Chris Shula, a rising star in the NFL coaching ranks as defensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Rams, has emerged as the betting favorite to become the next head coach of the New York Giants.
Per the prediction market Polymarket, Shula currently has a 43% chance of becoming the Giants head coach in 2026.
Polymarket lists other top candidates as follow:
- Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak (13%).
- Giants interim head coach Mike Kafka (7%).
- Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady (5.1%).
Let’s be clear: These odds do not mean Shula is the favorite, or that there IS a favorite. This is just how the market currently sees it.
Shula, 39, is the grandson of Don Shula, the winningest head coach in NFL history. He has been defensive coordinator of the Rams the past two seasons. Los Angeles is currently the No. 1 defense in the NFL, giving up just 16.3 points per game.
“The Rams love him,” said Erin Coscarelli of NFL Network and the Bleav in Rams podcast. “He took a defense that lost Aaron Donald last year and turned them into one of the scariest defensive lines in the NFL. Period. The end.”
Jay Glazer of FOX Sports included Shula on his early list of candidates for the Giants job, and said he has the endorsement of Rams head coach Sean McVay.
“A name that’s starting to pop up, Chris Shula, the guy who’s the defensive coordinator for the Rams,” Glazer said. “I’ll tell you this, of all the coaches Sean McVay has kind of pushed along to be the next head coach, he’s done more with Chris Shula than all of them combined. These two guys are best friends. They went to college together. But he lets him in on everything. He may not do that with everyone else, but he does that with Shula. He thinks he’s going to be a star.”
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