The New York Giants hope to retain Patrick Graham as their defensive coordinator but only if he doesn’t land a head coaching job elsewhere.
“I’ve had a good relationship with Pat for some time in this league. He’s very diligent. He’s smart. I think the players respect him. He understands different defenses and I have a good working relationship with him. I did when I was back at New England,” Giants head coach Brian Daboll said on Monday.
“Certainly, we hope that he has an opportunity to become a head coach. I think that’s everybody’s dream, but selfishly, I would love him to be here. He offers a lot to our program. I think he’d be a great support system for me and I’m hoping that that works out.”
The only remaining variable that could pry Graham away from the Giants are the Minnesota Vikings, who remain entrenched in a head coaching search of their own.
Minnesota has already interviewed Graham once for their head coaching vacancy and now, per ESPN’s Courtney Cronin, will meet with him a second time on Tuesday.
Per source, New York Giants DC Pat Graham will be in Minnesota on Tuesday for his second interview with the Vikings. Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh will interview in Minnesota son on Wednesday.
— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) February 1, 2022
Graham has long maintained that coaching the Giants’ defense is his “dream job” and even passed over several coaching opportunities last year to remain in East Rutherford. However, with his close friend, Joe Judge, having been fired earlier this year, Graham has gotten more serious about taking a lead role elsewhere.
If the Vikings do ultimately pass Graham over — and that would be a foolish decision by them — expect him to return to the Giants’ sideline in 2022.
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