A coaching search is always a little chaotic. The rumors that surround a coaching search are almost bordering on absurd. Ever since the New York Giants announced that Tom Coughlin was stepping down from his position as the team's head coach last week, the rumors about the veteran coach's successor have run rampant across the football-related world. We've heard just about everything in the past few days and it's made for some vaguely confusing stories and reports and maybe-this-actually-happened suggestions. Luckily, we've managed to search through all of them and come up with a handful of names that appear to be at the front of the Giants coaching search. Click through the gallery to check out the coaches Big Blue has reportedly interviewed (or is set to interview) and read up on their chances to patrol the MetLife sidelines next season. (Getty)
Offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo is reportedly set to take over the entire New York Giants squad. (Getty)
Doug Marrone, whose most recent head coaching gig came in Buffalo, was also reportedly a front-runner in New York. (Getty)
Hue Jackson, Cincinnati Bengals Offensive Coordinator
Put the Wild Card weekend loss out of your mind. Instead, look at Jackson's resume. The Bengals OC has picked up his fair share of recommendations from quarterbacks, receivers and running backs in Oakland, Cincinnati and Baltimore where he's spent various lengths of time on each squad's coaching staff. The Giants are reportedly set to interview Jackson by Thursday, but there's some serious competition out there for him as well. Despite reports that things went well in San Francisco on Sunday, rumor has it that the Cleveland Browns are pretty determined to bring Jackson on board as their head coach. That means New York has to work fast. (Getty)
Steve Spagnuolo, New York Giants Defensive Coordinator
The Giants have already interviewed Spagnuolo, in fact, he was one of the team's first meetings. That doesn't, however, necessarily mean he's at the top of the list. The New York Daily News reported that he's not likely to get serious consideration for the job, despite having head coaching experience. The Giants defense was certainly less-than-impressive this season (particularly in crucial late-game moments) and that performance could weigh heavily on Spagnulo's future as a head coach of the squad. (Getty)
Teryl Austin, Detroit Lions Defensive Coordinator
Another early interview in the post-Coughlin Giants era and another less-than-likely name to actually fill the role. After all, Austin's name has been running through NFL circles like wildfire. On Monday, Ian Rapoport reported that Austin is set to interview with the Tennessee Titans. Austin also interviewed with the Cleveland Browns and Miami Dolphins before they hired Adam Gase. (Getty)
Mike Smith, Former Atlanta Falcons Head Coach
Don't count Smith out yet. In fact, you might want to move him up with McAdoo and Marrone near the top of the possibilities list. The New York Post reported that Smith is making moves with Big Blue and, perhaps most importantly, with co-owner John Mara. Smith's possible road to the Giants mirrors Tom Coughlin's quite a bit and his head coaching experience is something that could spark a hiring decision sooner rather than later. When Coughlin got to New York he was an experienced coach with something to prove. So is Smith. Is history set to repeat itself? It just might. (Getty)
Giants New Head Coach: Who They’ve Interviewed