The New York Giants and new head coach Joe Judge are well underway in their quest to build out the coaching staff with quality options. So far, they’ve filled numerous positions and brought on plenty of experience to help Judge adapt to being a head coach in the NFL.
Here are all of New York Giants’ Joe Judge’s hirings:
1.) OC Jason Garrett
“Jason is a football guy. He wants to go coach. He’s a great offensive mind. They got a good one in coach Garrett,” Jones said Tuesday from the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, via The Athletic’s Jon Machota. “He was nothing but a class act here. I know he’ll certainly help the Giants get on the road to where they want to go.”
Garrett compiled an 85-67 record while with the Cowboys, including an underwhelming 8-8 campaign this past season with the No. 1 ranked offense in football. However, his experience and knowledge at the quarterback position will be integral to Daniel Jones’ development.
Expect Garrett to run a similar offense as he did in Dallas, utilizing a big-bodied wide receiver and the heavy involvement of tight ends. Saquon Barkley will benefit from this system, I believe.
2.) QB Jerry Schuplinski
Schuplinski is one of the more intriguing hired by Judge, and I think it might be one of his best. Aside from working with Judge in New England, Schuplinski has coached the likes of Tom Brady, Jacoby Brissett, and Jimmy G. His experience working with elite talent and starting-caliber quarterbacks will only benefit Jones, who’s primed to take a big step forward after a promising rookie season. Jerry will have his hands full with Jones’ fumbling issue, but if he can alleviate that concern, the Giants will be in great shape.
3.) RB Burton Burns
Burns is an excellent running backs coach, and according to Baltimore star back, Mark Ingram, he’s the best coach he’s ever had. Coming from Alabama, Burns is friends with Judge and will work his magic with Barkley, who has the potential to be one of the best RBs in the history of the game.
4.) WR Tyke Tolbert
Judge retained Tolbert after coaching the Giants’ WR unit for the past two seasons. While some might feel as though the WRs underperformed, injuries consistently plagued them, hurting their efficiency, forcing Tolbert to work with reserve talent at times.
5.) TBD Freddie Kitchens
This is an interesting hire for Judge, considering Kitchens was in line for either a head coaching job or coordinator position just a few weeks ago. It seems as if Kitchens is looking to remain in the NFL, and latching on with a new regime in the Giants could prove to offer more in terms of future opportunity.
I expect Kitchens to work alongside Garrett in some form and help the offense’s productivity. Meshing the two offensive minds might work wonders for a frequently stagnant Giants offense in 2019.
6.) TBD Jody Wright
Wright is another interesting name to add to the list, and while his position isn’t finalized yet, I believe he will slot in at the tight end coach vacancy.
As per Giantswire:
Wright was a graduate assistant/coordinator of football operations at Mississippi State from 2005-09 and a graduate assistant/offensive analyst for Alabama from 2010-12. He moved on to become a passing game coordinator/tight ends coach at Jacksonville State in 2013 and then a running backs coach at UAB in 2014.
The following year, Wright returned to Alabama where he took over as the director of player personnel until 2018 when he was hired as the offensive line and assistant head coach at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
7.) DC Patrick Graham
Graham was a surprise hire for the defensive coordinator position, but he’s familiar with Judge and the Giants. The 40-year-old was the defensive line coach under Ben McAdoo and worked with Judge under Bill Belichick with the Patriots. The Yale graduate undoubtedly has the mental ability to be a fantastic DC, but 2019 production with Miami wasn’t noteworthy. While his rankings in Miami were abysmal, his unit didn’t have much talent to help show his value.
I expect the Giants to remain in the 3-4 defense in an attempt to help the development of the younger players.
8.) DB Jerome Henderson
The Giants have focused on bringing in coaches who have connections within the Giants already, and this time it’s with Jason Garrett. Henderson spent the last four seasons with the Falcons after coaching under Garrett for four seasons. He boasts a strong resume as a defensive backs coach, and his influence should be significant on a young group trying to find an identity.
9.) TBD Bret Bielema
Bielema spent the past two seasons as the Patriots’ defensive assistant, and anything defense-related for New England is a home run. The Patriots had a dominant unit this past year, and the Giants will be looking to steal some of their efficiency through their coaching staff. Having already plucked Joe Judge, Bielema will be a substantial addition. However, his role has not been clarified just yet.
10.) STC Thomas McGaughey
One of the only silver linings for the Giants this past season was their special teams unit, meaning the retention of ST coach Thomas McGaughey was an easy decision for Judge. The punt unit specifically saw a ton of action, and Riley Dixon was fantastic along with the Giants’ gunners in Michael Thomas and Cody Core.Â
This unit will remain untouched aside from the wave of Judge’s wand.