Latest on Giants' coaching staff: Big Blue denies Cowboys' request to interview DL coach Andre Patterson

Here's the latest news and buzz on the Giants' coaching staff search...

Feb. 13, 6:00 p.m.

After the Cowboys hired Mike Zimmer as their new defensive coordinator, the Giants have denied them permission to interview DL coach Andre Patterson for their opening at the same position, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Patterson was of interest for Dallas because he served as the DL line coach and co-defensive coordinator under Zimmer during his days with the Minnesota Vikings.

The 63-year-old has been a rising star and favorite on New York's coaching staff since joining them prior to the 2022 season, so it's no surprise the division rivals request was shut down.

Feb. 4, 4:23 p.m.

The Giants have interviewed another candidate for their vacant defensive coordinator job.

According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Giants interviewed Vikings defensive backs coach Daronte Jones.

Per Pelissero, the interview took place last week in Mobile, AL. during the Senior Bowl. Jones reportedly impressed as the National team’s defensive coordinator.

Jones joins an external candidates list that includes Kansas City Chiefs linebackers coach Brendan Daly, Miami Dolphins linebackers coach Anthony Campanile, Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Derrick Ansley and Tennessee Titans DC Shane Bowen.

Giants defensive back coach Jerome Henderson is also a candidate to fill the vacancy.

Feb. 3, 9:15 p.m.

Exercising their contractual right, the Giants blocked OC Mike Kafka from interviewing with the Seattle Seahawks for their vacant offensive coordinator position, multiple reports confirm.

Kafka was a finalist for Seattle’s head coaching job that ultimately went to Mike Macdonald, but the Seahawks were still interested in Kafka to lead the offense – enough that they requested him for an interview.

However, since it would’ve been a lateral move, New York would have had to grant permission for the interview to happen, which they did not – showing how much they and head coach Brian Daboll value Kafka despite a disappointing season offensively.

Feb. 3, 2:45 p.m.

While the expectation is that Mike Kafka will return as the Giants' offensive coordinator, the Seahawks are reportedly still interested in him for the same position, according to Jonathan Jones of CBS.

Kafka was a finalist during Seattle's head coaching process, but they decided to hire DC Mike Macdonald from the Baltimore Ravens instead.

With Macdonald being more of a defensive-minded coach, the Seahawks are still looking for an established play-caller to add to his coaching staff, such as Kafka.

Since it would be a lateral move, the Giants would have to grant the Seahawks permission to talk to Kafka, and it hasn't been reported that a request has come yet.

Feb. 1, 9:10 a.m.

Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka had been a finalist for the Seattle Seahawks head coaching job, but the plan is for him to return to Big Blue next season, SNY NFL Insider Connor Hughes confirms.

New York previously fired special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey and parted ways with defensive coordinator Wink Martindale.

Jan. 31, 10:29 p.m.

Dennard Wilson, who had two interviews with the Giants to replace Wink Martindale as defensive coordinator, has agreed to join the Tennessee Titans, according to multiple reports.

Wilson served as defensive backs coach in Baltimore last season and could have been an option for the Ravens after defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald departed to take the Seattle Seahawks' head coaching position.

Wilson also interviewed with the Los Angeles Rams.

The reported external candidates for Big Blue’s vacancy include Kansas City Chiefs linebackers coach Brendan Daly, Miami Dolphins linebackers coach Anthony Campanile, Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Derrick Ansley and Tennessee Titans DC Shane Bowen.

Giants defensive back coach Jerome Henderson is also a candidate to succeed Martindale.

Bills linebackers coach Bobby Babich was also a candidate, but he accepted a promotion to DC to remain in Buffalo.

Jan. 30, 10:49 a.m.

GM Joe Schoen said the team hopes to hire its new defensive coordinator by the end of the week.

The Giants, who parted ways with Wink Martindale shortly after their season ended, have cast a wide net in their DC search.

Among those in contention for the job is Baltimore Ravens DB coach Dennard Wilson, who interviewed for a second time, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Wilson also interviewed with the Los Angeles Rams and Tennessee Titans.

