If there’s any coach the New York Giants should hold onto from Joe Judge’s tenure with Big Blue, it is defensive coordinator Patrick Graham. After hosting a top-10 defense in 2020, his unit took a step in the wrong direction this past regular season.
Graham attempted to revert back to his cover-1 roots but found his personnel was a better fit for a zone-covered scheme, which he corrected after several weeks of poor performance. The Giants’ defense ended up keeping the team in most games as the offense flounder and struggled to get anything going.
Suppose the Giants had an even competent offense, their defense would’ve looked far more presentable and productive. However, after hiring Joe Schoen to be the team’s new general manager, big changes are on the horizon for management and coaching staff.
Patrick Graham is entertaining offers from other teams, as the Pittsburgh Steelers are set to interview him for their vacant defensive coordinator position.
Graham is also in the running for head coaching opportunities, but he is unlikely to land a spot during this cycle. If he’s willing to stick around with the Giants and remain with his players, most of which he played a part in acquiring via free agency and the draft, the team might be better off because of it.
Per SNY’s Ralph Vacchiano, the Giants could retain Patrick Graham as their defensive coordinator moving forward.
“Many believe the Giants would be open to his return in the right situation.”
Graham is well-liked by Giants owners, Vacchiano writes. The former Yale graduate has stated in the past that being the defensive coordinator for the Giants is his “dream job” and a phenomenal opportunity. Graham could be at the forefront of these transitions with better general manager activity and a culture change.
If the Giants hire Brian Flores, former Miami Dolphins coach, or Brian Daboll, there is a reason to believe that Graham could be on their shortlist for DC, considering his connections with the two.
Graham worked with Flores and Daboll in New England from 2013-16. That connection alone holds weight, but there are several high-profile options on the market, including former Baltimore Ravens DC Wink Martindale, who has hosted one of the best defenses in football year in and year out with his aggressive blitz-heavy scheme.