Giants Believed To Have Serious Interest In Baylor's Rhule

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Nearly immediately after news broke Monday morning that the Giants fired coach Pat Shurmur, a front-runner to replace him had already emerged.

According to SNY's Ralph Vacchiano, Baylor coach Matt Rhule is the "No. 1 name on the Giants' list." And ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported that Rhule "is prominent in Giants coach search." Meanwhile, a league source told The Athletic's Connor Hughes that there is a strong belief that the Giants are Rhule's "dream job."

Rhule, 44, has turned around two college programs at Baylor and Temple. This season, the Bears are 11-2 and ranked eighth in the AP Top 25. They will play Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on Wednesday.

A New York City native, Rhule spent the 2012 season as the Giants' assistant offensive line coach under Tom Coughlin. He apparently made a big impression on the team's owners during his short time in East Rutherford, SNY reported.

Baylor Bears coach Matt Rhule during a game between the Bears and Iowa State at McLane Stadium in Waco, Texas, on Oct. 8, 2019. Jerome Miron/USA TODAY Images

The Giants aren't the only team with an eye on Rhule. The Carolina Panthers have already reportedly interviewed him. 

Rhule interviewed for the Jets opening last year, but had differences with the team over selecting his coaching staff and removed himself from consideration, according to reports. 

"At the end of the day, I'm never going to be in an arranged marriage," Rhule told a Dallas radio station in January after being asked about the Jets job. "I'm never going to sub-contract out jobs for offense and defense. I'm always going to hire people I believe in."

Prying Rhule out of Baylor might not be so easy. In September, he signed a contract extension through the 2027 season. It's unclear what the terms of a buyout are. Rhule currently earns about $4.1 million a year, according to USA Today. 

Earlier this month on the "Adam Schefter Podcast," Rhule said he would only leave the Bears for a situation that is "next to perfect."

"It would have to be one of those idyllic situations where you feel like, 'Hey, I cannot just go here and win; I can win at a high level for a sustained amount of time,'" Rhule said.

Meanwhile, the Giants have requested permission to interview Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, according to reports.