Mickey Togs

The expected changes to the New York Giants coaching staff under new head coach John Harbaugh have begun. With the exception of Charlie Bullen all of the team’s 2025 defensive coaches have been let go.

Assistant coaches Andre Patterson (defensive line), John Egorugwu (inside linebackers), Marquand Manuel (secondary coach/pass game coordinator) and Jeff Burris (cornerbacks) will not be retained. Assistant defensive line coach Bryan Cox had previously been fired by interim head coach Mike Kafka.

Bullen, the outside linebackers coach, did an excellent job as interim defensive coordinator after taking over for the fired Shane Bowen. Bullen has a previous relationship with GM Joe Schoen, and has also been getting interviews for vacant defensive coordinator positions. Bullen is not yet guaranteed to remain on Harbaugh’s staff.

The defense massively underperformed in 2025 under Bowen. When Brian Daboll was fired as head coach in the middle of the 2025 season and GM Joe Schoen was retained, ownership made it clear that it felt the Giants’ biggest issue had been coaching.

Fox Television Network announced that Johnny Knoxville will host Fear Factor: The Next Chapter, with the reality competition series scheduled to premiere during Fox’s 2026 season. Knoxville originated the MTV stunt show Jackass, which also went on to release four theatrical movies.

The network previously announced it was bringing back the show, which originally aired on NBC from 2001-2006, hosted by Joe Rogan. The show was revived by MTV in 2017 for two seasons, emceed by Ludacris.

Fox said the series will gather a group of strangers and put them under one roof in an “unforgiving, remote location.” The plan is to then throw “mind-blowing stunts and harrowing challenges” at them as they participate in a “twisted game of social strategy,” said Fox. Casting for contestants is open to those 18 and older in the United States and Canada.

The New York Giants’ reported list of head coaching candidates includes former Las Vegas Raiders coach and Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce.

Pierce, 47, who started at middle linebacker for the Giants during the final five seasons of his nine-year playing career, was included on a list of candidates that also includes former NFL head coach Mike McCarthy, Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo and Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula.

Pierce went 4-13 during his only season as the Raiders’ full-time head coach in 2024, having previously gone 5-4 as an interim during the final nine games of the 2023 season. The former linebacker was hired full-time after an impressive late season run, which included an upset of the eventual Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Day.

The Raiders, however, failed to duplicate that success during a 4-13 season in 2024, which included a 10-game losing streak. 

The Giants fired former head coach Brian Daboll in November after a 24-20 loss to the Chicago Bears, which saw them blow a 20-10 fourth quarter lead.