There are no guarantees in life, but the New York Giants having an electric 2026 offseason feels about as close to one as it gets.
Aside from what could happen -- a complete roster teardown and the firing of general manager Joe Schoen -- Giants fans already know they’ll have a top-10 pick in the 2026 Draft. That pick should likely land inside the top five and could even end up being No. 1 overall. They also know a new head coach is on the way to shake up the losing culture that’s infected this team for the past decade.
Put it all together, and 2026 is shaping up to be an all-time vibes offseason. But before the festivities begin, such as free agency and the draft, finding the right head coach will take precedence.
If he's still employed come January, general manager Joe Schoen will lead the search. Expect a CEO-type leader who can hold players and coaches accountable, develop talent, and bring a real culture and identity back to this once proud franchise.
If that sounds like a lot of boxes to check, think again. According to Senior NFL insider Dianna Russini of The Athletic, Big Blue already has a few early frontrunners.
Giants' head coaching shortlist already coming into focus
Russini recently reported that the G-Men have quietly begun narrowing their focus, with several interesting names on the list:
"The New York Giants have a list of candidates for their head-coaching vacancy. I’m told the names on it include Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak … and Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman."
That's quite the preliminary list.
Giants fans might remember Anarumo. The 56-year-old Staten Island native spent time as their defensive backs coach in 2018. He has spent the past seven seasons as a defensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals (2019-2024) and the Indianapolis Colts (2025).
Kliff Kingsbury has been a thorn in Big Blue's side for the better part of the past two seasons. He's been huge in developing second-year quarterback Jayden Daniels -- proof that he could work wonders with Giants rookie QB sensation Jaxson Dart. Not so fun fact: The 46-year-old is 4-0 against NY as the Commanders' OC.
Marcus Freeman has never stepped foot on an NFL sideline, but that shouldn't make his candidacy any less real. He's been the HC for Notre Dame the past four years, replacing the legendary Brian Kelly and leading the Fighting Irish to a National Championship game. He's a no-nonsense players' coach who is a builder of character and leader of men.
The Kubiaks have been coaching in the NFL since 1994. Klint was seven years old at the time when his dad, Gary, got the OC job for the San Francisco 49ers. He's had some time to grow into the offensive mastermind he is today, as he's become one of the hottest coaching candidates on the market, thanks to an electric 2025 season with the Seattle Seahawks.
Lastly, there's Hafley. The 46-year-old has been around the block, with coaching stints spanning from Boston College to the University of Albany to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to everywhere in between. He's currently got Green Bay ranked sixth in yards per game allowed (294.6) and eighth in points allowed (20.1).
If this is the shortlist, imagine what the full search could look like. For the first time in a long time, Giants fans can actually look forward to what’s next.