The New York Giants have decided to fire Brian Daboll after starting the season 2-8. Here are five candidates to watch for the Giants’ head coaching job.
Five Candidates for New York Giants Head Coaching Job
5. Joe Brady, Buffalo Bills Offensive Coordinator
Brady has been the play caller in Buffalo the last couple of seasons and has quickly ascended to being a hot head coaching candidate. Last season, Buffalo led the league in scoring, and this season, the Bills currently have the best running game in the NFL, averaging 153.2 rushing yards per game.
Brady has had experience working with young quarterbacks, having worked with Joe Burrow in his historic final season at LSU. Brady also spent time with the Saints and with the Carolina Panthers. Last year, Brady had multiple interviews in the head coaching cycle, and he will likely be a coveted candidate this year as well.
4. Chris Shula, Los Angeles Rams Defensive Coordinator
Shula has been one of the best assistant coaches, whether of offense or defense, in the NFL this season. As the architect of the LA Rams’ defense, he has led the Rams to a top-five defense in every meaningful metric in the NFL. The Rams allow the second-fewest points per game in the NFL and have allowed the second-fewest total points in the NFL.
There are currently six head coaches in the NFL who have worked under the Rams and Sean McVay at some point in their careers. Raheem Morris in Atlanta, Kevin O’Connell in Minnesota, Zac Taylor in Cincinnati, Liam Coen in Jacksonville, and Matt LaFleur in Green Bay have all spent time in the Rams organization with different roles, and Shula could be the next one.
3. Klint Kubiak, Seattle Seahawks Offensive Coordinator
Kubiak has been the hottest offensive coordinator for the 2025 NFL season. Seattle has one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL with Sam Darnold, and it is because of the design of Kubiak’s offense.
Seattle is top-ten in total yards per game and in total EPA (expected points added). Kubiak has Darnold playing like an MVP candidate right now, and with Jaxson Dart being the future at quarterback in NY, Kubiak has he background of someone who can make a quarterback successful.
2. Mike McCarthy
Mike McCarthy would be a good candidate to come in and clean up the Giants’ organization’s operation on the coaching side. McCarthy is a veteran Super Bowl-winning coach who has held multiple head coaching positions and has achieved success in each of his coaching roles. McCarthy parted ways with the Dallas Cowboys after they couldn’t come to terms on an extension after last season.
1. Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss Head Coach
Kiffin reuniting with Jaxson Dart? Why not? If Kiffin wants to make another jump back to the NFL ranks, he can do it by coaching his former college quarterback, whom he coached from 2022 to 2024. Dart was a first-team All-SEC quarterback his last year at Ole Miss, so Kiffin can undoubtedly get the best out of Dart. He was instrumental in developing Dart into a quarterback drafted in the first round in 2025.
Kiffin has been the subject of recent big-time college job openings, including LSU, Penn State, and Florida. However, he may have unfinished business with his NFL experience, and a move to Dart could be enough of a reason for him to make that jump. He last coached in the NFL in 2008 with the Las Vegas Raiders, where he was, at the time, the youngest NFL head coach in modern history.
Main Image: Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images
