5 candidates to replace Pat Shurmur as New York Giants head coach

4. Mike McCarthy

The former Green Bay Packers head coach seems sure to get a job in this hiring cycle. The Carolina Panthers have apparently interviewed him twice now, and the Cleveland Browns are an easy bet to have interest in him again.

The Giants may have initially been looking to completely reset from the front office on down to a new coach, but it’s been confirmed Gettleman will stay for at least another year. That will inform their head coaching search, even if said new head coach ends up wanting to be given some input into the roster. McCarthy may or may not have those kind of Bill Parcells-esque “let you pick some of the groceries” aspirations at this point, but all things considered Gettleman will be the one held most accountable if the on-field results continue to be poor.

Team president John Mara acknowledged the Giants’ drop-off in recent years in very matter of fact, surprising terms via the announcement of Shurmur’s firing and the direction of the upcoming coaching search.

“The search will be extensive,” Mara said. “We understand this a very big decision for our franchise. We’ve had three losing years in a row and, quite frankly, we have lost some standing as an organization.”