Next Giants head coach? Here are 10 potential candidates

Now that the Giants’ season is over, the head coaching search begins. It’s the team’s fifth one since Tom Coughlin resigned after the 2015 season.

The job is highly attractive given the young talent in Jaxson Dart, Abdul Carter, Malik Nabers and talented veterans in Brian Burns, Andrew Thomas and Dexter Lawrence. But things must turn around after going 7-27 the last two seasons.

Three of the Giants’ last four hires — Ben McAdoo, Pat Shurmur and Brian Daboll — were known as offensive gurus. The Giants could follow that path or pursue a different one.

The Giants can interview candidates remotely who aren’t playing in the Wild Card round as early as Wednesday. Candidates in the Wild Card round can be interviewed Jan. 13 or 14 depending if their teams play Saturday or Sunday. In-person interviews can’t start until Jan. 19

Here’s a list of potential candidates, in alphabetical order.

Lou Anarumo, Colts defensive coordinator

There’s familiarity here with Anarumo, 59, not just being from Staten Island but also a former Giants defensive backs coach in 2018. He was also the Dolphins’ defensive backs coach from 2012-17 while Joe Schoen worked in the team’s front office. Under his watch, the Colts were fifth in rushing defense — something the Giants badly need to improve after the last two years — but 31st in passing defense. This would be his first head coaching job.

Jeff Hafley, Packers defensive coordinator

Hafley, 46, is from Montvale, New Jersey, and gave Giants brass an audition when the Packers beat the Giants this season. In his second season in Green Bay, the Packers were 11th in passing defense and ninth in total yards per play allowed. Hafley was 22-26 as Boston College head coach from 2020-24 but was 7-6 his final year before the Packers hired him. He also has experience as a defensive backs coach with the Buccaneers, Browns and 49ers.

Vance Joseph, Broncos defensive coordinator

The Giants saw firsthand how great Joseph’s defenses can be. The Broncos, who had an NFL-high 68 sacks, shut the Giants down in the fourth quarter while rallying from a 19-point deficit. It might be a perfect fit with the Giants’ array of pass rushers. Joseph, 53, was 11-21 as Broncos head coach from 2017-18. He also knows Schoen from working as the Dolphins’ defensive coordinator in 2016.

Mike Kafka, interim Giants head coach

Kafka, 38, got a head start on his audition coaching the last seven games after Brian Daboll was fired. The former Giants offensive coordinator couldn’t turn around a sinking ship but he got a chance to show how he can lead a team and make personnel decisions. The Giants’ offense fluctuated under Kafka but he’s also familiar with Dart and the players having been with them all season. He’ll certainly get a formal interview to present a long term vision.

Klint Kubiak, Seahawks offensive coordinator

Kubiak’s star is rising and his offense is a key reason the Seahawks earned the NFC’s No. 1 seed with a 14-3 record. The Seahawks had the NFL’s No. 3 scoring offense and finished top 10 in total offense and yards per play. The 38-year-old son of former NFL head coach Gary Kubiak, he has never been a head coach. But his work with Sam Darnold and receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba this season could inspire hope for what he could do with Dart and Malik Nabers. 

Mike McCarthy, former Packers/Cowboys head coach

Maybe one of the more successful candidates out there. McCarthy, 62, won a Super Bowl after the 2010 season in Green Bay. He had three consecutive 12-win seasons in Dallas (2021-23) and has just five losing seasons in 18 years as a head coach. As an offensive mastermind, he’d be perfect for molding Jaxson Dart after his work with Aaron Rodgers and Dak Prescott. The only question is McCarthy’s defenses were ranked in the top 15 just twice in his final eight seasons.

Jesse Minter, Chargers defensive coordinator

Minter has led the Chargers’ defense for the last two seasons. The Chargers were fifth in total defense, third down defense, passing defense and eighth in rushing defense. Minter, 42, has worked alongside Jim Harbaugh since being his defensive coordinator at Michigan at 2022. As Ravens defensive backs coach in 2020, Minter also worked under former Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale.

Antonio Pierce, former Raiders head coach

Pierce would immediately instill pride as a former Giant and Super Bowl champion. The Giants would be a far more talented team than the Raiders he coached. But he was 9-17 over two seasons and Pierce’s only other NFL experience is being the Raiders’ linebackers coach before he was promoted. Still, it’s worth an interview given Pierce, 47, is part of the Giants family.

Chris Shula, Rams defensive coordinator

Shula has overseen the Rams’ defense since 2024 but he’s worked for them in several capacities since 2017. The Rams were fifth in takeaways, tied for seventh in third down defense and third in red-zone defense. Shula, 39, also never been a head coach but he’s another bright star in the coaching ranks. It doesn’t hurt that working with Rams coach Sean McVay has helped coaches land head coaching job or that Shula comes from a prominent coaching family. His grandfather is legendary coach Don Shula. 

Kevin Stefanski, former Browns head coach

Stefanski, a two-time NFL Coach of the Year (2020, 2023), was fired Monday by the Browns. He had a 45-56 record in six seasons but had two 11-win seasons and won a playoff game in his first season. He was previously Vikings offensive coordinator in 2019. The Giants tried to interview Stefanski, 43, for their offensive coordinator job in 2017 but the Vikings denied it. Now they’ll have a chance to interview him for their head coaching job.