New York Giants: Is Ben McAdoo The Next Jason Garrett?

When the New York Giants retained Tom Coughlin as the head coach, there was much speculation that Ben McAdoo was in line to be the next head coach. The first year offensive coordinator wasn’t ready to take the keys to the franchise and the Giants did not want to risk his departure by firing Coughlin. This was what was rumored to be the case any way. This speculation may be rooted in reality.

If this story sounds familiar to you, it’s because Giants fans don’t have to look far for a similar situation. The Giants bitter rivals, the Dallas Cowboys designated Jason Garrett to be their next head coach, long before head coach, Wade Phillips, was on his way out.

Sep 21, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo during pre game warmups before a game against the Houston Texans at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The Cowboys made Garrett the offensive coordinator in 2007. By 2011 he was announced as the head coach of the Cowboys. He was the interim head coach the prior season, relieving Phillips after he was fired midseason.

The Cowboys fully intended to make Garrett their head coach at some point, when he took the offensive coordinator position. When he interviewed to be the Baltimore Ravens head coach, the Cowboys shelled out the largest contract to an assistant coach in NFL history.

Could McAdoo be the next Garrett? The Giants have not publicly shown intentions to have McAdoo be the next head coach; though many see McAdoo replacing Coughlin as inevitability, as just a matter of when Coughlin retires.

Suppose it is decided that Coughlin will coach at least through the 2016 season. Now let’s imagine that McAdoo gets an interview to be a head coach and that he is a hot commodity in the annual coaching carousel of the NFL. Would the Giants take the same measures to keep McAdoo that the Cowboys took to keep Garrett?

The truth is that McAdoo is a potential superstar head coach in the NFL. In his first season as a play-caller (or for that matter an offensive coordinator) he orchestrated the 7th ranked offense in the NFL.

He did it all while injuries kept the offensive line shuffling and while Victor Cruz was sidelined due to injury. Eli Manning may have had his most impressive season as a quarterback, despite having little help from the rushing attack. The truth is that McAdoo could be the next big thing in the NFL.

This may be nothing more than speculation. There is no guarantee that McAdoo will replace Coughlin when the time comes. Though it would not be unprecedented for a team to make decisions based on the future expectations of one of their assistant coaches. Like the hated Cowboys did with Garrett, the Giants could see McAdoo as their head coach in waiting.

Next: New York Giants: Team Should Draft Dorial Green-Beckham

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