This would certainly be a game-changing surprise. According to the New York Daily News, New England Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, not offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, is the favorite for the New York Giants head coaching vacancy.
The Daily News has learned that all signs are pointing to Matt Patricia, the New England Patriots defensive coordinator with a degree in aeronautical engineering, as the man the Giants will hire to point Big Blue back in the right direction.
And while improving the offense and developing a young quarterback to succeed Eli Manning are priorities in this coaching search, Patricia feels like too good of a fit and could bring an offensive coordinator to address those needs, perhaps Alabama’s Brian Daboll, 42, who overlapped with Patricia for seven seasons in New England.
Patricia, 43, as the Daily News has written a few times the last couple days, is not a done deal to the Detroit Lions as several reports had claimed coming out of his interviews last weekend with the Giants, Lions and Cardinals (oh my). In fact, there are indications he prefers the Giants to the Lions.
The NYDN also reports that McDaniels is deciding between the Indianapolis Colts, Giants, and remaining with the Patriots, with the Colts “the more likely landing place.”
I’m not sure what to think of this report. Patricia was definitely in the running for the job, sure, but Giants owner John Mara said he wanted “somebody that has either had head-coaching experience or at least has been a coordinator for a significant period of time.” And while Patricia certainly has a lot of coordinator experience, McDaniels has both the extended coordinator experience and the head coaching experience.
A large portion of the article is focused on how the Giants have traditionally been as successful as their defense, which is why they believe Patricia is a better fit than McDaniels. I just believe finding the right person to groom their next quarterback of the future would be more important due to the value of the position.
If Patricia takes this job, then there would be a big trickle-down effect. Houston Texans defensive coordinator Mike Vrabel would likely be the next favorite to take over the Detroit Lions head coaching job, while McDaniels would be down to either the Colts job or staying with the Patriots- and I think that would mean McDaniels is extremely likely to stay in New England.
My big hesitation with this story is that if Patricia was really going to take this Giants job, then wouldn’t he have told old friend Lions general manager Bob Quinn to let him know that he’s not taking the Detroit job? And then the Lions could start the process with another coach. Until the Lions job is filled, I’m not going to fully buy in to the “Patricia to the Giants” story.
The Giants can’t hire either Patricia or McDaniels until the Patriots season ends, so we’ll just have to wait see- or if the Lions fill their opening, then we’ll definitely have our answer.
Bernd’s take
Patricia appears to be in a position to pick his landing spot depending on his preferences.
According to The MMQB's Peter King, Patricia is the favorite to be offered the Detroit Lions' head coaching position over ex-Patriots linebacker and current Houston Texans defensive coordinator Mike Vrabel. The move would reunite New England's defensive coordinator of the last six seasons with former Patriots director of pro scouting Bob Quinn, who serves as the Lions' general manager since 2016.
However, King notes that Patricia actually prefers another offer: the New York Giants'. New York has also expressed interest in Josh McDaniels over the last few weeks, so the Giants selection of Patricia would leave New England's offensive coordinator with one realistic club to join (the Colts).
If Patricia indeed becomes Giants head coach, he will enter a difficult situation not only because of the size of New York's media market: The quarterback situation is a question mark after Eli Manning is coming off one of the worst seasons of his career, while members of the defensive backfield – namely safety Landon Collins and cornerback Eli Apple – are openly feuding.
In New England, meanwhile, linebacker coach Brian Flores would likely take over as defensive coordinator. While the 36-year old also interviewed for a head coaching job last week – with the Arizona Cardinals – the expectation is that he stays with the Patriots and moves up into Patricia's old spot.