5 candidates to replace Pat Shurmur as New York Giants head coach
1. Matt Rhule
The dramatic turnaround Rule has led at Baylor has brought interest from the NFL, as he interviewed with the Indianapolis Colts a couple years ago and turned down the New York Jets last year when he was apparently not going to be allowed to freely pick his coaching staff.
The Carolina Panthers are in line to interview Rhule, and the Dallas Cowboys linger as a team with possible interest in him if/when Jason Garrett is fired. The Giants can be easily added to that mix now.
Sources: Matt Rhule will be a top target of the Giants' head coaching search ... https://t.co/0sEAWqm8zV pic.twitter.com/SPYk5UWRxt
— Ralph Vacchiano (@RalphVacchiano) December 30, 2019
Baylor’s Matt Rhule is prominent in Giants coach search, per sources. He served as assistant under Tom Coughlin in 2012.
— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) December 30, 2019
Jets job was Rhule’s to turn down last season. He said no to Jets.
The assumption that Baylor HC Matt Rhule wouldn't want to come to NYG because of Dave Gettleman is jumping to a flawed conclusion.
— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) December 30, 2019
Rhule and Gettleman worked together on the 2012 Giants team. There's a relationship there. @gmfb
A few things to know w/ Matt Rhule & NFL interest: I know he and his family really like it at #Baylor. Also, the school has really stepped up and knows what a big-time guy he is. His new deal has put him among the top 10 highest-paid coaches in CFB and he has a huge buyout.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) December 30, 2019
That said, if an NFL team came after him with a near-perfect pitch, it might be hard to turn down.. Rhule isn't going to talk to anyone until after the Sugar Bowl Jan 1 and teams understand that.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) December 30, 2019
Rhule has one season of NFL coaching experience, but it was with the Giants as assistant offensive line coach under Tom Coughlin in 2012. Ralph Vacchiano of SNY quoted an NFL scout who suggested the Giants will like that Coughlin-like quality Rhule projects.
“He’s got an NFL mind and well-run program and seems to have every small detail covered,” one NFL scout told SNY earlier this month. “He’s got a little Coughlin in him. The Giants will like that.”
As Baylor prepares to play in the Sugar Bowl, Rhule reportedly held a team meeting on Sunday night to acknowledge the interest he’s getting from the NFL. That may mean he’s listening to a greater level than he has before, and he’s being open with his players about it.
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As quickly as he has emerged as a favorite for the Giants’ job, it may be inevitable Rhule lands there if he does wind up leaving Baylor. The Sugar Bowl will be played Wednesday night, so perhaps a trip to East Rutherford for a news conference to take a new job will follow shortly after.