After a half-dozen interviews, the Giants have not yet had anyone in for a second meeting and are still adding to their list as they search for Tom Coughlin’s replacement.
Add Hue Jackson to the list of potential candidates for the Giants head-coaching job that up until a week ago belonged to Coughlin.
Jackson, the Bengals offensive coordinator, saw his season come to a crushing end Saturday night with a last-second 18-16 loss to the Steelers. The very next day, Jackson interviewed with the Browns and 49ers — and there were reports a deal with the 49ers was imminent. That does not appear to be the case, and the Giants have requested permission from the Bengals to speak with Jackson. If it happens, it would be the seventh interview conducted by co-owner John Mara and general manager Jerry Reese.
The Giants might get beaten to the punch. An NFL Network report on Monday stated the Browns are ready to make a “big push’’ to hire Jackson.
Jackson, 50, gained rave reviews this season for his work with Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton. Jackson has head-coaching experience — which Mara seems to be focusing on — with one year in Oakland. Jackson went 8-8 with the Raiders in 2011 before he was dismissed when new general manager Reggie McKenzie came in and cleaned house.
On Monday, the Giants interviewed Mike Smith, the former Falcons head coach. Previously, they talked to their own coordinators, Ben McAdoo and Steve Spagnuolo, and also Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, Bears offensive coordinator Adam Gase and Doug Marrone, the former Bills head coach. The only candidate off the board is Gase, who was hired by the Dolphins.
Smith, 56, has extensive head-coaching experience — seven years in Atlanta — and his regular-season success the first five years was extraordinary: 56-24, two NFC South division titles, four playoff berths, three Sporting News Coach of the Year awards. Smith’s postseason failures are his résumé’s greatest blemish: a record of 1-4, including a 24-2 loss to the Giants in a 2011 NFC wild-card game. Smith’s best chance for a Super Bowl came in 2012, when the Falcons reached the NFC Championship game. Playing in Atlanta, the Falcons raced to a 17-0 lead early in the second quarter but did not score a point in the second half and lost to the 49ers, 28-24. The 17-point lead was the largest ever blown in an NFC title game.
There are other well-regarded candidates out there, but their teams remain alive in the playoffs. Sean McDermott, the Panthers defensive coordinator, and Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels are sure to receive interest and interviews next week for some of the six coaching vacancies around the league.
It has only been one week since Coughlin, Mara and Reese took turns saying goodbye (Coughlin), explaining the decision to part ways (Mara) and trying to defend his player-personnel record (Reese). Mara will be in Houston the next two days for an NFL owners’ meeting to discuss the relocation of teams to Los Angeles, meaning the Giants’ interviews are on hiatus.