News and Notes - Page 4 of 421 - Big Blue Interactive

Mike Kafka Remains with Giants; Two Defensive Coordinator Candidates Hired

Feb 012024

Mike Kafka, New York Giants (October 7, 2022)

Mike Kafka – © USA TODAY Sports

MIKE KAFKA REMAINS WITH GIANTS…
ESPN is reporting that Offensive Coordinator Mike Kafka will remain with the New York Giants for at least another season. Kafka had interviewed twice with the Seattle Seahawks for their head-coaching vacancy, but the team hired Baltimore Ravens Defensive Coordinator Mike Macdonald instead. The Tennessee Titans also interviewed Kafka, but they hired Cincinnati Offensive Coordinator Brian Callahan as their new head coach.

The 36-year old Kafka joined the Giants in 2022 after servicing as quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator of the Kansas City Chiefs. He also drew interest for head coaching vacancies last offseason with the Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Carolina Panthers, and Arizona Cardinals.

TWO DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR CANDIDATES HIRED…
Two of the candidates the New York Giants had been considering for defensive coordinator have been retained or hired by other teams. The Buffalo Bills promoted Linebackers Coach Bobby Babich to their defensive coordinator position. In addition, the Tennessee Titans have hired Baltimore Ravens Defensive Backs Coach Dennard Wilson as their new defensive coordinator.

As previously reported, the other publicly-known defensive coordinator candidates the Giants have expressed interest in include:

Tennessee Titans Defensive Coordinator Shane Bowen
Los Angeles Chargers Defensive Coordinator Derrick Ansley
Carolina Panthers Defensive Coordinator Ejiro Evero (interview request denied)
Miami Dolphins Linebackers Coach Anthony Campanile
Kansas City Chiefs Linebackers Coach Brendan Daly
New York Giants Defensive Backs Coach Jerome Henderson

Brandon Brown Remains with Giants; Panthers Deny Another Interview Request

Posted by Eric Kennedy

Jan 302024

Brandon Brown, New York Giants (June 13, 2023)

Brandon Brown – © USA TODAY Sports

BRANDON BROWN REMAINS WITH GIANTS…
Assistant General Manager Brandon Brown will remain with the New York Giants for at least another season. The Los Angeles Chargers and the Carolina Panthers both interviewed Brown twice for their vacant general manager positions. However, the Panthers promoted Assistant General Manger Dan Morgan and the Chargers hired Baltimore Ravens Director of Player Personnel Joe Hortiz as their respective new general managers.

PANTHERS DENY ANOTHER INTERVIEW REQUEST…
The Carolina Panthers have denied the Giants from interviewing another one of their coaches. Earlier this month, the Panthers refused to allow the Giants to interview Special Teams Coordinator and Chris Tabor. The Giants interviewed a number of other candidates instead and hired Jets Special Teams Assistant Michael Ghobrial as the team’s new special teams coordinator.

The Athletic is now reporting that the Panthers have also blocked the Giants from interviewing Ejiro Evero for the team’s vacant defensive coordinator position. The 43-year old Evero served as Carolina’s defensive coordinator in 2023 and the defensive coordinator of the Denver Broncos in 2022.

As previously reported, the other publicly-known defensive coordinator candidates the Giants have expressed interest in include:

Tennessee Titans Defensive Coordinator Shane Bowen
Los Angeles Chargers Defensive Coordinator Derrick Ansley
Miami Dolphins Linebackers Coach Anthony Campanile
Buffalo Bills Linebackers Coach Bobby Babich
Kansas City Chiefs Linebackers Coach Brendan Daly
Baltimore Ravens Defensive Backs Coach Dennard Wilson
New York Giants Defensive Backs Coach Jerome Henderson

New York Giants Defensive Coordinator Search Continues

Posted by Eric Kennedy

Jan 282024

New York Giants Helmet (December 17, 2023)

According to ESPN, the New York Giants have interviewed Kansas City Chiefs Linebackers Coach Brendan Daly for the team’s defensive coordinator vacancy. ESPN is also reporting that the Giants interviewed Baltimore Ravens Defensive Backs Coach Dennard Wilson for a second time on Saturday.

In recent years, the 48-year old Daly has served as defensive line coach of the New England Patriots (2015-2018), run game coordinator/defensive line coach of the Chiefs (2019-2021), and linebackers coach of the Chiefs (2022-present).

The 41-year old Wilson was with his first season with the Ravens in 2023. Before that, he was the defensive backs coach with the Rams (2015-2016), Jets (2017-2020), and Eagles (2021-2022).

As previously reported, the other publicly-known defensive coordinator candidates the Giants have expressed interest in include:

Tennessee Titans Defensive Coordinator Shane Bowen
Los Angeles Chargers Defensive Coordinator Derrick Ansley
Miami Dolphins Linebackers Coach Anthony Campanile
Buffalo Bills Linebackers Coach Bobby Babich
New York Giants Defensive Backs Coach Jerome Henderson

Giants Hire Michael Ghobrial for Special Teams Coordinator

Posted by Eric Kennedy

Jan 252024

New York Giants Helmet (December 12, 2021)

GIANTS HIRE MICHAEL GHOBRIAL FOR SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR…
The New York Giants have officially hired New York Jets Special Teams Assistant Michael Ghobrial as the team’s new special teams coordinator. Ghobrial replaces Thomas McGaughey, who was fired earlier this month.

The 35-year old Ghobrial has served with the Jets since 2021. Before that, he was the special teams coordinator at the University of Hawaii in 2018-2019 and Washington State University in 2020. Ghobrial’s full coaching bio is available in the Coaching Staff section of the website.

