Either Matt Rhule is just playing hard to get or the Giants may have to look elsewhere for their next head coach.
Rhule said Tuesday he plans on being back at Baylor next season instead of making the jump to the NFL, where the Giants lead the list of interested suitors for the 44-year-old.
As Rhule prepares No. 7 Baylor for Wednesday’s Sugar Bowl against No. 5 Georgia, he declined the opportunity to interview for the Browns job, ESPN reported. But he is expected to be in high demand, particularly by the Giants and Panthers — if he wants an NFL job.
“One thing people don’t realize is coaches, we pick up our families,” Rhule said. “We rip them out of their homes. We rip them out of the places that they are. Sometimes you do that until you get to a point where you find happy. You shouldn’t mess with happy.
“There’s a lot to accomplish at Baylor. And most importantly, it’s just each and every year, I want to put together a championship-caliber team. And I think we have a chance to be even better next year than we are this year. … More than money, it’s about the situation for my family.”
Rhule said Monday he planned on going to Mexico with his family after the Sugar Bowl, but the Giants and others may have different ideas.
The former Giants assistant offensive line coach arrived at Baylor after the 2016 season and has rebuilt the program in short time. Rhule interviewed for the Jets job last offseason before turning it down, reportedly because he wanted full control over his staff.