The New York Giants will be on the search for a new head coach during the 2026 NFL offseason. The oddsmakers at Polymarket have made their predictions for which candidates have the highest chance of winning the job, and Bill Belichick is among the favorites.
Polymaket Predicts New York Giants Next Head Coach
We take a look at some of the candidates and the betting designations attached to their names:
Jesse Minter – 12% Chance
Minter has spent a majority of his coaching career in the college ranks, but success typically follows the defenses that he is a part of. The bulk of his NFL experience came with the Baltimore Ravens from 2017 to 2021, and he made stops at Vanderbilt and Michigan before following Jim Harbaugh to the Chargers in 2024. Under his leadership this season, Los Angeles’ defense ranks 4th in the NFL thus far in yards allowed.
The Giants have invested heavily in defensive talent (high-profile draft picks and free agents on the defensive side). Minter’s track record of turning around defenses and coaching elite secondaries makes him a candidate who could maximize the club’s defensive assets. Although, some question whether his offensive background is deep enough or whether he’d rely heavily on an offensive coordinator.
Chris Shula – 12% Chance
Shula has been a mainstay for the Los Angeles Rams for nearly a decade. Brought on as an assistant linebackers coach in 2017, the grandson of Don Shula worked his way up to defensive coordinator starting in 2024, and is now gaining some traction as a possible head coaching candidate this coming offseason.
If the Giants are looking to build or reinforce a strong defensive identity, a coach like Shula who specializes in defense and has shown growth as a strategist could align well with that vision. The NFL has increasingly looked to younger head-coach candidates who bring fresh perspectives and are adept in modern schemes, analytics, player relationships. Shula fits that mold at 39 years of age.
Bill Belichick – 8% Chance
Could the Giants be the team that gives Belichick another chance in the NFL? Things haven’t gone quite as planned with his short stint with North Carolina in the college ranks, and there is a chance that he is available for the taking after the current season.
While he hasn’t shown any consistent success since Tom Brady left the Patriots in 2020, his pedigree gives him instant credibility in the locker room, among players, coaches, and fans. If the Giants want a coach who can command respect and bring a winning mindset, Belichick checks that box.
The second-winningest coach in NFL history, Belichick has plenty of history with the Giants organization. He was on the coaching staff for 11 years starting back in 1979, and five of those were spent as the defensive coordinator.
