Pat Shurmur is expected to be named head coach of the New York Giants this week.
Shurmur, the current Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator, flew back to Minneapolis after the Vikings’ 38-7 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game to conduct exit interviews. He wouldn’t comment on the Giants’ head coaching vacancy, saying there was “another time and place for that”.
“We’re going to get on the plane and go back (Monday) and we got the exit (interviews) for the players and move on from there,” Shurmur said.
Shurmur interviewed with the Giants Jan. 6 during the Vikings’ playoff bye week. He became the focus of the Giants’ head coaching search after it was reported New England Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia didn’t want the Giants’ job because of his desire to coach in a smaller media market (Patricia will reportedly accept the Detroit Lions‘ head coach position) and Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels will become the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts.
Shurmur has spent the past two seasons with the Vikings. A noted quarterback guru, Shurmur worked with both Sam Bradford and Case Keenum. Keenum had career highs in completions (325), completion percentage (67.6), passing yards (3,547), and touchdowns (22) while leading the Vikings to the No. 2 seed in the NFC Playoffs. He also worked with Donovan McNabb and Nick Foles as Eagles quarterback coach under Andy Reid.
Shurmur was head coach of the Cleveland Browns for two seasons (2011-12), going 9-23, and Eagles offensive coordinator under Chip Kelly. He would replace Ben McAdoo, who was fired on Dec. 4 along with general manager Jerry Reese in the midst of a 3-13 season. ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported Shurmur will target former NFL linebacker and Oakland Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio to be his defensive coordinator, replacing defensive coordinator/interim head coach Steve Spagnuolo.
Shurmur, who was St. Louis Rams offensive coordinator when Spagnuolo was head coach, said Sunday he “wouldn’t have any way to comment on that” when asked about his potential Giants staff.
The New York Post reported that Shurmur will meet with the Giants on Tuesday. FOX’s Jay Glazer reported the team wants to hire Shurmur and have the introductory press conference within the next 48 hours. General manager Dave Gettleman is in Mobile, Ala. for Saturday’s Senior Bowl. It would make sense that the Giants want to get Shurmur hired so he can join Gettleman in Mobile to evaluate potential draft prospects. The Giants own the second overall pick in April’s NFL Draft.
– Curtis Rawls is a Managing Editor for Full Press Coverage and covers the NFL and the New York Giants. Please like and follow on Facebook and Twitter. Curtis can be followed on Twitter @CuRawls203.
