With Josh McDaniels off to Indy and Matt Patricia likely to Detroit, the New York Giants have opted for Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur as the next head coach of the organization.
Pat Shurmur may be taking his miracles from Minneapolis to the Meadowlands.
The current Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, is said to be the New York Giants‘ ideal party to become the 20th head coach in franchise history.
Source: The #Giants are targeting #Vikings OC Pat Shurmur as the top choice for their new head coach and he's expected to accept, if offered.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 15, 2018
Shurmur, 52, was interviewed by the Giants on Jan. 6, one of six candidates who met with Giants brass this month, including principal owner John Mara and new general manager Dave Gettleman.
NFL rules prohibit an official announcement of Shurmur to the head coaching vacancy until the Vikings’ season ends. Minnesota, winners of the NFC North, is an NFC finalist, earning a pulse-pounding 29-24 victory over the New Orleans Saints in yesterday’s Divisional playoff round.
Shurmur can get off to a good start with his potential new fanbase on Sunday night, as the Vikings will head to Lincoln Financial Field to take on the Philadelphia Eagles (6:40 PM, FOX). The winner will advance to Super Bowl LII, which is set to be held at the Vikings’ home of U.S. Bank Stadium next month. It’s the Vikings’ first championship game appearance since 2009.
A native of Dearborn, Michigan, Shurmur has held his current spot as Vikings offensive coordinator since 2016, when he took over for Norv Turner, who departed midseason. This season, Shurmur dealt with early adversity in the form of quarterback injuries, as incumbent starter Sam Bradford was injured following the Week 1 win over New Orleans, while prospective franchise quarterback Teddy Bridgewater continued to rehab an injury suffered the year prior.
However, under Shurmur’s guidance, backup Case Keenum posted career numbers, as did receiver and undrafted player Adam Thielen, who finished fifth in the NFL in receiving yards with 1,276. As a team, Minnesota jumped to 11th in the league in total offense, all the way from 28th last season.
Should he take the Giants’ job, this would be Shurmur’s third stop as a head coach. Previously, he was at the helm with the Cleveland Browns, spending two seasons with the tumultuous franchise, going 9-23.
Fired in 2012, Shurmur subsequently went to Philadelphia, serving as the offensive coordinator for the ensuing three seasons under Chip Kelly. When Kelly was dismissed prior to the 2015-16 season finale, Shurmur took the helm for a 35-30 win over the Giants at MetLife Stadium, ironically the last time the Giants reached the 30-point plateau.
Coaching runs in Shurmur’s blood, as his uncle Fritz was the head coach of the Wyoming Cowboys on the college level, before spending two decades as an NFL assistant. Fritz was the defensive coordinator in Green Bay when the Packers defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 31.
Pat Shurmur, who went to a Super Bowl as a quarterbacks coach with the Eagles in 2005, served as offensive coordinator under Steve Spagnuolo during the latter’s first two years as head coach with the St. Louis Rams. Shumur’s work with a rookie Bradford helped earn him the top job in Cleveland.
