The 2025 season is over for the New York Giants, and now the team can officially start its search for its next head coach. After firing Brian Daboll early in the season, this moment has been long anticipated, and it’s a hire the franchise needs to get right. New York has a talented young core of players, and with the right leadership, the team could quickly develop into a contender.
Many believe the Giants may already be locked in on their next leader, thanks to a recent firing in the NFL. On Monday, the Cleveland Browns decided to move on from veteran head coach Kevin Stefanski. While his time in Cleveland has come to an end, he’s expected to be one of the top candidates of the hiring cycle, especially in New York.
Kevin Stefanski reportedly a top candidate for Giants after being fired by Browns
Immediately after the announcement that Cleveland was moving on, NFL reporter Albert Breer shared that Stefanski instantly becomes a top candidate for the Tennessee Titans and New York Giants. Both teams are looking for someone who can lead their talented young quarterbacks, so it makes sense that the offensive-minded Stefanski will be an option.
Stefanski came up through the coaching ranks as an offensive coach, holding various roles with the Minnesota Vikings from 2006 to 2019. After serving as the interim offensive coordinator in 2018, and the actual offensive coordinator in 2019, he became a head coach for the first time with the Cleveland Browns in 2020.
Stefanski’s time in Cleveland was filled with ups and downs, winning two Coach of the Year Awards (2020, 2023), and taking the Browns to the postseason in both of those years. While he did lead Cleveland to one playoff win in two postseason appearances, his other four years were losing seasons. The last two years were especially rough, with the Browns going 3-14 in 2024 and 5-12 in 2025.
Many people argue Stefanski wasn’t set up for success because of Cleveland’s inept offensive roster, and others argue that he didn’t do enough, regardless of the cards he was dealt. Ultimately, Stefanski ended his time for the Browns with a 45-56 record, and a 1-2 playoff record. He could now be headed to New York, where he will immediately be given a second chance, with a very promising roster.