New York Giants Should Hire Head Coach With ‘Certain Pedigree And A Certain Level Of Respect’

While it may only be 10 years since the New York Giants upset the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI, for fans of beleaguered Big Blue it may as well be 100.

After its fifth consecutive losing season and third finishing last in the NFC East, the franchise said farewell to general manager Dave Gettleman, who announced his retirement on January 10, then fired head coach Joe Judge the following day after going 10-23 in two seasons.

Former Buffalo Bills assistant GM Joe Schoen was hired to replace Gettleman as New York continues to search for a head coach to hopefully not only bring stability to the staff, but success on the field. Judge is the third consecutive Giants coach to be fired after two seasons or less, following Ben McAdoo, who went 13-15, and Pat Shurmer (9-23).

As of January 27, Patrick Graham (Giants), Brian Daboll (Bills), Dan Quinn (Cowboys), Lou Anarumo (Bengals), Leslie Frazier (Bills) and Brian Flores (Dolphins) have conducted interviews for the vacant position; Daboll, Buffalo’s offensive coordinator, is the only candidate so far to have a second interview.

Former Giants receiver Victor Cruz, who scored a touchdown in the 21-17 win against the Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI on February 5, 2012, says the franchise he represented from 2010-16 should seek a head coach who comes in with a “certain pedigree and a certain level of respect.”

“When he comes in with that level of pedigree, the players react to that, the players understand that and they come in with a certain level of attention to detail and discipline because they know this coach is respected, has been around the league and paid his dues,” Cruz says. “They have to get a head coach who embodies all of those things for the players to resonate with. Then they have to figure out what players are going to be on the field helping this team win. 

The Giants gave Judge, 40, and McAdoo, 44, their first-ever head coaching jobs in the NFL, while Shurmer was head coach of the Browns for a season (2011-12) and served as interim head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles for one game in 2015 after Chip Kelly was relieved of his duties.

Flores, who went 24-25 in three seasons with Miami, is a finalist for the job, according to Adam Schefter. The ESPN Senior NFL Insider also reports a decision from the Giants on their head coach is expected this weekend. 

The 40-year-old first joined the Patriots as a scouting assistant in 2004 and held a variety of roles in the organization—while winning four Super Bowls—before being named head coach of the Dolphins in 2019.

“The most important part right now is getting that head coach,” Cruz says. “A guy who understands the Giants’ culture, who embodies New York and who can galvanize and lead a football team.”

Tom Coughlin was able to embrace that role and responsibility while guiding the Giants to two championships during his tenure as head coach from 2004-15.

Cruz fondly looks back on New York’s seemingly improbable run to Super Bowl XLVI a decade ago, which required having to win the final two games of the regular season to finish 9-7 and earn a wild card berth into the playoffs. 

After beating Atlanta at home, the underdog Giants packed their bags and headed to Green Bay and upset the Packers before outlasting the 49ers in overtime to advance to the Super Bowl for the second time in five seasons.

“Our Super Bowl practices were just so perfect,” Cruz recalls. “I always tell people those were the most perfect practices I’ve ever been a part of. I think we knew we were going to win well before the game began because our attention to detail in those practices was just top notch.”

What wasn’t practiced, though, was one of the game’s biggest, and arguably oddest plays. With 1:03 remaining and the ball on New England’s 6-yard line, running back Ahmad Bradshaw was given a clear path to score so the Patriots could get the ball back. Once he realized what was happening, Bradshaw tried to stop and turn or sit down, but his momentum carried him into the end zone in what Sports Illustrated called “perhaps the strangest play in Super Bowl history.”

Even though Tom Brady and the Patriots got the ball back with 57 seconds left, New York’s defense remained resolute and hung on for the victory.

“Definitely the most anticlimactic go-ahead touchdown leading to a Super Bowl probably ever,” Cruz says with a laugh.

With Super Bowl LVI fast approaching, Cruz is teaming up with Captain Morgan, the NFL’s first-ever Official Spiced Rum Sponsor, to unveil what’s been deemed “the most unnecessary, necessary invention in the history of sports.”

The Captain Morgan Super Bowl Punch Bowl not only holds four gallons of liquid, but features stadium-inspired lights and sounds, Bluetooth speakers, LED graphic equalizers and WiFi connectivity that allows it to react in real time during the big game on February 13.

It was designed by engineer and inventor-extraordinaire Matty Benedetto, founder of “Unnecessary Inventions.”