The New York Giants are reshaping their coaching staff under new leadership, and the moves so far have drawn plenty of attention-especially with the team dipping into some familiar Philadelphia territory.
After hiring longtime NFL coach John Harbaugh, most around the league saw it as a big win for the Giants. Now, Harbaugh is building out his staff with a mix of experience and familiarity, starting with the addition of former Eagles assistant Matt Nagy as offensive coordinator. Nagy steps in after the Giants reportedly missed out on Todd Monken, who took the head coaching job in Cleveland.
But Harbaugh isn’t done mining his past connections. According to sources close to the team, the Giants are considering bringing in Juan Castillo to coach the offensive line. That name will ring a bell for Eagles fans-and not just because of his long tenure in Philly.
Castillo worked with Harbaugh and Nagy during their time with the Eagles and has a deep history coaching offensive lines. From 1998 to 2010, he was the man behind some of the league’s most consistent and physical units in Philadelphia. His lines were known for their toughness and cohesion, helping to anchor some of the best Eagles teams of the Andy Reid era.
But Castillo’s time in Philly took a sharp turn in 2011 when Reid made the surprising decision to promote him to defensive coordinator-a move that raised eyebrows across the league. The first year wasn’t a disaster, but by 2012 the wheels had come off. The Eagles finished 15th in yards allowed and 29th in points allowed before Castillo was let go midseason.
Since then, Castillo has continued to coach at both the NFL and college levels, and he currently serves as the offensive line coach for Syracuse. Now, he could be in line for a return to the NFC East-this time wearing Giants blue.
Harbaugh has been clear about his intent to bring in coaches he trusts, many of whom he’s worked with before in Baltimore and Philadelphia. Castillo fits that mold perfectly. He’s a veteran coach with a long résumé, and his familiarity with Harbaugh and Nagy could be a valuable asset as the Giants look to stabilize and elevate their offensive front.
Of course, Eagles fans are watching all of this unfold with interest-and maybe a little bit of schadenfreude. Castillo’s name still sparks debate in Philly, especially because of how his time as defensive coordinator ended.
If he does land in New York, that would mean two meetings a year between him and his old team. And you can bet fans in Philadelphia wouldn’t mind seeing their defensive line test Castillo’s unit up close.
For the Giants, though, this is about building a staff that can bring stability, toughness, and identity to a team looking to turn the page. If Castillo joins the fold, he’ll bring decades of experience and a deep understanding of trench play-something the Giants have been trying to solidify for years.