After an ugly falling out between head coach Brian Daboll and defensive coordinator Wink Martindale, the New York Giants were thrust into the hunt for a new DC.
Their search has been thorough but thus far, has yielded no fruit.
Earlier this week, general manager Joe Schoen said he’d like to have a DC in place over the coming days but that clock is ticking.
Nearly a month after the Giants and Martindale “parted ways,’ the Giants are still without a defensive coordinator and following a recent spate of hirings, their options are beginning to dwindle.
Ejiro Evero
The Giants had requested an interview with Ejiro Evero but were blocked by the Carolina Panthers, The Athletic reports.
Evero had a second interview for the Seahawks’ head-coaching vacancy Saturday, and multiple teams are interested in hiring him as defensive coordinator, according to a league source. But Evero remains under contract with the Panthers, who can block him from interviewing for lateral positions — and have with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins and New York Giants.
Evero apparently wants to coach a defense outside of Carolina but the organization is intent on preventing him from a lateral move.
Dennard Wilson
Dennard Wilson had two interviews with the Giants for their vacant DC position and it seemed like he was their No. 1 choice.
Ultimately, Wilson decided to go elsewhere and is currently working on a deal with the Tennessee Titans to take over as their defensive coordinator.
Dennard Wilson was also a top DC candidate for the #Giants, #Packers and #Rams.
Under Wilson, the #Ravens’ pass defense ranked 6th in the NFL. Kyle Hamilton earned 1st-Team All-Pro honors, while fellow safety Geno Stone’s 7 INTS ranked second in all of football. https://t.co/BVkAzjWWpe
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) February 1, 2024
Has Tennessee become a more appealing job than the Giants? If so, that’s concerning.
Bobby Babich
Buffalo Bills linebackers coach Bobby Babich was an option that intrigued most Giants fans. He met with the team but ultimately opted to remain in Western New York.
As opposed to taking over the DC job in East Rutherford, Babich was promoted to Bills defensive coordinator.
Shane Bowen
It briefly appeared as if Shane Bowen was also off the table for the Giants with reports that the Titans were going to keep him in tow. However, the hiring of Wilson obviously changes things.
As of this writing, Bowen is still, technically, the DC in Tennessee. They may find another role for him but the more likely outcome is that he’s fired and becomes an option for the Giants once again.
Bowen was among the first to interview with the Giants during this cycle.
Brendan Daly
If Brendan Daly is the man for the Giants, it’s going to be a while before their defensive coordinator vacancy is filled.
Daly is currently coaching linebackers with the Kansas City Chiefs and while he previously met with the Giants, his primary focus is the Super Bowl.
If the Giants do ultimately go with Daly, they can’t hire him until after The Big Game on February 11.
Derrick Ansley
The Giants requested an interview with Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Derrick Ansley early in the hiring cycle and then everything surrounding him fell silent.
It’s unclear if the Chargers granted the Giants’ request for an interview at the time or if Ansley remains on their radar now that things have been shaken up out in L.A.
Anthony Campanile
Miami Dolphins linebackers coach Anthony Campanile was also an early target for the Giants. He interviewed with the Giants but appears destined to remain in Florida.
The Dolphins recently interviewed Campanile for their own defensive coordinator vacancy and he’s believed to be the frontrunner for the job.
Jerome Henderson
Is it safe to say Jerome Henderson is not the frontrunner for the Giants’ DC job?
Henderson has served as the Giants’ defensive backs coach since 2020 and is widely respected in the locker room and around the league. The 54-year-old has a long history as both a player and an assistant, and appears ripe for his first coordinator job.
The Giants held their in-house interview with Henderson in mid-January and he’s arguably the best remaining option.
