Who’s Next?
The Giants are going shopping this holiday season, and on the list is a new general manager and head coach. Here are some possible candidates:
GENERAL MANAGER
JOE DOUGLAS, EAGLES PLAYER PERSONNEL DIRECTOR: You see all that talent assembled in Philadelphia? Douglas is not responsible for all of it, but he had his hand in much of it. He ran the scouting department with the Bears and before that was with the Ravens for 15 years. Sharp guy.
SCOTT PIOLI, ASSISTANT GM, FALCONS: Was the top personnel man for Bill Belichick in New England from 2002 to 2008. A former Jets personnel guy, he got his big chance running the Chiefs (200912). It did not end well for him in Kansas City.
ELIOT WOLF, PACKERS DIRECTOR OF FOOTBALL OPERATIONS: Son of former Packers GM Ron Wolf, an executive the Giants hold in high regard. Eliot Wolf is in his 14th year with the Packers and is just 35 years old.
ERIC DECOSTA, RAVENS ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER: Extremely loyal employee of the Ravens for 22 years who has resisted overtures to leave. Could he resist the Giants?
DAVE GETTLEMAN: He is well known and extremely well liked in the Giants building based on his relationships built up as an executive with the team from 1998 to 2012. Got his big break as the GM of the Panthers, got them to the Super Bowl but was fired, shockingly, in July. Age (66) could work against him.
BRIAN GAINE, BILLS VICE PRESIDENT OF PLAYER PERSONNEL: Longtime Texans executive with 18 years of NFL experience is in his first year in Buffalo. New York (Pearl River) native, he worked for Bill Parcells with the Jets.
JOHN DORSEY: Former Packers player who spent two decades in personnel department in Green Bay before spending four years as the Chiefs general manager, assembling impressive talent, before he was fired in June of 2016 for apparent communication issues with the rest of the front office.
COACHES
JOSH MCDANIELS, PATRIOTS OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Playcaller for Bill Belichick and part of five Super Bowl teams in New England. Hired by the Broncos as 33-year-old rookie head coach but crashed and burned, going 8-8 and 3-9 before getting canned. Says he learned from that sour experience.
NICK SABAN, ALABAMA HEAD COACH: The Giants nearly hired him in 1997 before they went with Jim Fassel and remain intrigued, from afar. Ranks with the greatest coaches in college football history and would demand extreme power and money to return to the NFL, where he failed the first time around with the Dolphins. And his huge Bama buyout makes getting him a huge hurdle.
DAVID SHAW, STANFORD HEAD COACH (right): He has repeatedly said he loves where he is and is not interested in a move to the NFL, but perhaps the Giants can change his mind. Has a record of 73-20 at Stanford and plenty of NFL experience as a quarterback guru.
TERYL AUSTIN, LIONS DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Giants came away impressed with him after interviewing him two years ago. Former NFL defensive back is 52 and is ready to take the next step.
JON GRUDEN, ESPN ANALYST: Won a Super Bowl with the Buccaneers and always sends out mixed signals about his desire to return to the sideline. He is not exactly what the Giants usually look for in a coach, but you never know.
MIKE SMITH, BUCS DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Tons of experience (58 years old) and loads of winning (66-46 in the regular season) as head coach of the Falcons, but not much winning (1-4) in the playoffs. A safe and fairly uninspiring option.
SEAN PAYTON, SAINTS HEAD COACH: There has been an awakening in New Orleans, but it might be time for a parting of the ways. Payton impressed the Giants as their offensive assistant and coordinator working under Jim Fassel and he is a proven winner who might be able to revitalize Eli Manning.
JOHN FASSEL, RAMS SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR: Son of former Giants head coach Jim Fassel might be the best at what he does in the league. Served as interim head coach with the Rams and is seen as a rising coaching star with excellent communication skills.