Heart of a Giant Award winner meets NY Giants’ Dexter Lawrence
Old Tappan football player accepts Heart of a Giant Award and Super Bowl LX tickets, meets Giants lineman Dexter Lawrence.
The New York Giants are searching for a new head coach, their fifth since the 2015 season.The article ranks six potential candidates for the position, all of whom have defensive coaching backgrounds.Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula is ranked as the top candidate, followed by Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman.
EAST RUTHERFORD – The New York Giants are about to enter the fifth head coaching search for the organization since Tom Coughlin’s exit following the 2015 season.
Just consider this: the Giants have not hired a head coach with a defensive background since Bill Parcells.
So this is what we’re going to do at NorthJersey.com and The Record: we’ll have a regular look at the Giants’ coaching search as it takes shape until co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch and their families with general manager Joe Schoen leading the search find the next coach for the franchise.
This is our fourth installment: interim head coach Mike Kafka has three more games after three years to impress on the job. Can he do it? It’s not impossible, but the challenge is growing tougher as the Giants continue to lose.
How does the list of potential candidates not currently in the organization stack up? Here’s how we’d rank who we see as the Top 6, and our list will change based on impressions, additional reporting and developments across the board.
6. Jaguars defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile
Making the case: Campanile, 43, spent last season with the Green Bay Packers as the linebackers coach and running game coordinator for another New Jersey native Jeff Hafley’s defense. He interviewed for the Giants’ defensive coordinator opening prior to last season and impressed before Big Blue went with Shane Bowen based on experience. Things did not work out with Bowen, which should give the Giants reason to look past certain boxes if the candidate impresses enough.
The latest: Now Campanile is thriving as DC in Jacksonville with head coach Liam Coen, whose gamble on the coach and not necessarily the resume stacked with experience has paid off. His time working with Brian Flores and Vic Fangio in Miami with the Dolphins, Greg Schiano at Rutgers and Jim Harbaugh at Michigan has provided valuable intel from respected coaches at the college and pro levels. He has built a defense in Jacksonville that is a blend of Flores and Fangio – two aggressive styles. There’s no questioning Campanile’s distinct in-your-face personality that screams North Jersey, where he was born and raised.
Next game: This is a moment Sunday that could speak volumes about Campanile’s candidacy with the Jaguars heading to Mile High to face a hot QB in Bo Nix and Sean Payton’s Broncos.
5. Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph
Making the case: Joseph has been a head coach previously and is deserving of another chance. He’s helped rebuild the Cardinals’ defense and now has the Broncos among the league’s best with outstanding play at all three levels. He is a dynamic leader and innovative defensively, and that combo should make him a factor in this head coaching cycle despite compiling an 11-21 in his first stint as HC in Denver. The 53-year-old crossed paths with Schoen in their tenures with the Miami Dolphins – Joseph was the defensive coordinator on Adam Gase’s staff in 2016 and Schoen was the director of player personnel for a playoff team. Joseph could pair with a young OC candidate like Davis Webb, the Broncos’ QB
The latest: The Broncos have 58 sacks and have won 10 in a row behind Joseph’s dominant defense, the most recent victory coming against Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers to maintain control of the AFC, stamping themselves as true contenders.
Next game: Denver will play host to streaking Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who torched the Jets for six total touchdowns last week, including five TD passes. This is another great opportunity for Joseph to emerge as a sleeper candidate against one of the league’s most productive offenses in recent weeks.
4. Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter
Making the case: Minter has thrived as Jim Harbaugh’s right hand man and he runs a creative and innovative defense that has garnered plenty of praise in his leap from the national title at Michigan to the Chargers last season. He’s considered one of the best defensive minds – young or old – in football.
The latest: Minter’s Chargers took a big step toward staying in contention for the AFC West crown by delivering the final blow to Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City’s playoff chances last Sunday in Arrowhead, with Mahomes’ torn ACL adding salt to the wound. Minter’s name is also being bandied about for the opening at the University of Michigan, where he was previously with Jim Harbaugh.
Next game: Minter’s defense has taken out Jalen Hurts and Mahomes in back-to-back weeks and now the Chargers take aim at Dak Prescott and the Cowboys. What better way to send a message to the Giants than to beat the Eagles and Cowboys in two of the last three games, with the Chiefs sandwiched between?
3. Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley
Making the case: The Bergen County native has been prominently mentioned as one of those to watch as the Giants’ coaching search unfolds over the next few months. The franchise has strong ties to Boston College, where Hafley served as head coach from 2020-23, and his coaching resume includes stops in college (WPI, Albany, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Ohio State and Boston College) and the NFL (Buccaneers, 49ers, Browns and Packers) where he worked with some of the brightest and best minds in the game.
The latest: With the Cleveland Browns, Hafley worked with Kyle Shanahan, Mike McDaniel, Aaron Glenn and Kevin O’Connell. With the 49ers, he worked under Shanahan and with Robert Saleh and DeMeco Ryans. All have become head coaches in the NFL, with Shanahan and O’Connell among the most respected.
Next game: Hafley held his own against Sean Payton and the Broncos in a marquee game, but this Saturday night is even bigger in the rematch with Ben Johnson’s Bears in Chicago.
2. Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman
Making the case: CEO leader to rebuild what has been broken here with Giants if Freeman would make the leap. He seems to have great command of the program and a dynamic personality. Ability to build a staff in the NFL would have to be vetted as an integral part of his candidacy. A big sticking point could be a reported $50 million buyout teams would have to pay in order to hire Freeman.
The latest: The Giants are not alone in their affection for Freeman and what he has done as head coach at Notre Dame. He turns 40 in January, and Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua suggested that the school is prepared to do whatever it can to keep him in South Bend. We’ll see if that materializes.
Next game: Freeman and the Irish are done for the season, declining a bowl invite after they were snubbed and kept out of the college football playoffs. The Giants could seek an interview with Freeman at any time, and both Notre Dame and the Giants could choose to keep any pursuit under wraps. Either way, until Freeman comes out and states he is not leaving Notre Dame, the speculation will continue.
1. Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula
Making the case: Sean McVay’s coaching tree bears plenty of juicy fruit more times than not. Yes, the 39-year-old Shula is the grandson of the NFL coaching legend Don Shula. His father, Dave, was the head coach of the Bengals, and his uncle, Mike, was the offensive coordinator of the Giants for two years under Pat Shurmur. The Rams are very good defensively and you never know when the risk on a young coach with pedigree and production pays off with significant reward.
The latest: The way the Rams are playing defensively, Shula has earned his mentions in numerous candidate lists. The profile of McVay’s right-hand man continues to gain prominence in Los Angeles and beyond. I also like the chances of Shula building a staff, especially if he can dip into McVay’s coaching tree as well.
Next game: Shula and the Rams are clicking, and with every victory, McVay and Co. look like the NFL’s best. The win over the Lions was impressive, and the Seahawks should provide another great stage for Shula’s unit on Thursday night.
Also considered: NFL head coach Mike McCarthy, Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo
Previous rankings: 1. Shula; 2. Freeman; 3. Hafley; 4. Minter; 5. Spagnuolo; 6. Campanile