11 head coaches the New York Giants could hire if Brian Daboll is fired

If the Giants are looking to clean house from top to bottom, that means assistant head coach and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka is toast, too. However, Kafka has been a hot commodity over the past two head coaching cycles and promises to be again, even though he’s been relieved of his play-calling duties by Daboll this season. He’s familiar with ownership, the players and the building, and it would be the Giants’ easiest transition.

Bill Belichick has never been shy about his love for the Giants and his history with the franchise. It has also been made abundantly clear that he wants a return to the sidelines in 2025. The problem with Belichick is his desired control. Unless general manager Joe Schoen gets thrown out with the bathwater as well, Belichick is unlikely to consider the Giants. Even if John Mara and Steve Tisch choose to fire both Schoen and Daboll, would they be willing to give Belichick the power he wants? It’s a tricky one.

Mike Vrabel is a defensive-minded coach who received the 2021 AP Coach of the Year award with the Tennessee Titans. He had tremendous success during his first four seasons, which included three consecutive playoff appearances, before being dropped in 2022-2023. He was fired in January and has spent the 2024 season as a consultant for the Cleveland Browns. He will be a hot commodity during the upcoming coaching cycle and could be interesting for the Giants.

Would the Giants consider going back to the well for a third time? Steve Spagnuolo has etched himself in NFL history as one of the best defensive coordinators of all time, but has not shared the same success as a head coach. He went 1-3 as interim coach of the Giants in 2017 and 10-38 as head coach of the then-St. Louis Rams. He is beloved by the organization (and their fans) and could attract interest from several teams in January.

Like Kafka, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has been a hot candidate in recent cycles. He was rumored to be the front man for several teams in 2024, but ultimately decided to return to Detroit. Eventually, the 38-year-old will look to step up, and if the Lions go on to win a Super Bowl this season, why not now? Should Daboll be fired, Johnson will definitely get a call.

Kliff Kingsbury built slowly in Arizona followed by a steep decline. His Cardinals exit was abrupt and then followed by a year at USC where he helped develop Caleb Williams. This season, he has served as the offensive coordinator for the Washington Commanders and has overseen the development of Jayden Daniels, who appears to be a shoo-in for Offensive Rookie of the Year. Kingsbury runs a quarterback-friendly offense and would have his pick of signal callers if he joined the Giants in 2025.

The Giants-Brian Flores situation is ugly, and it’s hard to imagine a scenario where things get resolved. He expected to be hired over Daboll in 2022, but that never materialized and was followed by a racial discrimination lawsuit that remains ongoing. Would he even answer if Mara called? It seems unlikely, but Flores will enter the offseason as a top head coaching candidate with a penchant for building the dominant defense the Giants desperately need. Still, the relationship seems too distant.

2015 C-USA Coach of the Year and two-time National Champion, Todd Monken, is in his second season as the Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator. He has helped transform that system with a more balanced approach that fits today’s NFL. Monken has proven the ability to adapt to his personnel — an area the Giants struggle with — while getting the most out of his players. Could he help shape an entire franchise? He’ll probably get some looks.

The 37-year-old Bobby Slowik is one of the true future head coaching candidates. He comes from the Mike Shanahan-Kyle Shanahan tree, and that bodes well for any team looking to draft a new franchise quarterback. He helped CJ Stroud hit the ground running and would be an exciting option for the Giants as they embark on the post-Daniel Jones era.

Ejiro Evero, 43, has an impressive all-around resume having coached offense, defense and special teams at the NFL level. He currently serves as the defensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers, but his 17 years of experience will intrigue owners and general managers looking for a new coach. He has been named a “coach to watch” for the coming cycle and already has eight head coaching interviews under his belt, including five follow-up interviews.

Jesse Minter comes from the Jim Harbaugh-John Harbaugh tree, and the former has served as his “head-coaching campaign manager” in media interviews. He is loved and respected by his players, mainly because of his open mind and humble approach. Minter has a wealth of experience having learned under very successful trainers, but has yet to fly on his own. Still, the Giants and several other teams may be intrigued enough to seek an interview.