The NY Giants need to move on from offensive coordinator Jason Garrett this offseason, and there are some intriguing candidates to replace him across the NFL
The current state of the NY Giants’ offense, that is averaging just 17 points per game, is unacceptable, it has become obvious that offensive coordinator Jason Garrett is incapable of fixing it, and should be fired after this season.
Through 15 weeks, the NY Giants’ offense is among the least productive in the NFL, and it is becoming obvious that a change at offensive coordinator is necessary to try to jumpstart what is a relatively talented collection of skill players around quarterback Daniel Jones.
Granted, Colt McCoy has started at quarterback for two of the past three games, and Jones was limited in a disastrous loss to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 14, but the Giants have now scored fewer than 20 points in four consecutive games.
Following Sunday night’s 20-6 loss where the Giants were outclassed in all three phases by the Cleveland Browns, New York is now averaging just 17 points per game — the second fewest in the NFL and only the Jets have converted fewer trips into the red zone into touchdowns.
Even before the Giants’ recent slump, it seemed his job security might be tenuous at best entering next season after a heated confrontation between Joe Judge and former offensive line coach Marc Colombo led to Colombo’s firing last month. It was Garrett who brought Colombo along from Dallas to coach the Giants’ offensive line.
Something has to give, and in 2021, that something … err someone, is Jason Garrett as offensive coordinator.
Here’s a look at six possible candidates to replace Garrett as the GIants’ offensive coordinator next season:
Freddie Kitchens
Giants’ tight ends coach
With Freddie Kitchens calling plays Sunday night against the Cleveland Browns as Jason Garrett recovered from testing positive for COVID-19, the Giants’ offense was nearly unrecognizable from the scheme New York deployed the first 14 weeks.
Even with Colt McCoy at quarterback for the injured Daniel Jones, Kitchens was not afraid to air it out in the deep passing game. Likewise, unlike the predictable curl and slant routes that have become hallmarks of Garrett’s scheme with the Giants, there was some creativity in the route concepts Kitchens deployed.
Now, it is wholly obvious that Kitchens didn’t implement a new playbook in two full practices this week. But, if Kitchens is given the chance to put his aggressive fingertips on the offense with the talent the Giants have in place and will likely add to this offseason, bumping him up to full time offensive coordinator might yield big dividends.
Mike Kafka
Kansas City Chiefs’ QB coach, passing game coordinator
It’s an open question whether Kafka will even be available, as he’s likely next in line as Andy Reid’s offensive coordinator once Eric Bienemy becomes a head coach as soon as next month.
Only Kafka knows if he would prefer to run an offense and call plays elsewhere or hop on the Reid head coaching tree conveyor belt and bolster his head coaching candidacy by working directly with Patrick Mahomes for at least a season as offensive coordinator.
However, given the relative success of the Reid coaching tree and its track record of aiding quarterbacks in reaching their ceilings, Kafka might just be enamored by the chance to shepherd Jones through his development away from Reid’s shadow.
John DeFilippo
QB Coach, Chicago Bears
Sources around the league believe that DeFilippo would prefer not to call plays, and is content working alongside Bears head coach Matt Nagy.
But, judging by what DeFilippo’s influence in rebuilding Carson Wentz’s throwing motion ahead of his second season that led the Eagles quarterback to have an MVP caliber 2017 season, there might not be a better candidate in terms of both developing Jones and evaluating the quarterback’s ceiling in his third NFL season in 2021.
Last season, Gardner Minshew passed for a career-high 3,271 yards as a rookie with 21 touchdowns and just six interceptions while at least momentarily making the Jaguars believe they had a franchise quarterback in place, with DeFilippo overseeing his development.
Hiring DeFilippo might also have a tangential recruiting benefit if the Giants intend to get involved in the Allen Robinson sweepstakes to bolster the wide receiver position this offseason, having a familiar face and system might be enticing to the veteran receiver.
Jay Gruden
Offensive coordinator, Jacksonville Jaguars
If there’s a complete housecleaning of Doug Marrone’s staff, and Jay Gruden becomes available, Judge should immediately place a call and gauge the former head coach’s interest.
Gruden is a bright offensive mind, who has been cast in unfortunate circumstances from his tenure as the head coach of the Washington Tire Fire, err Football Team, and latching on as Marrone’s offensive coordinator in what might be the coaching staff’s final year in Jacksonville.
The Jaguars are averaging 337.6 yards per game, which is 37 more than the Giants, and 20.1 points per game with a collection of talent that pales in comparison to the Giants’ talent on offense.
This season, Gruden has done a nice job of making Gardner Minshew look competent and it is intriguing to think of what he might be able to do with an offense that includes Jones, or possibly Justin Fields, a healthy Saquon Barkley, Evan Engram, Darius Slayton, and whoever else the Giants add this offseason.
Duce Staley
Philadelphia Eagles running game coordinator
It has been apparent for the past several years that Staley has head coaching aspirations.
However, it seems increasingly unlikely that Staley will ever garner legitimate head coaching interest before he is given the opportunity to be a full-time playcaller. That will never happen so long as Doug Pederson is the Eagles’ head coach, which seems tenuous at best at this stage, but regardless of whether Pederson stays or goes, Staley likely needs to go elsewhere to be given the opportunity to run his own offense.
Staley’s background and ability to oversee a running game that has ranked 11th, 28th, and 3rd dating back to 2017 might be tailor made for the Giants’ organizational philosophy that the foundation of a successful offense is a dominant running game. Additionally, Staley would bring a wealth of knowledge of a division rival to East Rutherford.
Shane Waldron
Los Angeles Rams passing game coordinator
The Rams have once again become one of the NFL’s more prolific offenses this season, and while Sean McVay gets and deserves much of the credit for quarterback Jared Goff’s success, Waldron deserves an opportunity.
Los Angeles is averaging 260.5 passing yards per game, 12th most in the NFL, and Goff has tossed 18 touchdowns to interceptions.
Waldron is considered a rising name in coaching circles league-wide, and similarly to Kafka, would probably welcome the opportunity to both call plays and help develop a young quarterback away from the influence of a head coach who is so influential as McVay.
Matt Lombardo is the site expert for GMenHQ, and writes Between The Hash Marks each Wednesday for FanSided. Follow Matt on Twitter: @MattLombardoNFL.