Well, the New York Giants did it. They really did it. Brian Daboll is out as the Giants' head coach, and in the aftermath of these events, fans could only jump to future conclusions as easily as they could move on from their former head coach.
Is Joe Schoen as safe as we might think he is? What does this mean for Jaxson Dart? Who is going to replace Daboll? Will it be someone with an offensive mind to continue help developing the franchise quarterback?
There are a ton of questions to ask, and rightfully so. But, let's focus on who the Giants could end up replacing Daboll with. Under the idea that New York should go after an offensive mind for Dart's sake, let's look at some names who fans might not necessarily think of right away (and some that may give a few of you nightmares).
Who are some non-obvious candidates to replace Brian Daboll?
Josh Grizzard, OC, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Let's start with a total wild card. As if Baker Mayfield hasn't already been through enough offensive coordinators, why not take away yet another after just one season? Josh Grizzard has done a nice job helping the Bucs' offense stay afloat amidst so many significant injuries.
Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Bucky Irving have all been out extended periods of time this season, yet Grizzard and Mayfield keep getting it done. The Bucs still have a winning record and remain in the top half of the league, offensively. That's impressive.
Todd Monken, OC, Baltimore Ravens
Maybe the best chances of any on this list, to become the Giants' next head coach, is current Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken. He's historically been one who can run a balanced offense and, even without Lamar Jackson for a good chunk of this year, the Ravens remain a top-5 rushing attack in this league.
Because of the Ravens' early struggles after Jackson's injury, some might have forgotten about Monken. But, don't discount his commitment to the run and him being in head coaching whispers dating back to last season.
Monken knows dual-threat quarterbacks, as the Giants have in Dart. The Giants are going to be a run-first team, especially when Cam Skattebo returns. There's no denying the offensive philosophy this Giants team needs to maintain, and Monken would be a great fit.
Matt Nagy, OC, Kansas City Chiefs
This is a name that might strike fear into the hearts of Giants fans everywhere. We know how his first stint as a head coach ended with the Chicago Bears. Matt Nagy got his claim to fame from being the offensive coordinator under Andy Reid, working alongside Patrick Mahomes, and that's where he returned to after his days in Chicago.
Now, there's been talk about Nagy potentially getting a second chance as a head coach elsewhere. While he wouldn't be Giants fans' first choice, it's hard to dismiss him completely. On one hand, there's a chance he learned a lot during his first experience as a head coach. He's admitted as much since being fired by Chicago.
Learning under Reid, once more, could give him even more knowledge to use at his disposal going forward. And, the Chiefs are back as one of the league's top offenses this year. It might be mostly on Reid, of course, but Nagy's name isn't worth totally throwing out.
Kliff Kingsbury, OC, Washington Commanders
Finally, here's another candidate that some fans might immediately shut down. But, there's a case to be made.
As it stands, the Commanders still have a top-10 rushing attack in the NFL. They are doing this with a myriad of nobodies, to be quite frank. A seventh-round rookie is leading the way with a couple of career backups behind him.
Along the same lines as Nagy, Kingsbury likely learned a lot after his first shot at being a head coach back in Arizona. As a coordinator, he was able to really elevate Jayden Daniels as a rookie and is still a top offensive mind.
This might not be best-case scenario, but Kingsbury should not be completely ignored.