The 41-year-old joined the Ravens in 2023 and had previous coaching stops with the Philadelphia Eagles (2021-2022), Jets (2017-2020) and St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams (2012-2016).

Other known external candidates include Kansas City Chiefs LB coach Brendan Daly, Buffalo Bills LB coach Bobby Babich, Miami Dolphins LB coach Anthony Campanile, Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Derrick Ansley and Tennessee Titans DC Shane Bowen.

Giants DB coach Jerome Henderson is an internal candidate for the job.

Jan. 27, 1:00 p.m.

The Giants have interviewed Kansas City Chiefs LB coach Brendan Daly for their defensive coordinator job, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

Daly, 48, was hired by KC in 2019 as their run game coordinator/defensive line coach and was promoted to linebackers coach after the 2021 season.

He previously coached with the Minnesota Vikings (2006-2008 and 2012-2013), St. Louis Rams (2009-2011), and New England Patriots (2014-2018).

Daly won his first Super Bowl as a defensive assistant in NE and then won two more as their defensive line coach. He now has five Super Bowl titles after winning another two with the Chiefs.

Jan. 23, 10:25 a.m.

The Giants are interviewing another defensive coordinator candidate.

According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, Big Blue requested an interview with Bills linebackers coach Bobby Babich for the vacant DC job.

Babich joined Buffalo in 2017 as the team's assistant defensive backs coach, and has been promoted various times in his tenure with the Bills. He and Giants head coach Brian Daboll know each other from their time in Buffalo.

Babich now joins Dolphins LB coach Anthony Campanile, Chargers defensive coordinator Derrick Ansley, Titans DC Shane Bowen and Ravens DB coach Dennard Wilson as known external candidates for the job.

Giants DB coach Jerome Henderson is an internal candidate for the job.

Jan. 22, 8:43 a.m.

Former Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale is among the candidates for the Philadelphia Eagles' vacant DC job, reports Diana Russini of The Athletic.

Martindale's tenure with Big Blue ended acrimoniously, amid a reported rift with head coach Brian Daboll.

At Daboll and Joe Schoen's end-of-season news conference, they said the expectation was that Martindale would return.

However, Martindale reportedly stormed out of a meeting with Daboll later in the day, and the two sides eventually mutually agreed to part ways.

Jan. 21, 2:37 p.m.

Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka is reportedly getting a second interview with the Seattle Seahawks for their vacant head coaching job.

According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Kafka joins Panthers DC Ejiro Evero, Raiders DC Patrick Graham, Rams DC Raheem Morris and Cowboys DC Dan Quinn, among others, to get second interviews.

Kafka already interviewed with the Titans earlier this month for their vacant head coaching job.

Jan. 16, 4:30 p.m.

The Giants have filled another one of the vacancies on their coaching staff, hiring Joel Thomas from the New Orleans Saints as their new running backs coach.

The position was previously filled by Jeff Nixon, who left the organization after just one season to become the offensive coordinator at Syracuse University.

Thomas joined the Saints in 2015, but prior to that he coached the running backs at multiple major colleges, including Arkansas, Washington (where he also served as associate head coach in 2012), Purdue, his alma mater Idaho, and Louisville.

The 49-year-old played running back at Idaho from 1993-1998 and he's still the school's all-time leading rusher with 3,929 rushing yards and 51 rushing touchdowns.

Under Thomas, Saints star running back Alvin Kamara has earned five Pro Bowl selections while also posting six consecutive seasons with at least `1,300 yards from scrimmage.

Big Blue has also hired Aaron Wellman as the Executive Director of Player Performance.

Jan. 16, 11:21 a.m.

The Giants have reportedly requested permission to interview a few names for their vacant defensive coordinator job.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Big Blue is looking to interview Chargers defensive coordinator Derrick Ansley for the position. Ansley called the Chargers' defense after head coach Brandon Staley's departure.

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that the Giants also requested permission to interview Dolphins LB coach Anthony Campanile.

