Former University of Tennessee HC Jeremy Pruitt joining Giants staff (Report)

Jeremy Pruitt will reportedly be reconnecting with Joe Judge on the New York Giants coaching staff for the 2021 season.

The Giants have added a notable name to their coaching staff.

According to Dan Duggan of The Athletic, recently fired University of Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt will be joining the staff in a role that’s yet to be revealed. Duggan reported the news Wednesday evening.

Pruitt was let go from Tennessee earlier this month after recruiting violation evidence was discovered.

Source says Jeremy Pruitt will, in fact, be joining the Giants staff. Hiring not official yet and official role TBD https://t.co/8lGkno2WBU

— Dan Duggan (@DDuggan21) January 28, 2021

It was previously reported that Pruitt was working on a deal to join Robert Saleh’s Jets staff, but that ended up not coming to fruition, per Connor Hughes of The Athletic.

The #Jets are not adding Jeremy Pruitt to their coaching staff, a team source says. Not as DB coach or assistant DB coach.

— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) January 27, 2021

While the role hasn’t been revealed yet, there’s a chance Pruitt could be working as a defensive backs coach, whether it’s as an assistant or in the lead role. Prior to his three-year stint with the Volunteers, Pruitt was a defensive backs coach for numerous programs, including Alabama from 2010-12. That’s where he was previously connected with Joe Judge, who was a special teams assistant for the Crimson Tide from 2009-11 prior to his pro-level tenure.

At the moment, the Giants employ Jerome Henderson as their defensive backs coach and Anthony Blevins as their assistant defensive backs coach. Nonetheless, that area of the game needs all the help it can get. The Giants were tied for 16th in the NFL with 237.9 passing yards allowed per game even with a star like James Bradberry at cornerback.

Pruitt additionally worked as an inside linebackers coach during his 2016-17 stint with Bama, so that could be another option for his potential Giants role.