The New York Giants have conducted six interviews for the team’s head coaching vacancy, but who is the best fit to partner with Joe Schoen?
After hiring Joe Schoen as general manager Friday, the New York Giants’ head coaching search has shifted into overdrive.
Tuesday, Brian Daboll is the first of six candidates that the Giants have interviewed who will get a second meeting with owners John Mara, Steve Tisch, and Schoen, but New York has already interviewed six candidates over the past three days.
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, Daboll, Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores, and Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo are the six known finalists for the job.
So, who is the leader in the clubhouse? Who is the best fit to partner with Schoen to attempt to lead the New York Giants back to prominence, after five consecutive double-digit loss seasons?
Here’s a look at how the New York Giants’ six head coaching finalists stack up
6) Patrick Graham
Graham is viewed by league sources and industry insiders as a rising star among coaches.
Former NFL Executive of The Year Randy Mueller went so far as to call Graham “The Giants’ best asset,” prior to season’s end, so it would make a lot of sense for New York to hire Graham as Joe Judge’s successor.
They very well might.
However, as much as Graham’s players play extremely hard for him and the defense was the New York Giants’ strength the past two seasons, it is difficult to sell a new direction for the entire franchise if the plan is to promote the defensive coordinator of the previous failed head coaching hire to head coach.
Graham will also interview for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defensive coordinator position, and it feels as though Graham will either be earmarked to land the New York Giants’ head coaching job or wind up elsewhere, because as important as an asset as he has been, a new head coach isn’t going to want a popular assistant from the prior staff influencing the locker room.