Who Will Be Next Giants HC? Latest Rumors on Candidate Shortlist, Joe Schoen's Status

The New York Giants are reportedly prepared for a potential head coaching search at the conclusion of the 2025 season.

Brian Daboll was fired earlier this week and replaced by offensive coordinator Mike Kafka on an interim basis. According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Giants already have a "shortlist of candidates" they would like to interview if and when their head coaching search commences.

The Giants did not fire general manager Joe Schoen, and although he will be evaluated at the end of the season, Russini reported that most people around the league believe Schoen will be retained "because of how highly he's regarded" by Giants ownership.

Daboll and Schoen were both hired in 2022, and early returns were great, as they went 9-7-1, reached the playoffs and won a playoff game in their first season on the job.

With Daboll winning NFL Coach of the Year, quarterback Daniel Jones having a career year and running back Saquon Barkley bouncing back from a couple of subpar seasons, it looked as though the Giants were a team on the rise.

However, Jones battled through injuries and poor play over the next two campaigns, and Barkley left after the 2023 season, signing with the Philadelphia Eagles in free agency.

That resulted in 6-11 and 3-14 marks in 2023 and 2024, respectively, and Daboll entered the 2025 campaign on the hot seat.

The Giants seemingly had a great 2025 draft, selecting new franchise quarterback Jaxson Dart in the first round and running back Cam Skattebo in the fourth, which could be a contributing factor if Schoen sticks around beyond this season.

New York has been far more competitive and exciting this season than the previous two, but the team is still tied for the worst record in the NFC at 2-8.

The Giants have twice blown leads of 10 or more points with less than four minutes remaining, so while they have come close to showing significant improvement, they have struggled to finish.

Both Skattebo and star wide receiver Malik Nabers are out for the rest of the season, while Dart won't play Sunday against the Green Bay Packers due to a concussion.

That means Kafka will have to coach out the rest of the season without New York's full allotment of offensive stars, but if he can finish the year on a high note, perhaps he can stake claim to the full-time head coaching job and eliminate the need for an interview process.