New York Giants

Garafolo: Giants close to naming OC Ben McAdoo head coach

Published Jan. 13, 2016 8:28 p.m. ET

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The New York Giants are working on a deal to hire offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo as their head coach, sources told FS1 NFL Insider Mike Garafolo.

"It is as close to done as you can possibly expect," Garafolo said on FOX Sports Live Wednesday night. "I expect it to be formalized, announced on Thursday or Friday."

Garafolo also reported that former Miami Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin is expected "to have a prominent role on the Giants' staff."

McAdoo, 38, served as Giants offensive coordinator under Tom Coughlin for the past two seasons. McAdoo previously was tight ends and quarterbacks coach with the Green Bay Packers.

Philbin was the Dolphins head coach starting in 2012 until being fired four games into the 2015 season. Before going to Miami, Philbin was offensive coordinator for the Packers.

Steve Spagnuolo, who also interviewed for the head coach's job, would remain as the Giants' defensive coordinator, sources told Garafolo.

"Excited for Coach McAdoo," cornerback Prince Amukama said in a text to The AP. "I figured him or Spagz would have been a great pick. I'm sure his players and the fans are all excited."

McAdoo would be the NFL's second youngest coach. Adam Gase, the Chicago Bears offensive coordinator who was hired by the Dolphins, is 37.

The Giants interviewed six men after Coughlin stepped down. They intended to interview Cincinnati offensive coordinator Hue Jackson on Thursday, but he accepted the Browns job hours before the Giants decided on McAdoo.

McAdoo got the first shot at the Giants' job and he must have made an immediate impression.

He also impressed the Philadelphia Eagles when he interviewed for their coaching vacancy.

Under McAdoo's leadership, Manning threw 65 touchdowns and 28 interceptions the past two seasons. He had 18 touchdowns and 27 interceptions in 2013.

McAdoo learned under Coughlin and has shown some of the same attitudes as his 69-year-old mentor. He is not afraid to gamble.

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— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) January 14, 2016

In the season opener against Dallas this past season, he went for the win, calling a pass play on third down in the red zone in the closing minutes.

A touchdown would have iced the game. Instead, Manning made a mistake throwing the ball away and that stopped the clock. New York kicked a field goal to take a six-point lead but the extra time allowed Dallas to come back and win the game late.

That aggressive play calling, though, has been a part of McAdoo's game. He believes in his offense and he is not afraid to put the game in the unit's hands.

McAdoo joined the NFL in 2004 as an offensive quality control assistant with the New Orleans Saints, spent a year with the 49ers the following year and then joined the Green Bay Packers for the next eight seasons, working with the tight ends and the final two years as Aaron Rodgers' quarterback coach.

The Giants hired him in 2014 to replace Kevin Gilbride and his version of the West Coast offense — and the addition of Odell Beckham Jr. — has helped revive the offense.

— The Associated Press contributed to this report.