The next head coach of the New York Giants will reportedly come from a group of three NFL assistants with teams in the playoffs: New England defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur.
All three remain in the mix with no surprise candidate looming, the New York Post reported.
There were multiple reports this week that Patricia was the likely choice to become the Giants' next head coach.
The Giants have interviewed three other candidates — interim head coach and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks and recently fired Denver Broncos running backs coach Eric Studesville. The team also asked for permission to interview Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, but an interview has not been scheduled.
Wilks did not make the cut after the first round of interviews, a team source told the New York Post, and neither did Spagnuolo and Studesville.
Giants co-owner John Mara, new general manager Dave Gettleman and assistant GM Kevin Abrams interviewed all six candidates. Co-owner Steve Tisch attended only the interview with Wilks, according to the newspaper.
Shurmur is reportedly the front-runner to replace the retired Bruce Arians as the Arizona Cardinals' head coach.
Shurmur was hired by the Vikings as tight ends coach in 2016 but was promoted to interim offensive coordinator midseason when Norv Turner resigned after a 5-2 start. In Shurmur's first full season running the offense, the unit finished 11th in yards per game (356.9) and 10th in points (23.9) while quarterback Case Keenum posted a 98.3 passer rating, easily the best of his career.