The New York Giants have not yet started the interview process for their head-coaching vacancy, but a few candidates have emerged this Friday.

After falling to 2-8 on the season, the Giants fired head coach Brian Daboll on November 10. The writing was on the wall once he blew a 26-8 lead to the Denver Broncos three weeks earlier. Offensive coordinator Mike Kafka was named the interim coach for the remainder of the 2025 season.

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According to ESPN, the Giants have already compiled a list of candidates for their job opening. Unsurprisingly, a few coaches with head-coaching experience are on their radar.

Here are five candidates the Giants will consider for the job:

The Giants are also expected to consider Kafka for the full-time job. However, his 1-5 record isn’t exactly strengthening his case.

Nov 23, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; New York Giants interim head coach Mike Kafka looks on during the third quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images

Nov 23, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; New York Giants interim head coach Mike Kafka looks on during the third quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images

Mike McCarthy to New York?

A month ago, McCarthy raved about Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart during an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show.” That has fans convinced that he wants to coach the Ole Miss product.

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“I love the way he plays, because when I evaluate quarterbacks, you look at the in-the-pocket ability versus the out-of-pocket. What he does naturally you can’t teach,” McCarthy said. “His ability to make plays with his feet, whether it’s stepping up in the A or B gap and coming out off the movement stuff. Just the fact they run him on so many designed quarterback runs tells you what the coaching staff thinks of him.”

For what it’s worth, McCarthy has support from Giants legend Tiki Barber.

“As much as I would love to go with the young whippersnapper who is going to be an offensive genius [route], I think they need someone who has done it before,” Barber said in regards to the team’s coaching vacancy. “The obvious answer is Mike McCarthy.”

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We’ll see if McCarthy ends up making a strong impression on Giants owner John Mara and general manager Joe Schoen.

This story was originally published by The Spun on Jan 2, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.