Giants GM Dave Gettleman likes Pat Shurmur’s maturity
Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur smiles before an NFC divisional playoff game against the Saints in Minneapolis, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018. Credit: AP / Todd Rosenberg
MOBILE, Ala. — In what might have been a subtle jab at the previous coach, Giants general manager Dave Gettleman said Wednesday the franchise hired an adult in Pat Shurmur as head coach.
“I really believe the head coach job for the New York Football Giants is a job for an adult and Pat is every bit of that,” Gettleman said from the Senior Bowl practices. “I’m just real excited. We’ve had some great conversations and he’s got a great sense of humor and I’m just excited about where we’re going.”
The Giants’ previous coach, Ben McAdoo was fired less than two seasons on the job in 2017. It was a drama-filled year of injuries, the benching of Eli Manning and finger-pointing. McAdoo, who previously hadn’t been a head coach at any level, didn’t handle the media well.
It was Gettleman who indicated Shurmur was picked because of his experience as an assistant coach and despite his two seasons as the head coach in Cleveland, in which the Browns went 9-23, learned from any mistakes he made.
Gettleman said he has followed Shurmur’s career and almost hired him for an offensive coordinator’s position when he was the GM with the Carolina Panthers. That job went to Mike Shula, but Gettleman kept his eye on Shurmur and was impressed with his work with the Minnesota Vikings, who reached the NFC Championship Game this season.
After the Vikings lost Sam Bradford to a knee injury in Week 2, Case Keenum took over and threw for 3,547 yards, 12th in the NFL, and finished with the seventh-highest quarterback rating at 98.3.
“He’s an adult,” Gettleman said of Shurmur. “He’s mature. He’s got wisdom. He’s very even-keeled and his demeanor really pays off. I’ve watched him on the sidelines. He doesn’t get shook. He doesn’t get rattled. This is a job for a grownup. We’re halfway through the interview and I wrote down in my notes, ‘This is an adult.’ Everybody wants the next wiz-bang kid. Let me tell you something. You look at history and see how that’s worked out. This is a veteran, seasoned professional football coach.”
The Giants interviewed six candidates for the job and waited until after the NFC Championship Game before naming Shurmur.
“I thought we had six quality guys and it’s always a tough decision,” Gettleman said. “You got to get it right and obviously in our structure, it’s the general manager-head coach situation and obviously it had to be a good fit for Pat and I. It was a tough decision and I know we made the right one.”
Bettcher expected to be named DC. Gettleman said the franchise has yet to finalize the coaching staff. Multiple sources told Newsday that James Bettcher will become the defensive coordinator, confirming an ESPN report. Bettcher was the Arizona Cardinals’ defensive coordinator in 2015, replacing Todd Bowles, who left to take the Jets head coaching job.
Jets coaching moves. The Jets announced they released offensive line coach Steve Marshall. Bowles is in the process of interviewing candidates to replace him. The team also will interview Brian Callahan for an offensive coach’s position. Last year, the Jets were denied permission by the Lions to interview Callahan to join the staff. The Jets are leaning toward promoting quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates to offensive coordinator. Callahan could replace Bates once that becomes official. A source said there is no timetable to fill these positions.
