored fewer than 10 points in two of those games, the team turned the offense over to the rookie, and Dart delivered, immediately, with a win over the playoff-bound Chargers.
The following week, Dart showed some vulnerabilities in a game that would give the Saints their first win of the season, but he rebounded with a big win over the division-rival Eagles in his third start. A playoff gauntlet that included trips to Denver, Philadelphia, and Chicago and a home matchup with the 49ers prevented any more wins from being added to Dart’s record, but the young passer continued to show strong abilities and impressive instincts in his first several starts under head coach Brian Daboll.
As Connor Hughes of SportsNet New York points out, though, Daboll’s firing led to some regression in Dart’s overall performance. After throwing 10 touchdowns to just three interceptions and rushing for seven more scores in his first seven starts, Dart has only thrown three touchdowns to two interceptions while staying scoreless on the ground up until today’s win over the lowly Raiders. Post-Daboll, the team’s designed usage of Dart was altered in a way that perhaps now lends some justifiability to looking into a new passer next year.
To that end, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports that, before making any concrete plans for the future, the Giants will be fully evaluating Heisman-winner and projected QB1 of the 2026 NFL Draft Fernando Mendoza. While not boasting talent that commands surefire No. 1 overall status à la Joe Burrow or Trevor Lawrence, the Indiana-product (by way of Cal) has been billed lately as the top passing prospect in the coming draft. With the finalized holders of the top two picks in the draft both being quarterback-needy teams, there’s a high likelihood that Mendoza could be selected with one of those two picks.
If the team does decide to draft a new quarterback, the expectation is that they would try to trade Dart to another team searching for an answer at the position. Dart’s early promise and strong attributes could make him a strong option for many teams lacking at the position, but if the Giants grade Mendoza highly and like him more than they currently like Dart, the rookie’s concussion history and reckless play style could make him an expendable asset in the eyes of the team.
Part of these decisions will come down to the staffers making them, and while general manager Joe Schoen has been expected to be retained in New York, his position is hardly secure. In fact, while Rapoport didn’t speak to this point in his segment linked above, the banner showing as he discussed the Giants reported that Schoen was “likely to remain with (the) team for (the) draft.” It’s hard to believe New York would allow Schoen to have input on something as impactful as the team’s 2026 first-round pick — or their next head coach — if they didn’t expect to retain him past that, but NFL Network’s wording seems ominous, nonetheless.
We’re still months away from any solid answers on what the future will bring for the Giants. Next week could determine if they have the No. 1 overall pick. Several stages of the pre-draft process could determine if Mendoza will be the likely draft choice. Who the team drafts could easily determine the futures of both Dart and Schoen. Lots of variables remain up in the air for what is setting up to be a newsworthy offseason in New York.
Giants HC Rumors: Hafley, Freeman, OCs
At 2-11 and in contention for the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Giants will likely bring in a new head coach from outside the organization in the next couple of months. Interim choice Mike Kafka, who replaced the fired Brian Daboll a little over a month ago, seems like a long shot for a full-time promotion. Now coming off their bye, Kafka’s Giants have gone 0-3, including a blowout loss to the Patriots in Week 13.
General manager Joe Schoen is leading New York’s head coaching search. After hiring Daboll in 2022, he’s in line to pick his second head coach despite a 20-43-1 record as the team’s GM. Schoen doesn’t expect his presence to push away candidates, though there’s some disagreement about that around the league, as Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post details.
With Schoen only under contract through 2026, an NFC assistant coach told Dunleavy: “The biggest deterrent to taking that job is a lame-duck GM. If you’re signing a five-year deal to become the head coach, you’d like to know that you can develop a vision for your program with a GM that’s aligned the same way. But if the GM is in win-now mode and you need time to bring in scheme-specific talent, that will not mesh very well.”
On the other hand, a different assistant who could receive head coaching interviews told Dunleavy: “Joe’s well respected around the league. It’s not going to be a deterrent. When you look at the quarterback and the game-changers they have, it’s going to be one of the more attractive jobs.”
First-round rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart, No. 1 wide receiver Malik Nabers, left tackle Andrew Thomas, and a talented group of pass rushers are among the reasons many consider the Giants’ position enticing. That group may appeal to Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, who’s the “heavy favorite” to land the job, according to Conor Orr of SI.com. The 46-year-old New Jersey native would be a first-time NFL head coach, but he did take Boston College to two bowl games from 2020-23. Green Bay’s enjoying its second straight year as one of the league’s most effective defenses under his tutelage.
