2020 has been a tough year for everyone, but the New York Giants continue to take hits in the injury department and with coaches leaving mid-season. Several weeks ago, head coach Joe Judge fired offensive line coach Marc Colombo, instituting the coaching staff’s first departure.
Now, outside linebackers coach Brett Bielema, who has been looking for an alternative coaching job all season long in the college sphere, has decided to take a head coaching gig at Illinois.
At 50 years old, Bielema will receive a four-year contract with a starting salary of $4.2 million, indicating a massive pay raise, per ESPN. As for his replacement, the Giants will elevate defensive assistant Jody Wright and tap inside linebackers coach Kevin Sherrer to consume Brett’s responsibilities.
The Giants continue to rotate through coaches in the first season under Judge, but they have accepted these changes in stride and will hopefully push forward without any setbacks.
Bielema also coached with the New England Patriots, which is where he is familiar with Judge from. He followed him over to the Giants this past off-season, but the money certainly is better as a head coach for a college team.
More COVID-19 test for the New York Giants:
After Jason Garrett contracted COVID on Thursday, the Giants shut down the facility on Friday for a majority of personnel. They have been contact-tracing since, and it has been discovered that assistant Stephen Brown has also tested positive for COVID-19.
“The Giants have been informed that offensive assistant Stephen Brown has tested positive for COVID-19. He immediately self-isolated, and we are currently working with the league’s chief medical officer regarding close contacts,†the team said in a statement. “Quest Diagnostics Training Center remains open, and the team is following their normal practice and meeting schedule today.â€
Cornerback James Bradberry was also exposed to a positive case, so he will have to sit for Sunday night’s game against the Cleveland Browns. The Giants and the majority of the NFL continue to battle the COVID virus, but it has undoubtedly shaped the season and affected every team in some way.