5 candidates to replace Pat Shurmur as New York Giants head coach
The New York Giants wasted little time firing Pat Shurmur, and here are five candidates to replace him.
The New York Giants didn’t have realistic high expectations for the 2019 season, but a nine-game losing streak on the way to a 4-12 campaign virtually sealed head coach Pat Shurmur’s fate. Monday morning, the move to fire Shurmur after two seasons was officially made.
Shurmur went 9-23 over two seasons as Giants head coach, and coupled with same mark over two seasons as head coach of the Cleveland Browns he won’t get a third shot to be an NFL head coach. He should land somewhere as an offensive assistant, perhaps as a coordinator.
As for the Giants, the search for a new head coach will start in earnest. Former Panthers head coach Ron Rivera is an easy fit, with a tie to general manager David Gettleman, but all indications are he will be the next head coach of the rival Washington Redskins.
The Giants may turn to offensive minds as their next head coach, with an eye on the continued development of 2019 first-round pick Daniel Jones. Said head coach will surely have to believe in the young signal caller, but the guy that’s hired is lined up to have great input.
The Giants and Browns, who have fired their head coaches within the past 24 hours, still could be making more changes, per league sources. The new head coach in each city is expected to have input on whether the general managers there stay or go. Front office situations fluid.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 30, 2019
Here are five candidates to be the next Giants’ head coach, the franchise’s third in five years.
5. Kevin Stefanski
If at first you don’t succeed, try again? Shurmur came to the Giants after a successful 2017 season as Minnesota Vikings’ offensive coordinator with Case Keenum starting under center for most of the season. Stefanski stepped into that same post on an interim basis late in the 2018 season, and was a candidate for the Cleveland Browns’ job a year ago before being named the permanent coordinator in Minnesota. The Browns could easily circle back to him now, after firing Freddie Kitchens.
Gary Kubiak’s influence on the Vikings’ offense this year has been clear, but Stefanski also deserves a great deal of credit. His experience as a quarterbacks coach might make him a nice fit for a team looking to cultivate a young signal caller, like the Giants.
The Giants may aim for some bigger names in their search to replace Shurmur. But Stefanski should be on an early list of candidates to interview.