Giants hire Ben McAdoo to replace Coughlin

Former Giants coach Tom Coughlin has emerged as the Eagles’ top target to fill their head coaching vacancy, according to reports. Under McAdoos leadership, Manning threw 65 touchdowns and 28 interceptions the past two seasons.

If McAdoo ultimately gets the Giants’ head-coaching job, Steve Spagnuolo would be retained as the team’s defensive coordinator, a league source told ESPN’s Ed Werder. There had been speculation that Coughlin would retire from coaching after his exit from the Giants, but he interviewed with the Eagles on Monday. But no deal has been ratified yet.

McAdoo replaces Tom Coughlin, of course, who “resigned” on January 5 after a disappointing 6-10 Giants season that saw the team blow nine leads in the fourth quarter, with five coming in the final minute of the game.

They also interviewed Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, former Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone, former Atlanta Falcons coach Mike Smith and Adam Gase, who was the Chicago Bears’ offensive coordinator until he accepted an offer to coach the Miami Dolphins. The Giants interviewed six total candidates and wanted to speak to Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson – but Jackson chose instead to take the job at the Cleveland Browns.

McAdoo has been the Giants offensive coordinator for the past two seasons. “We want a coach who feels like he has something to prove”.

None of this guarantees success, and only time and performance can measure how good McAdoo will be. Under McAdoo’s guidance, the Giants climbed to 10th his first season and eighth previous year.

The head coaching search that began with a bang has ground to a halt.

“Ben is an outstanding young coach who has great experience and has done a good job as our offensive coordinator these past two years”, Mara said.

The Giants have always been one of the most stable and patient organizations in the NFL. Once the Giants make the McAdoo hire official, there will be only four openings remaining: the Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans, and San Francisco 49ers.

Manning said he struggled to adapt to McAdoo’s “West Coast offense”, which focused on shorter and quicker passes, during the first half of 2014, when receiver Odell Beckham Jr. was still dealing with a hamstring injury. “I don’t see any players on the roster that one would say are only a fit for a Chip Kelly team, not at all”.

For his part, McAdoo said that he was excited and appreciate of those who have helped him along the way as he gets set to take over a franchise that finished third in the NFC East in 2015.