The last time the Giants conducted a search for a new general manager was in December 2017. They interviewed four candidates for the job that eventually went to Dave Gettleman. Only one of the four, current ESPN football analyst Louis Riddick, came from outside their organization.
It was by no stretch of the imagination a broad-based search.
“I think looking back on our process, I wish it had been a little more extensive, that we had seen more people and maybe taken our time a little bit more with it,’’ co-owner John Mara said Wednesday. “We’re going to try not to make that mistake this time.’’
The Giants this time around are certainly casting a wide net. They have nine candidates scheduled for interviews, all on Zoom in the first round — none from in-house. The first two interviews were completed on Wednesday with Joe Schoen (Bills assistant general manager) and Adrian Wilson (Cardinals vice president of pro personnel). Mara, co-owner Steve Tisch and Chris Mara, the senior vice president of player personnel, conducted the interviews.
The Giants will try to get through two per day, meaning the first round should be completed by the weekend. Nine will get cut to two or three and those interviews will take place in person. The Giants should have a new general manager by the middle or end of next week. Then they can dive into finding a new head coach to replace the fired Joe Judge.
On Thursday, it’s Quentin Harris (Cardinals vice president of player personnel) and Ryan Poles (Chiefs executive director of player personnel). The remaining candidates are Ryan Cowden (Titans vice president of player personnel), Monti Ossenfort (Titans director of player personnel), Adam Peters (49ers assistant general manager), Ran Carthon (49ers director of player personnel) and Joe Hortiz (Ravens director of player personnel).
“I feel very good about the group of candidates for the general manager position that we have scheduled right now,’’ Mara said. “I think any one of a number of them would make an excellent general manager, so I am confident that we have the resources to make the right choice here.’’
Mara said he always keeps a list of potential general manager and head coach candidates and that he and Tisch put together the GM list they are working with.
“I look at the successful teams, at what they’re doing,’’ Mara said. “I have a lot of people around the league that I talk to whose opinions I respect.’’