The Minnesota Vikings didn’t cooperate with the New York Giants' offensive coordinator search. They didn’t allow quarterbacks coach Kevin Stefanski to leave for the job, even though it would have been a promotion.
These are the rules. The NFL has only two classifications for coaches -- assistants and head coaches -- and the Vikings could decide whether or not to allow Stefanski out of his contract even after passing him over for their offensive coordinator opening. It might not be fair, but this was their prerogative.
The Giants must now recalibrate their search after waiting several weeks to see how everything unfolded with Stefanski and the Vikings. The market now is relatively thin, but there are still quality options to work alongside new head coach Pat Shurmur, who is expected to call plays.
Still, the coordinator is a key role because the head coach doesn’t have time to devise the full offensive game plan throughout the week. That responsibility falls on his coordinator and other assistants.
Who can handle the job? Here are some of the names to monitor for Giants offensive coordinator moving forward:
Darrell Bevell: My money would be on the former Seahawks offensive coordinator as the likely next-in-line candidate. He checks the boxes as an experienced coach who also has worked with quarterbacks. But Bevell also appears to be in play for the same position in Indianapolis. The Super Bowl-winning coordinator appears to have options. He ultimately might not be available to the Giants.
Harold Goodwin: He has been lurking from the start of this search. Goodwin has spent the past four years as the Arizona Cardinals’ offensive coordinator. His experience working with offensive linemen could also be appealing.
Duce Staley: There is the obvious connection between Shurmur and Staley, who know each other well from their Philadelphia days, first when Staley was a player and then when he broke into coaching. Nothing else about this makes sense. Staley doesn’t have extensive coaching experience and hasn’t worked with quarterbacks. He’s also still under contact with the Eagles, per source. Hard to believe Philadelphia, after losing its offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, would allow Staley to interview or a take a job with the division-rival Giants. He seems to be a real long shot.
Ken Dorsey: He has the connection to Giants general manager Dave Gettleman from their time in Carolina, where Dorsey spent five seasons as the Panthers' quarterback coach. It’s worth keeping an eye out for Dorsey, who could also be a fit as the Giants' quarterbacks coach. That’s also a position that remains open, depending on how this all shakes out.
Mike Shula: Another one with the Carolina connection. Shula was the Panthers’ offensive coordinator during Gettleman’s time there. He’s certainly qualified and could serve as an asset to Shurmur.
Mike Yurcich: This is an outside-the-box option, but Yurcich is considered a young, bright offensive mind. He could be intrigued to make the jump. He has been the Oklahoma State offensive coordinator for the past five years.
Pep Hamilton: He has worked with quarterbacks and as an offensive coordinator in the NFL before. He’s currently the assistant head coach and passing-game coordinator at Michigan but could be looking for a way back into the NFL, and this Giants job could be the perfect avenue working alongside Shurmur. It wasn’t that long ago that Hamilton was considered an up-and-coming future head coach. He’s a well-respected offensive mind who would complete a strong staff under Shurmur.