Julian Edelman isn’t expecting the Giants to make any bold moves, but he still suggested a surprising candidate to fill the coaching vacancy left by Brian Daboll’s firing.
On Monday’s episode of his podcast, “Games with Names,” the former Patriots wide receiver tossed around the idea of Bill Belichick, the longtime coach of the Patriots and current UNC football coach, stepping in. Edelman highlighted his admiration for the Giants, saying, “There’s a team in Chapel Hill that’s playing a little bit better. What if the Giants brought in Bill Belichick?”
He even commented on Belichick’s fondness for the Giants, jokingly recalling how he “shed a tear” every time they played, especially when talking about Giants legend Lawrence Taylor. Not that he was serious, of course.
Belichick has had quite a journey, starting with the Giants as a defensive assistant in 1979, eventually becoming their defensive coordinator and winning two Super Bowls with the team before moving on to the Browns as head coach.
After that, his career took off with the Patriots, where he became a household name over 24 seasons. Interestingly, he’s faced the Giants in the Super Bowl twice and lost both times.
Edelman, who had a solid 12-season run with Belichick, noted that the Giants typically don’t make head-scratching hires. However, he sounded a bit uncertain, hinting that an in-season change might mean they’re trying things differently. “I don’t know,” he mused, unsure of what move the team will make. He speculated that they might be looking for someone “exciting” for QB Jackson Dart.
Dart has been a bright spot in what’s been a challenging season. Though he was drafted as the 25th overall pick and has impressed in his seven starts, he’s faced some tough moments, including a concussion he suffered in a recent game.
After a disappointing season and a record of 20-40-1 over his tenure, Daboll was relieved of his duties following yet another loss, which dropped the Giants to 2-8. Co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch acknowledged the fans’ frustrations in a statement and expressed their commitment to improving the team’s performance.
In the meantime, Mike Kafka, the offensive coordinator and assistant head coach, has stepped in as interim head coach while general manager Joe Schoen leads the search for a new head coach. It remains unclear whether Belichick will be a contender for that position.
The UNC Tar Heels recently improved to 4-5 with their second consecutive win against Syracuse and Stanford on Saturday.
