Two Giants head coaching candidates from college football that New York should aggressively target in their head coach search
The New York Giants should dig into Marcus Freeman and Lane Kiffin as head coach candidates.
The New York Giants’ search for a new head coach is underway after they fired head coach Brian Daboll yesterday.
They’ll need to sort through a long list of potential options, including high-level coordinators across the NFL and numerous former head coaches. While the Giants have historically pulled someone already in the NFL, they could look to college football for two candidates generating buzz.
It’s unlikely that either of these candidates will leave their current positions, but it doesn’t hurt the Giants to pursue them. Here are the two best candidates they can hire from the college ranks.
Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss HC
Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin has become the go-to name in the college football coaching carousel for every major opening. With Florida, LSU, and Penn State currently open, it’s expected he’ll either leave his current job or stick at Ole Miss and continue to build.
SEC football fans understand that Ole Miss is not an easy program to win with, given its regional recruiting disadvantages. Despite their limitations, Kiffin has consistently turned the Rebels into one of the best offenses in college football and is currently in the hunt for a College Football Playoff berth.
His overall record with the Rebels has been stellar, including a 53-19 mark and a Peach Bowl win in 2023. This season, it’s expected for Ole Miss to reach the CFP after multiple ranked victories over top teams in the SEC.
Kiffin was also a head coach in the NFL with the Oakland Raiders from 2007 to 2008. His time with Oakland ended in disaster, as he posted a 5-15 record.
With the attention Kiffin is generating, it’s clear he’s well respected in the football world, especially for his ability to produce elite offenses. The most important and obvious layer to this is that he coached current New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart.
Dart had a phenomenal career in Oxford, and his development under Kiffin turned him into a first-round pick. The potential to reconnect the two is highly intriguing and should entice the Giants organization to attempt to convince him to make the jump.
Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame HC
Since leading the Fighting Irish to the National Championship last season, Marcus Freeman’s name has been frequently mentioned for NFL head coaching openings. It’s been considered unlikely that he leaves Notre Dame, but he’s been discussed as an option for the top college openings of LSU, Florida, Penn State, and Auburn.
Freeman has compiled a fantastic 40-12 record at Notre Dame, including three College Football Playoff wins in 2024. He’s generated significant respect in college football for his ability to develop and build relationships with young players. His ability to establish culture and recruit at an elite level has helped Notre Dame reach heights it hasn’t reached for a long time.
Jumping to another college program shouldn’t entice Freeman, as he’s already leading one of the biggest brands in the sport to tremendous success. However, an opportunity in the NFL is one that many college coaches strongly consider.
With a young core of star players, hiring a coach who can rebuild a foundation that has been completely demolished is enticing. Freeman would have the opportunity to build the vision of this new team with young stars like Dart, Malik Nabers, Brian Burns, and Abdul Carter already in place.
New York Giants News
Two connected Giants head coaching candidates should be on everyone’s radar after Brian Daboll’s firing
These two New York Giants head coaching candidates would make perfect sense after firing Brian Daboll.
