“Big change” in Giants’ thinking could lead to Matt Patricia being head coach

Matt Patricia does, indeed, appear to have emerged as a leading candidate for the New York Giants’ head-coaching vacancy.

That, at least, is today’s story. And we’re sticking to it. For now. Until the wind blows in another direction.

Former Patriots’ personnel executive Bob Quinn is GM in Detroit, and considering that connection Patricia had been considered likely to end up with the Lions. Until now.

First, there was a report from SI’s Peter King that Patricia, the defensive coordinator for the New England Patriots, “favors the Giants” over the Detroit Lions. Then, the New York Daily News reported that “all signs” point to Patricia becoming head coach of the Giants.

Wednesday afternoon, a source confirmed to me that there had been a “big change” in the Giants’ thinking and that Patricia could get the job.

The Giants interviewed both Patricia and New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels last Friday in Foxboro.

The 43-year-old Patricia is an engineer who graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y. and turned down a job maintaining nuclear submarines and aircraft carriers to enter coaching. He has been with the Patriots since 2004, beginning as an offensive assistant and working his way up to defensive coordinator, a position he has held since 2012.

At various points, Jim Schwartz, Steve Wilks, Pat Shurmur and McDaniels have all been thought to be the front-runners for the Giants’ job. Now, it’s Patricia’s turn.

Let’s see if he actually gets the job, or if the wind blows in another direction. Again.