Brian Daboll and the New York Giants have a major void to fill on the coaching staff, at defensive coordinator, after Patrick Graham’s departure to the Las Vegas Raiders
The New York Giants fully expected Patrick Graham to return as defensive coordinator when he lost out on the Minnesota Vikings head coaching job that he interviewed twice for, instead, Graham departs to accept the same role with the Las Vegas Raiders leaving a void on Brian Daboll’s staff.
As Daboll’s coaching staff begins to take shape following his first week as head coach of the Giants, the rookie head coach along with general manager Joe Schoen must make a successful hire as defensive coordinator. Especially given Daboll’s background as an offensive coordinator and the fact that New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka has never held that role prior to his arrival in East Rutherford.
An experienced defensive coordinator with a track record of success is mandatory. Perhaps a candidate with head coaching experience would be even more valuable, to not only run the defense but also help Daboll navigate his first time in a top job.
From owner John Mara on down, the New York Giants have stressed the importance of alignment between the front office and coaching staff, which could mean Daboll’s defensive coordinator will have crossed paths with him or Schoen at some point in their careers.
Here are some potential New York Giants defensive coordinator hires:
Eric Washington – Buffalo Bills defensive line coach
Washington arrived as Buffalo’s defensive line coach in 2020, and his group became the backbone of a defense that powered the Bills to the AFC Championship Game last season and was instrumental to this year’s defense finishing No. 1 in the NFL.
Prior to arriving in Buffalo, where he spent two seasons on the same staff as Daboll, Washington spent two seasons as the Carolina Panthers’ defensive coordinator from 2018 through 2019, so he has experience calling a defense.
Washington’s defense in Carolina ranked 19th in total defense in 2018, while holding opponents to 23.8 points per game.
With experience as a coordinator, and coaching defensive line, he might be an ideal fit on Daboll’s staff.
Wink Martindale
Shortly after Daboll’s hiring as head coach, multiple reports surfaced that Martindale was his first choice to become defensive coordinator.
Martindale will interview for the defensive coordinator vacancy this weekend, according to a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, and just might be the frontrunner for the job.
The New York Giants previously interviewed Martindale for their head coaching vacancy prior to hiring JOe Judge in 2020.
It’s easy to see why Mara, Daboll, and the Giants might covet Martindale given his abundant success in Baltimore and decades of leadership.
Martindale’s defenses rely on exotic blitz packages and creating turnovers.
last season, the Ravens finished 19th in the NFL in total defense, but held opponents to 23 points per game.
If Martindale can mold a hyper-aggressive scheme that utilizes myriad blitz packages up front and tailors to his secondary’s strengths, he might hold the key to a quick turnaround on defense for the Giants.
Vic Fangio
If Daboll and the New York Giants are aiming to add a coordinator with head coaching experience, that might be a prudent move, there isn’t a more qualified candidate on the market right now than Fangio.
The former Denver Broncos head coach has an extensive track record as a respected and accomplished defensive coordinator, including guiding the Broncos to the NFL’s No. 3 ranked defense this past season.
Fangio thrives on identifying an offense’s weakness and attacking it relentlessly en route to pressuring the quarterback. Given the talent along the New York Giants’ defensive line, and a pair of top-10 draft picks, Fangio just might be a worthy architect to develop Big Blue into his ninth defense to finish in the top 10 in scoring defense in his career.
Terrell Williams – Tennessee Titans defensive line coach
Few teams had more dominant front-sevens than the Tennessee Titans this past season.
In the AFC Divisional Playoffs, the Titans sacked Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow nine times, thanks in large part to swarming pressure from the defensive line.
Williams has over two decades of coaching experience, and crossed paths with Schoen when they were both in Miami.
In 2019, Williams helped guide the Titans to the AFC Championship Game, and this past season finished 12th in the NFL in total defense, and produced 43 sacks.
Sean Desai
The New York Giants will interview Desai this weekend, according to Rapoport, and it’s easy to see why.
The former Chicago Bears defensive coordinator has been a quick-riser up the coaching ranks, climbing from safeties coach in 2019 to spending this past season calling Chicago’s defense.
Last season, Desai’s Bears finished No. 6 in total defense, held opponents to 23.9 points per game, and created 16 takeaways.
Desai’s tenure with the Bears goes back to his six years as a quality control coach on defense, and his pedigree as a defensive backs coach might make him the best candidate overall for the Giants’ job. Especially given the New York Giants’ wealth of talent in the secondary, with cornerback James Bradberry, and young safeties Xavier McKinney and Julian Love expected to be key players in the organization’s future.