Giants' Kevin Gilbride set to resign

ByDAN GRAZIANO
January 2, 2014, 5:40 PM

— -- The New York Giants will indeed be in the market for a new offensive coordinator.

Kevin Gilbride, who has held the job since 2005, will announce his resignation, likely Thursday night, a source close to the situation confirmed.

The news was first reported by Fox Sports 1.

Another source close to the situation said that former Giants assistant Mike Sullivan, recently fired as Tampa Bay's offensive coordinator along with coach Greg Schiano, is a leading candidate to replace Gilbride. The team is expected to bring Sullivan in for an interview.

The Giants and Gilbride plan to announce Gilbride's "retirement," and obviously it's possible the 62-year-old won't coach again in the NFL. But Gilbride offered no indication this season that he was interested in quitting.

Coach Tom Coughlin expressed support for his coaching staff Monday, but team owner John Mara said he believed the offense to be "broken," and the expectation around the team was that it would be strongly suggested to (if not demanded of) Coughlin that the Giants make a change at offensive coordinator.

The Giants finished 28th in total offense this season. The offensive line couldn't protect quarterback Eli Manning, who had the worst season of his career. Wide receiver Hakeem Nicks played poorly in his contract season and failed to catch a single touchdown pass. Tight end Brandon Myers was a flop, and the run game never showed up thanks to injuries.

Nevertheless, blame appears to have fallen on Gilbride, who was Coughlin's offensive coordinator with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1995-96 and came with him to the Giants as quarterbacks coach in 2004. He was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2006.