Giants Eye Familiar Face in Alex Tanney for Offensive Coordinator Role
The Giants are looking to the past to help shape their future-and they might not have to look far. According to reports, New York has requested to interview Colts passing game coordinator Alex Tanney for their vacant offensive coordinator position. For Giants fans, that name should ring a bell.
Tanney spent three seasons as a backup quarterback in East Rutherford from 2018 to 2020. While he didn’t see much game action, he carved out a unique role behind the scenes.
Coaches and teammates often referred to him as a “player-coach,” someone who brought a cerebral presence to the quarterback room and helped mentor younger players. He was Eli Manning’s backup during the two-time Super Bowl champ’s final start in 2019-a moment that cemented Tanney’s place in the Giants’ locker room lore.
Since retiring in 2021, Tanney’s coaching career has taken off. He joined Nick Sirianni’s staff in Philadelphia, where he served as assistant quarterbacks coach during the Eagles’ run to the Super Bowl in 2022.
The following year, he was promoted to quarterbacks coach, working directly with Jalen Hurts in a season that saw the young QB post career highs in completions and passing yards. Tanney’s influence on Hurts’ development didn’t go unnoticed.
That success earned him a move to Indianapolis in 2024, where he took over as the Colts’ passing game coordinator. There, he played a key role in helping Daniel Jones find his footing after a rocky stint in New York.
Under Tanney’s guidance, the Colts’ offense saw a resurgence in the passing game-highlighted by three receivers (Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs, and Alec Pierce) each topping 800 receiving yards. That hadn’t happened in Indy since 2004.
Still, there’s one notable box Tanney hasn’t checked: play-calling experience. That’s something many of the other candidates for the Giants’ OC job bring to the table, and it could weigh heavily in head coach Jim Harbaugh’s decision-making process. Harbaugh is known for valuing experience and structure, especially when it comes to offensive leadership.
But what Tanney lacks in play-calling, he makes up for in innovation and relatability. He’s part of a new wave of offensive minds who blend modern RPO concepts with vertical passing schemes. His time in Philly under Sirianni and in Indy with Shane Steichen has given him a deep understanding of how to build offenses around mobile quarterbacks-something that could be crucial if the Giants are serious about developing Jaxson Dart.
If Harbaugh wants to pair an aggressive, attacking defense under new coordinator Dennard Wilson with a forward-thinking offense, Tanney fits the mold. He’s young, sharp, and already respected in league circles for his ability to connect with players and simplify complex schemes.
The Giants are also reportedly considering other candidates, including Charlie Weis Jr. and Davis Webb, both of whom bring different strengths to the table. But Tanney’s mix of familiarity with the organization, recent success developing quarterbacks, and schematic versatility makes him a compelling option-especially for a franchise looking to reset its offensive identity.
It’s early in the hiring process, and a lot can still change. But don’t be surprised if Alex Tanney becomes more than just a name from the past. He might just be a key piece of the Giants’ future.