The promise by Giants co-owner John Mara is a thorough and expansive search, and it is underway as his franchise once again looks for a new head coach.
Former Packers head coach Mike McCarthy will be interviewed this weekend and the Giants have asked permission to speak with Don “Wink’’ Martindale, the Ravens defensive coordinator, The Post confirmed. Joe Judge, the Patriots special teams coordinator, is also reportedly being sought for an interview.
On Monday, the day Pat Shurmur was fired after only two years on the job, the Giants reached out to Josh McDaniels, the Patriots offensive coordinator, Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy and Kris Richard, the Cowboys’ passing game coordinator.
Matt Rhule, the Baylor head coach, is also high in the Giants’ thought process. Rhule has only one year of NFL experience — with the Giants in 2012 as an offensive line assistant coach. Rhule reportedly turned down a request from the Browns for an interview and is considered to be high on the lists of the Giants and Panthers. Rhule at the moment is busy, as on Wednesday his Baylor bears face Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.
“We need a head coach that can bring together a staff, that’s enthusiastic, we need a head coach with leadership, we need a head coach with intelligence and one that can connect with these players,” general manager Dave Gettleman said. “That’s what we need.’’
Gettleman, of course, headed the search that landed Shurmur, who made it though only two of the five years on his contract.
Of the group, McCarthy has the longest and deepest resume. He was fired in December 2018 after 13 years in Green Bay. He won Super Bowl XLV in 2010 and had a record of 125-77-2 with the Packers, credited greatly in the development of quarterback Aaron Rodgers. One of McCarthy’s top assistants during his stay in Green Bay, Ben McAdoo, was the Giants offensive coordinator and head coach.
McCarthy interviewed last year for the Jets vacancy but did not impress the Jets hierarchy and he spent the year out of football. McCarthy, 56, has already interviewed with the Panthers for their head-coaching vacancy.
Martindale, 56, has a big personality and was the Ravens linebackers coach for six years before taking over running the defense in Baltimore in 2018.
Rhule is the only college coach on the initial list, which might turn out to be an advantage for him.
“One of the things I find interesting is we are getting younger and younger players in the league,” Gettleman said. “To take a college coach now, I think he’d have that advantage of being connected to these college kids for so long, understanding the culture, what they’re about. I appreciate that, as far as him being the GM, he’s got his recruiting war room, he’s the one doing that.”
Rhule was a finalist for the Jets job last year that went to Adam Gase. Despite the interest, perhaps Rhule, 44, will stay put in Waco.
“One thing people don’t realize is coaches, we pick up our families,” Rhule said Tuesday from New Orleans. “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.”
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