Giants' 7 best coaching candidates to replace fired Brian Daboll, from Kliff Kingsbury to Klint Kubiak

Brian Daboll has gone from the hot seat to fired for the New York Giants. With the team falling to 2-8 for the 2025 NFL regular season, the team parted ways with its 22nd head coach on Monday. The only surprise about the inevitable move it came ahead of Week 11, instead of after the season.

The Giants made the playoffs as a 9-7-1 wild-card team in Daboll's first season in 2022, and also upset the Vikings to make the divisional playoffs. Since then, however, the team has gone 11-32 in two-plus regular seasons with him at the helm, adding up to 20-39-1 over 60 games.

Rookie first-round quarterback Jaxson Dart provided a spark and a short reprieve for Daaboll when the Giants upset the Chargers at home in Week 4 and then did the same to the NFC East rival Eagles in Week 6..

But since then the team had the meltdown in Denver in allowing the Broncos to rally for an improbable victory in Week 7. In Week 10, it was the Bears who rallied to beat the Giants 24-20, helped by Dart needing to leave the game in Chicago with a concussion.

Here's a look at the best possible full-time replacements for Daboll:

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Kliff Kingsbury, Commanders offensive coordinator (age: 46)

Kingsbury, the former Cardinals head coach, has done wonders working with dual-threat QBs Kyler Murray and Jayden Daniels, when both QBs have been healthy. That would make the ideal play-caller to attach to Dart to maximize his ability as a quick runner and downfield passer. It would also weaken a 2024 rising power in the division that has also falled on hard times in 2025.

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Anthony Campanile, Jaguars defensive coordinator (age: 43)

Campanile is a New Jersey guy all the way, having played and coached at Rutgers. He had strong positional defensive stints at Michigan, the Dolphins and the Packers before being elevated to Jacksonville's play-caller. He has gotten much more out of a talented young defense in the way of making them a takeaway force. Campanile should have a lot of intrigue about returning to his home state and the feeling should be mutual with the Giants.

Jeff Hafley, Packers defensive coordinator (age: 46)

The Giants once won a couple of Super Bowls with a former Boston College head coach in legend Tom Coughlin. Hafley should be elevated back to that position on the NFL level after his fine work with the Packers, now armed with Micah Parsons. Hafley is also a New Jersey native who played at nearby Siena in college.

Joe Brady, Bills offensive coordinator (age: 36)

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Brady is a hot name for his bang-up work with reigning MVP Josh Allen, a similar strong-armed, quick-running dual threat to Dart.. Would the Giants not want to go after an Allen OC a second time after things not working with Daboll? That could be a factor, but Brady's youthful energy might be a difference in going back to the well.

Klint Kubiak, Seahawks offensive coordinator (age: 38)

Kubiak has been crushing with Sam Darnold and the Seahawks' offense in his first year in that position after coming over from the Saints. The son of Super Bowl-winning QB and coach Gary (Broncos) should get his shot to lead an entire team soon as the hot player, a la rookie coaches Ben Johnson (Bears) and Liam Coen (Jaguars). He also had good experience working with Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco and can be ideal for Dart and his weapons.

Jesse Minter, Chargers defensive coordinator (age: 42)

Minter has been mentored well by Jim Harbaugh both with the Cahrgers and the University of Michigan. He previously had experience learning from Mike Tomlin while the latter was the defensive backs coach at the University of Cincinnati. His background and mind-set can work well in New York to complement the right coordinator for Dart.

Mike LaFleur, offensive coordinator, Rams (age: 38)

The Rams always are a good spot at which to look for a head coach, right under the Sean McVay tree. LaFleur also is a protege of Shanahan from his days in Atlanta and San Francisco. He also spent two seasons in New York as the Jets OC in 2021-2022. Oh yeah, he's also the younger brother of successful Packers head coach Matt LaFleur. He would be another great fit to get the most out of Dart.