ESPN's Jordan Raanan notes that Giants DB coach Jerome Henderson is an internal candidate for the job.

The above three names join Titans DC Shane Bowen and Ravens DB coach Dennard Wilson as known candidates for the spot left by Wink Martindale. 

Jan. 15, 6:17 p.m.

Having parted ways with long-time head coach Pete Carroll at the end of the season, the Seattle Seahawks are in search for a new head coach to lead the way and have requested an interview with Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Kafka has been Big Blue's OC for two seasons since coming over from the Kansas City Chiefs where he was the quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator for head coach Andy Reid and QB Patrick Mahomes.

Kafka already interviewed with the Tennessee Titans on Jan. 12 for their vacant HC job after the team fired Mike Vrabel.

Jan. 13, 2:40 p.m.

The New Orleans Saints have given permission to running backs coach Joel Thomas to interview with the Giants on Saturday for their vacant running backs coach job, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Thomas, 49, has held his position with the Saints since 2015. Prior to joining New Orleans' staff, Thomas coached the running backs at multiple major colleges, including Arkansas, Washington (where he also served as associate head coach in 2012), Purdue, his alma mater Idaho, and Louisville.

He played running back at Idaho from 1993-1998 and is the school's all-time leading rusher with 3,929 rushing yards and 51 rushing touchdowns.

Under Thomas, Saints RB Alvin Kamara, a third-round pick in 2017, has become a five-time Pro Bowl player.

Former Giants RB coach Jeff Nixon left the team to become Syracuse's new offensive coordinator, Brian Daboll announced on Jan. 8.

Jan. 12, 5:04 p.m.

Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka is interviewing Friday with the Tennesee Titans for their head coaching position, CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones reported.

The Titans, who fired head coach Mike Vrabel on Tuesday, completed an interview with Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan earlier on Friday.

They have also requested interviews with Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik.

Tennessee will interview Raiders interim head coach Antonio Pierce this week as well as Ravens defensive coordinator Mike MacDonald.

Jan. 11, 5:18 p.m.

The Giants have found their new offensive line coach.

Days after letting go of OL coach Bobby Johnson, New York announced they have hired Carmen Bricillo, the former OL coach of the Las Vegas Raiders.

The Raiders granted the Giants permission to interview Bricillo on Tuesday, and it didn't take Brian Daboll long to hire him.  Bricillo and Daboll have Patriots ties but were not on the staff at the same time. Bricillo was the Patriots' OL coach before he went to Vegas with Josh McDaniels.

Jan. 10, 6:45 p.m.

The Tennessee Titans have requested an interview with Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka for their open head coaching job, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

Kafka finished his second year as OC under Brian Daboll. He began his NFL career with Kansas City, spending four seasons with the Chiefs from 2017-21.

The Titans, who fired head coach Mike Vrabel on Tuesday, have also requested to speak with Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn.

Meanwhile, the Giants requested to interview Atlanta offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford for the same position after letting go of Bobby Johnson. However, the Falcons denied the request.

Big Blue ran into the same problem when the Los Angeles Chargers blocked their request to interview special teams coordinator Ryan Ficken for the same position in New York, per NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.

Jan. 9, 11:39 a.m.

A day after letting go of offensive line coach Bobby Johnson, the Giants have a name to potentially replace him.

According to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, Big Blue will interview Raiders OL coach Carmen Bricillo for the role. Las Vegas granted permission for Bricillo to interview with the Giants.

Bricillo and head coach Brian Daboll have Patriots ties, but were not on the staff at the same time. Bricillo was the Patriots' OL coach before he went to Vegas with Josh McDaniels.

Jan. 8, 3:31 p.m.

It was Black Monday indeed for a few coaches on the Giants' staff.

After a 6-11 season, the Giants parted ways with special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey, offensive line coach Bobby Johnson as well as OLB coach Drew Wilkins and his brother Keith, who was a defensive assistant.

The biggest name leaving the Giants coaching staff, however, is defensive coordinator Wink Martindale, who has reportedly resigned.