Hafley went 22-26 at Boston College. One of his losses came at the hands of a Marcus Freeman-led Notre Dame squad. Freeman, who came up as a speculative Giants candidate last month, is indeed on the team’s list, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports. Although Notre Dame’s season ended without a playoff berth, the Fighting Irish finished 10-2. They’re 43-12 since Freeman succeeded Brian Kelly in late 2021.
Freeman is under contract through 2030 on a lucrative extension, but Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua realizes there’s outside interest in the 39-year-old.
“Everybody has eyes on Marcus,” Bevacqua said (via Adam Rittenberg of ESPN). “College has eyes on Marcus; NFL has eyes on Marcus. I bet Hollywood has eyes on Marcus. … He’s the absolute best coach in the country for Notre Dame, full stop, one of the greatest college coaches in the country.”
To better its chances of keeping Freeman, Notre Dame will revise his contract on an annual basis, Bevacqua revealed. Doing so will keep Freeman among the nation’s highest-paid coaches.
Aside from Hafley, Freeman, and Colts DC Lou Anarumo (previously reported), Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak are also on the Giants’ radar, according to Russini.
Kingsbury is the only member of the quintet with previous head coaching experience in the pros. The Cardinals went 28-37-1 under him from 2019-22. Kingsbury helped quarterback Kyler Murray to Offensive Rookie of the Year honors and a pair of Pro Bowls during that span. Murray hasn’t revisited that form since. Kingsbury also guided the Cardinals to an 11-6 record in 2021. That stands as their only playoff season of the past decade.
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski may join Kingsbury as an experienced possibility for the Giants. The Browns aren’t expected to fire the two-time Coach of the Year, Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post writes, though he contends it wouldn’t be a shock to see the Giants trade for Stefanski.
It’s unclear what the Giants would have to give up for Stefanski, who would be part of the league’s eighth head coach trade since 1997 in this scenario. The most recent deal came when the Broncos dealt a 2023 first-round pick and a 2024 second-rounder to the Saints for Sean Payton and a 2024 third-rounder in February 2023. The Giants aren’t in position to surrender that type of compensation for Stefanski, but it appears he’s another name to keep an eye on during their high-profile search.
Giants Rumors: Carter, Kafka, HC Search
After stumbling to a 2-8 start, the Giants fired head coach Brian Daboll on Nov. 10. The team lost four straight before Daboll’s ouster, and the results haven’t improved since then. Off to an 0-3 start under interim head coach Mike Kafka, the Giants have now dropped seven in a row. At 2-11, they’re on track to pick second in the 2026 draft after selecting third last spring.
The Giants were competitive in one-score losses against a pair of NFC playoff hopefuls (Green Bay and Detroit) in Kafka’s first two games at the helm. Things turned ugly on Monday, though, with the Giants failing to put up a fight in a 33-15 loss to the NFL-leading Patriots.
Rookie outside linebacker Abdul Carter, the Giants’ top pick in this year’s draft, was conspicuously absent for the first quarter. Kafka said benching Carter was a “coach’s decision.” He didn’t offer any further details, but it turns out the punishment came after Carter missed a special teams meeting, Charlotte Carroll and Dan Duggan of The Athletic report.
Carter was confused regarding his role on the punt return team, which changes from week to week. Kafka previously sat Carter for the opening defensive series against the Packers after he missed a walk-through. While Kafka has insisted that it was his choice to bench Carter, general manager Joe Schoen is “very involved in trying to instill discipline,” Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post writes.
Daboll did not discipline Carter for tardiness when he was in charge, according to Dunleavy. Conversely, Albert Breer of SI.com reports that Daboll fined Carter multiple times for showing up late or missing meetings. Carter admitted on Monday that he needs “to be better,” but his attendance problems have gone on throughout the year.
With four games remaining in the Giants’ season, Kafka may be running out of time to get through to Carter. However, the Giants haven’t ruled out a full-time promotion for Kafka.
Speaking with reporters on Tuesday, Schoen said Kafka will get a “real look” (via Jordan Raanan of ESPN). Kafka is on a list of roughly 10 candidates for a job that’s “highly coveted,” Breer relays.
The Giants have gone 11-36 since 2023, Schoen’s second season as GM, and he has drawn plenty of criticism as a result. Schoen is leading the coaching search, though, and he doesn’t expect his presence to scare away any candidates (via Raanan).
“From the calls we’ve gotten, I think we’re going to be able to fill that job,” said Schoen, who still sees a lot of positives on the roster.
Schoen noted that the team’s next head coach will inherit an offense with “some pieces in place to build around,” including potential franchise quarterback Jaxson Dart, No. 1 wide receiver Malik Nabers, and left tackle Andrew Thomas. Although the Giants rank 30th in total defense, Schoen contends they have a “pass rush” and “some pieces in the secondary,” which he believes will entice head coaching candidates.