It’s no wonder New York Giants Thomas McGaughey a hot coaching commodity

Under coordinator Thomas McGaughey, the New York Giants’ special teams were among the more dominant in the NFL this season 

New York Giants special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey has already been on a pair of interviews and is one of the more coveted coaches this hiring cycle, and for good reason.

Under McGaughey’s tutelage this season, the Giants finished as the No. 10 ranked special teams unit in the NFL in Rick Gosselin’s rankings, easily New York’s highest-rated unit during what was a fifth consecutive double-digit loss campaign.

Here is how the top ten stacked up:

"2021 NFL SPECIAL TEAMS RANKINGS1. Baltimore, 241.52. Indianapolis, 2723. Seattle, 2764. Kansas City, 298.55. New Orleans, 299.56. Dallas, 3017. Detroit, 310.58. Buffalo, 316.59. Chicago, 33010. NY Giants, 332"

While it’s an impressive feat to finish in the top-10 of these rankings, especially given the general lack of quality depth players on the New York Giants roster, which normally populates special teams units, had a handful of plays gone differently — including Pharoh Cooper seemingly forgetting that kickoffs are live balls against Chicago, McGaughey’s Giants legitimately could have cracked the top-five.

What’s next for New York Giants’ Thomas McGaughey?

McGaughey has already had interviews with the Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Chargers, and FanSided has learned through league conversations he is high on the list of several prospective head coaches who will be looking to build staffs with their new teams.

The New York Giants have yet to conduct a head coaching interview but requested permission Wednesday to speak with Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. With McGaughey in demand, it will be interesting to see where he lands and if the New York Giants’ new coach pushes to keep him on staff in his current role.