A significant shift in the Giants’ coaching search took place last Friday, a long way from MetLife Stadium—1,967 miles, to be exact.
The Dolphins appointed John Eric Sullivan as their new general manager while the Giants engaged in talks with Antonio Pierce for their coaching vacancy. This effectively dispels the wild speculation about owner Stephen Ross secretly plotting to bring in John Harbaugh as head coach.
If the Dolphins had opted for GM finalist Chad Alexander, who has close ties to the Harbaugh family, it might’ve only added fuel to that fire.
As it stands, Harbaugh remains a potential candidate for the Dolphins, and as a major Michigan donor, Ross is close to both of the Harbaugh brothers. Meanwhile, the Giants are still evaluating top candidates available after the first week of their search. It’s expected that Harbaugh will start scheduling interviews soon.
With a Super Bowl appearance on his record, Harbaugh would rank among the most prominent coaches to join the Giants, surpassing the likes of Tom Coughlin and Dan Reeves. This is what Darius Slayton, the longest-tenured offensive player on the Giants, seems to hope for as they look for their fourth head coach.
Slayton described himself as a “Tom Coughlin-type guy,” praising Coughlin’s impact on the organization. “He’s brought a lot here. No one can doubt his success. His personality and how he approaches his job matter. A head coach in New York needs a specific temperament. It’s a difficult role with a lot of scrutiny. Coughlin definitely had the qualities we could use right now,” he remarked.
Without Harbaugh, the Giants might struggle to echo some of the philosophies that Coughlin brought to the team.
Pierce, who played under Coughlin and captained the team to a Super Bowl win, was instrumental in a coaching initiative back in 2006 aimed at helping the often stern Coughlin be more relatable to his players.
In a twist, Pierce brought Coughlin to the Raiders in 2023, where he briefly served as interim head coach. Though he had a decent start with a 5-4 record, mistakes in hiring too many friends for his coaching staff led to a disappointing follow-up season.
Recently, the Giants lined up a virtual meeting with Broncos special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi. Rizzi previously worked with the Dolphins for eight seasons while Giants general manager Joe Schoen was part of the front office there.
Rizzi is the second candidate to have a virtual interview, following Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph. Meanwhile, Pierce and a few other candidates, such as Raheem Morris and Kevin Stefanski, have already completed in-person interviews.
The Giants are fulfilling the Rooney Rule, ensuring they interview at least two external minority candidates in person, so they’re unlikely to face any challenges in hiring. However, as the second week of the search unfolds, the process feels like it’s only just getting started.
Harbaugh might still team up with Alexander, should they both end up in Atlanta. Former Cowboys and Packers head coach Mike McCarthy is also expected to have an in-person meeting.
The former Cardinals head coach, Kliff Kingsbury, is rumored to be a candidate after leaving his position with the Commanders.
Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo also has a virtual interview lined up, while Broncos quarterbacks coach Davis Webb is under consideration as well.
With potential changes in NFL regulations coming soon, the interview process might accelerate significantly.
Other teams have reached out to interview coordinators participating in the wild-card round, even if they can’t talk to them until Tuesday. The Giants, however, have kept a low profile. Coaches whose teams played this past weekend will be able to start virtual interviews next week, and in-person discussions can begin for coaches under contract starting January 19th.
Speculation has arisen about two defensive coordinators, Jesse Minter from the Chargers and Anthony Campanile from the Jaguars. Interest has also been reported in Chris Shula of the Rams and Jeff Hafley of the Packers.
