With Brian Daboll Fired, Who is the Leading Candidate to be the Head Coach for New York in 2026? Who Should Replace Brian Daboll in 2026?
Full Story on Daboll Being Fired as New York’s Head Coach
Despite drafting DE Abdul Carter as the #3 pick in the 2025 draft, the Giants are now on the verge of accomplishing their third straight losing season. Following Sunday’s road loss vs. Chicago Bears despite a 10-point lead, the 2-8 Giants fired Brian Daboll after 3 and 1/2 seasons as head coach. Offensive Coordinator and Associate Head Coach Mike Kafka will be guiding the team for the remainder of the year. Daboll is now out of a job after winning the league’s top coaching honors back in 2022.
The NFL club has only made the playoffs twice since the 2016 campaign. To make matters worse, the team’s defense has given up at least 25 points in five of the ten games played so far in 2025. At the time of the coaching change, New York was on a four-game losing streak that began with a one-point loss vs. Denver Broncos on October 19. Daboll became the second NFL head coach to lose his job this season after the Tennessee Titans let go Brian Callahan.
Brian Daboll’s Career with the New York Giants
Daboll took over as the leading man in East Rutherford in 2022 after the dismissal of Joe Judge. The Giants reached the postseason in 2022 by defeating the Vikings in the Wild Card Round. However, New York went on to lose to the eventual NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional Round. But since that magical year, the organization was unable to achieve that same success. Overall, Daboll compiled a 20-40-1 record and 1-1 in the playoffs.
Before becoming the Giants’ head coach in 2022, Daboll was the offensive coordinator for the Bills (2018-2021), Alabama Crimson Tide (2017), Chiefs (2012), Dolphins (2011), and Browns (2009-2010). He took the Bills to the AFC Championship game in 2019, but lost to the Super Bowl champion Chiefs. Meanwhile, Daboll was also part of the Crimson Tide staff that won the national championship vs. Georgia in 2017. He also served as the tight ends coach for the Patriots from 2013 until 2016.
What’s Next for the New York Giants?
Many Giants football fans might wonder: Who is the leading candidate to replace Brian Daboll in 2026? The top coaches in consideration listed in this article have prior coaching experience. In addition, those candidates have been on the coaching staff for at least five years. Please refer to the information below for the list of top candidates to replace Daboll as New York Giants Head Coach!
Possible Candidates to Replace Brian Daboll as New York HC
Internal Candidates
Mike Kafka-New York
- Chiefs Quality Coach (2017)
- Chiefs QB Coach (2018-2021)
- Giants OC (2022-2025)
- Giants Interim HC (2025-Present)
- Won Super Bowl LIV with Kansas City in 2019
Top Head Coach Candidates for New York Giants to Consider
Jeff Hafley-Green Bay
- Buccaneers DB Coach (2012-2013)
- Browns DB Coach (2014-2015)
- 49ers DB Coach (2016-2018)
- Ohio State Co-DC (2019)
- Boston College HC (2020-2023)
- Packers DC (2024-Present)
Klint Kubiak-Seattle
- Kansas WR Coach (2015)
- Broncos Offense Coach (2016-2018)
- Vikings QB Coach (2019-2020)
- Vikings OC (2021)
- Broncos Pass Game Coordinator (2022)
- 49ers Pass Game Coordinator (2023)
- Saints OC (2024)
- Seahawks OC (2025-Present)
- Coached in Super Bowl for San Francisco in 2023
Kliff Kingsbury-Washington
- Texas Tech Offensive Coordinator (2012)
- Texas Tech Head Coach (2013-2018)
- Cardinals HC (2019-2022)
- USC Senior Offense Analyst (2023)
- Commanders OC (2024-Present)
Mike McCarthy-Dallas
- Chiefs QB Coach (1995-1998)
- Packers QB Coach (1999)
- Saints OC (2000-2004)
- 49ers OC (2005)
- Packers HC (2006-2018)
- Cowboys HC (2020-2024)
- Won Super Bowl with Green Bay in 2010
Leading Candidate to Replace Brian Daboll as Giants HC in 2026
Jesse Minter-Los Angeles
- Indiana State LB Coach (2009-2010)
- Indiana State Defensive Coordinator (2011-2012)
- Georgia State DC (2013-2016)
- Ravens Defense Coach (2017-2018)
- Ravens DB Coach (2019-2020)
- Vanderbilt DC (2021)
- Michigan DC (2022-2023)
- Chargers DC (2024-Present)
- Won National Championship with Wolverines in 2023
Related: Titans’ Candidates to Replace Brian Callahan
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