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NFL coaching hire grades: Redskins, Cowboys earn high marks

By Mike Phillips

ASHBURN, VA- JANUARY 2: Ron Rivera is introduced as the Washington Redskins new had coach at a Redskins Park press conference in Ashburn, VA on January 2, 2020 . (Photo by John McDonnell/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
ASHBURN, VA- JANUARY 2: Ron Rivera is introduced as the Washington Redskins new had coach at a Redskins Park press conference in Ashburn, VA on January 2, 2020 . (Photo by John McDonnell/The Washington Post via Getty Images) /
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FOXBOROUGH, MA – JANUARY 04: New England Patriots special teams coordinator / wide receivers coach Joe Judge and New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick before an AFC Wild Card game between the New England Patriots and the Tennessee Titans on January 4, 2020, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MA – JANUARY 04: New England Patriots special teams coordinator / wide receivers coach Joe Judge and New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick before an AFC Wild Card game between the New England Patriots and the Tennessee Titans on January 4, 2020, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

New York Giants: C

The biggest curveball in the hiring process came courtesy of the New York Giants, who bypassed a chance to talk to Matt Rhule to hire New England Patriots’ special teams coordinator Joe Judge. The 38 year old clearly impressed Giants’ brass, who turned down Rhule after he called with an opportunity for them to match the offer he received from Carolina.

There are things to like about Judge, including the fact that he comes from the Bill Belichick coaching tree. The Patriot way has had mixed results around the league (see Matt Patricia’s issues in Detroit or any of Romeo Crennel’s past head coaching jobs), but Bill O’Brien, Mike Vrabel, and Brian Flores all had varying levels of success with their teams this season.

It also is good that the Giants took a chance on a candidate who clearly impressed them. The hire has a similar feel to when the Baltimore Ravens hired a special teams coordinator named John Harbaugh after the 2008 season, and that worked out really well for them.

The reason this hire doesn’t get a higher grade is that we simply don’t know a ton about Judge as a coach yet. The Giants bypassed more proven candidates to hire Judge, which is a risk when you consider the fact they are trying to develop a franchise quarterback in Daniel Jones. Opting not to hire someone like Mike McCarthy or Josh McDaniels is a bold move, and this has massive boom or bust potential.

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