The New York Giants will interview Minnesota’s Pat Shurmur and Denver’s Eric Studesville for the head coach position.
The New York Giants have added Eric Studesville as another name in their coaching search. Mike Klis of 9News in Denver reports on Twitter that the recently fired Denver Broncos assistant will interview for the vacant position with the Giants.
Eric Studesville will interview before the weekend for the vacant head coaching position with the New York Giants. #9sports
— Mike Klis (@MikeKlis) January 2, 2018
Studesville has never been a coordinator, but he does have four games of head coaching experience, going 1-3 in 2010 as the Interim Head Coach for the Broncos. While he didn’t get the full-time job after the season—Denver hired former Giants defensive coordinator John Fox—he did stay with the team as their running backs coach until the end of the 2017 regular season, during which he was also an assistant head coach.
He served as the Giants running backs coach from 2001-03, coaching Tiki Barber to his then-highest yards per game average in 2001, where he averaged 5.2 yards per carry (he would match that total in 2005). Barber ran for a then-career-high 1,387 yards in 2002, a number he would later eclipse three times.
Studesville was well-liked in Denver, with C.J. Anderson tweeting several times about the firing on his Twitter account, one of which was NSFW.
THATS BULLSHIT
— Cj Anderson (@cjandersonb22) January 1, 2018
Sad to see my guy go wish I coulda done more 4 my guy, so thankful to be coach by an amazing man better coach. Taught me so much I have been successful because of coach E. Thanks coach I will miss you I think it’s wrong but understand the biz. Good luck E I know you will be solid
— Cj Anderson (@cjandersonb22) January 1, 2018
The Giants have already requested permission to speak to New England Patriots coordinators Josh McDaniels and Matt Patricia. They have also requested to speak to Carolina Panthers’ defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.
Giants and Colts have requested interviews with Panthers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, sources say. Add that to @RapSheet saying the Lions have asked to talk to him.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) January 1, 2018
General Manager Dave Gettleman is thought to be very fond of Wilks, although the Giants ownership group isn’t as high on him due to his lack of experience.
Lack of experience is the same knock on Studesville, but his time with the Giants should help him, as John Mara and Steve Tisch like to hire personnel with prior ties to the organization.
The team is also interested in interviewing Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur for the vacancy. Jordan Raanan of ESPN reports on his Twitter that the team has requested permission to interview him from the Vikings.
The New York Giants put in a request to interview Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, per source.
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) January 2, 2018
Shurmur spent 2011-12 coaching the Cleveland Browns, finishing with a record of 9-23. Shurmur also coached one game (a win) for the Philadelphia Eagles as interim head coach in 2015.
Shurmur has spent the past two seasons with the Vikings. He was hired prior to the 2016 season as the tight ends coach before being promoted to interim offensive coordinator after Norv Turner resigned. He shed the interim title for the 2017 season.
Shurmur has a history of success with quarterbacks. He was the offensive coordinator for Nick Foles’ career year in 2013, as well as overseeing Case Keenum’s best season last season.
His history of helping quarterbacks could make him an intriguing option for the Giants. The team would hope he can coax some late-career magic out of Eli Manning, as well as help the development of Davis Webb and/or any quarterback drafted with the second overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
