Report: New York Giants will hire Ben McAdoo as head coach

Ben McAdoo will be the new head coach of the New York Giants, according to published reports. The Giants ended a search that took nearly two weeks by elevating McAdoo, their offensive coordinator the past two seasons and the man originally considered the front-runner, to replace Tom Coughlin.

The contrast between the former coach and the new coach is a sharp one. Coughlin, 69, was the league's oldest coach. He was Giants coach for 12 seasons, won two Super Bowls and was the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars for eight seasons. McAdoo has no head-coaching experience. McAdoo, 38, becomes the NFL's second-youngest head coach. New Miami Dolphins head coach, Adam Gase, 37, is the youngest.

The hiring of McAdoo fulfills a scenario many foresaw in 2014 when the Giants hired McAdoo away from the Green Bay Packers to replace the retired Kevin Gilbride. McAdoo was immediately considered a potential successor to Coughlin.

McAdoo's hiring comes with the blessing of quarterback Eli Manning. When McAdoo replaced Gilbride it forced Manning to learn a new offensive system for the first time since he became a Giant in 2004. Manning has had two excellent statistical seasons under McAdoo's direction, with his interceptions going down and his completion percentage going up. Manning's 93.6 passer rating in 2015 was the best of his career.

"I think we've done good things and I feel very comfortable, I think we work well," Manning said of McAdoo at the end of the season.

The Giants interviewed McAdoo, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, Jacksonville Jaguars assistant head coach Doug Marrone, former Atlanta Falcons head coach Mike Smith, and Gase for the job. They had scheduled an interview with Hue Jackson, but Jackson accepted an offer to coach the Cleveland Browns before that meeting took place.

The McAdoo file

Age: 38

Coaching career

College

Michigan State (GA) (2001)
Fairfield (OL/TE) (2002)
Pittsburgh (GA) (2003)

NFL

New Orleans Saints (offensive quality control) (2004)
San Francisco 49ers (OL/OQC) (2005)
Green Bay Packers (TE) (2006-2011)
Green Bay Packers (QB) (2012-2013)
New York Giants (OC) (2014-present)