NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on Tuesday that the New York Giants would be hiring former Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy as their OC under John Harbaugh.
The hiring came with mixed reviews from Giants faithful, as Nagy doesn’t exactly inspire confidence as an offensive mind.
But it should be noted that the former Chicago Bears head coach wasn’t New York’s top preference at offensive coordinator.
Todd Monken was the No. 1 choice; that much is clear. Harbaugh wanted to bring his Baltimore Ravens OC with him to New York before he took the Cleveland Browns head coaching job.
But SNY’s NFL insider Connor Hughes reported that the Giants‘ second-favorite option for OC also decided to pass on New York and stick at the college ranks.
Giants Were Interested in Charlie Weis Jr. as OC
According to Hughes, the New York Giants’ backup plan after Monken took the Cleveland Browns gig was former Ole Miss and current LSU offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr., who coached Jaxson Dart during his time with the Rebels.
“There was a strong desire from the Giants to get Charlie Weis Jr. to New York, specifically for Jaxson Dart. The young QB loves him from their time together at Ole Miss. Ultimately, Weis didn’t want to leave LSU,” Hughes wrote on X.
Weis was Dart’s offensive coordinator at Ole Miss under Lane Kiffin, and the two built a special bond during Dart’s three seasons in college.
Both coaches helped Dart develop into a future first-round pick at Ole Miss, where the quarterback broke all of Eli Manning’s school passing records.
“I loved playing with Charlie. Made tremendous strides as a player each year playing under him. Obviously just have a great relationship with him, his dad, his wife Jen. They’re a great family and I couldn’t say anything bad about Charlie,” Dart told Big Blue View in a recent interview.
“He’s a great coach. He’s a bright young mind in this game, and he’s going to have a long career and is going to win a lot of championships. Whatever level that is, I have all the respect in the world for him.”
Weis probably could’ve had the Giants OC gig if he wanted it; instead, he’s opting to follow Kiffin to LSU after a successful run to the semifinals in the College Football Playoff.
Giants Fans’ Concerns Surrounding Matt Nagy
With both Monken and Weis out of the picture for the New York Giants, Nagy was the candidate Harbaugh landed on as his offensive coordinator.
Despite Giants fans’ hesitancy to trust their offensive future under Nagy’s tutelage, Hughes reassured the detractors that if things don’t work out, Harbaugh won’t be afraid to move in another direction in 2027.
“For Giants fans freaking out: John Harbaugh isn’t one to stay on a boat off course. If Matt Nagy doesn’t work, he’ll go to someone else,” wrote Hughes on X.
While that should be reassuring to fans, it’s quite an interesting statement to put out so soon after the announcement was made.
It’s almost like New York was aware of the backlash they would receive for the hire and was trying to do some damage control in advance.
Not a great look to start the Nagy era for the Giants.
Giants QB Jaxson Dart’s OC Preference Surfaces Just After Matt Nagy Hire: Report