Giants’ coaching search: Team reportedly asks to interview Josh McDaniels, Matt Patricia

New York Giants co-owner John Mara said last week that the Giants, with new GM Dave Gettleman already settling into his chair, would move quickly to hire a new head coach. They have apparently done so, with reports that they have submitted the consent forms to interview New England Patriots coordinators Matt Patricia and Josh McDanies.

Josh McDaniels

New England’s 41-year-old offensive coordinator had an aborted stint as head coach of the Denever Broncos. Hired in 2009 as the youngest coach in the league at the time, he was fired before the 2010 season ended. McDaniels has been considered a head-coach-in-waiting for a couple of years, just waiting for the right opportunity.

Rich Hill of SB Nation’s Patriots web site, Pats Pulpit, told Big Blue View recently that McDaniels is ready for another head-coaching job:

“I think Josh McDaniels is going to be an outstanding coach because he’s learned from his errors with the Broncos. He’s a brilliant offensive mind and he’s been in a league of his own at calling games and making adjustments since the 2014 season,” Hill wrote in an e-mail. “His biggest flaw was his inability to forge relationships with players and the organization and he’s actively tried to improve on that front since his return to the Patriots. He’s been ready to lead for the past few seasons.”

Matt Patricia

The 43-year-old has never been a head coach, but he has been learning under Bill Belichick since 2004 and has been New England defensive coordinator since 2012. Patricia is another Patriots’ assistant thought to be an eventual head coach. There have been reports that the Detroit Lions, who fired Jim Caldwell, are also interested in talking to Patricia.

Steve Wilks

The Giants are reportedly among teams who have requested permission to talk with Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks.

The Giants’ interest in Wilks should be no surprise. Gettleman is familiar with Wilks from their time in Carolina, where Gettleman was GM from 2013 until this summer. Wilks has been part of the Panthers coaching staff since 2012.

Also ...

There were reports on Sunday that the Giants were interested in Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. Calling him the “favorite,” as that report did might be overblown. ... Giants interim head coach Steve Spagnuolo told reporters on Monday that he has not yet scheduled an interview for the permanent position.

Eric Studesville, fired Monday as an assistant with the Denver Broncos, is also apparently a candidate who interests the Giants.

Studesville last through four head coaches — Josh McDaniels, John Fox, Gary Kubiak and Vance Joseph — with the Broncos. He had been coaching running backs, and served as interim coach in 2010 after McDaniels was fired. Studesville was Giants’ running backs coach under Jim Fassel from 2001-2003.