The Giants were publicly known to have interviewed three other candidates, including Seattle Seahawks Special Teams Coordinator Larry Izzo, San Francisco 49ers Assistant Special Teams Coach Matt Harper, and Chicago Bears Assistant Special Teams Coach Carlos Polk.

The Giants had also requested to interview three other special teams coordinators, but were blocked by their respective teams, including Ryan Ficken (Los Angeles Chargers), Marquice Williams (Atlanta Falcons), and Chris Tabor (Carolina Panthers).

ANOTHER SECOND INTERVIEW FOR BRANDON BROWN…
The Los Angeles Chargers have interviewed New York Giants Assistant General Manager Brandon Brown for a second time for their general manager vacancy. The Carolina Panthers have also interviewed Brown twice, but they hired Dan Morgan as their new general manager on Monday.

Giants Request to Interview Bobby Babich; Sign Two Players

Posted by Eric Kennedy

Jan 232024

Jimmy Morrissey, Houston Texans (August 10, 2023)

Jimmy Morrissey – © USA TODAY Sports

GIANTS REQUEST TO INTERVIEW BOBBY BABICH…
According to The NFL Network, the New York Giants have requested to interview Buffalo Bills Linebackers Coach Bobby Babich for the team’s defensive coordinator vacancy. It is not known whether or not the Bills have given their permission. The 40-year old Babich has been with the Bills for seven seasons, serving as assistant defensive backs coach (2017), safeties coach (2018-2021), and linebackers coach (2022-2023).

As previously reported, the other candidates the Giants have interviewed include:

Tennessee Titans Defensive Coordinator Shane Bowen
Baltimore Ravens Defensive Backs Coach Dennard Wilson
Los Angeles Chargers Defensive Coordinator Derrick Ansley
Miami Dolphins Linebackers Coach Anthony Campanile
New York Giants Defensive Backs Coach Jerome Henderson

GIANTS SIGN TWO PLAYERS…
The Giants have officially signed WR Chase Cota and OC Jimmy Morrissey to reserve/future contracts.

The 24-year old, 6’4”, 200-pound Cota was originally signed by the Detroit Lions as an undrafted rookie free agent after the 2023 NFL Draft. He was cut by the Lions in late August and he spent time on the Practice Squads of the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans.

The 25-year old, 6’4”, 305-pound Morrissey was originally drafted in the 7th round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Las Vegas Raiders. He began his rookie season on the team’s Practice Squad, but the Houston Texans signed him to their 53-man roster in October 2021. In his three seasons with Houston, Morrissey has spent time on both the 53-man roster and Practice Squad. He has played in 14 regular-season games with four starts.

Giants Interview Larry Izzo; Seahawks Interview Mike Kafka Again

Posted by Eric Kennedy

Jan 222024

Mike Kafka, New York Giants (June 8, 2023)

Mike Kafka – © USA TODAY Sports

GIANTS INTERVIEW LARRY IZZO…
ESPN is reporting that the New York Giants interviewed Seattle Seahawks Special Teams Coordinator Larry Izzo on Saturday for the team’s own special teams coordinator vacancy. The 49-year old Izzo began his coach career as an assistant special teams coach under Head Coach Tom Coughlin with the Giants in 2011-2015. He has also served as special teams coordinator for the Houston Texans (2016-2017), assistant special teams coordinator for the Seahawks (2018-2020), interim special teams coordinator for the Seahawks (2020), and special teams coordinator for the Seahawks (2021-2023).

Izzo is the fourth publicly-known candidate whom the Giants have interviewed for special teams coordinator. The others are San Francisco 49ers Assistant Special Teams Coach Matt Harper, Chicago Bears Assistant Special Teams Coach Carlos Polk, and New York Jets Special Teams Assistant Michael Ghobrial.

SEAHAWKS INTERVIEW MIKE KAFKA AGAIN…
New York Giants Offensive Coordinator Mike Kafka is one of multiple candidates who will be interviewed for a second time by the Seattle Seahawks for their head coaching vacancy. The Tennessee Titans also interviewed Kafka on January 12.

The 36-year old Kafka joined the Giants last year after servicing as quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator of the Kansas City Chiefs. He also drew interest for head coaching vacancies last offseason with the Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Carolina Panthers, and Arizona Cardinals.

Giants Interview Another Special Teams Coach; Panthers Interview Brandon Brown Again

Posted by Eric Kennedy

Jan 212024

Brandon Brown – © USA TODAY Sports

GIANTS STILL SEARCHING FOR SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR…
The New York Giants have interviewed New York Jets Special Teams Assistant Michael Ghobrial for the team’s special teams coordinator vacancy. Ghobrial has served with the Jets since 2021. Before that, he was the special teams coordinator at the University of Hawaii in 2018-2019 and Washington State University in 2020.

As previously reported, the Giant also interviewed San Francisco 49ers Assistant Special Teams Coach Matt Harper and Chicago Bears Assistant Special Teams Coach Carlos Polk. The team had requested to interview three other special teams coordinators, but were blocked by their respective teams, including Ryan Ficken (Los Angeles Chargers), Marquice Williams (Atlanta Falcons), and Chris Tabor (Carolina Panthers). It is not clear if the Falcons have since unblocked Williams from interviewing with the Giants.

SECOND INTERVIEW FOR BRANDON BROWN…
New York Giants Assistant General Manager Brandon Brown is one of multiple candidates who has been interviewed for a second time by the Carolina Panthers for their general manager vacancy. The Los Angeles Chargers have also expressed interest in Brown, who joined the Giants last year from the front office of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Giants Hire Running Back and Strength Coaches

Posted by Eric Kennedy

Jan 162024

Joel Thomas, New Orleans Saints (June 13, 2023)

GIANTS HIRE RUNNING BACKS COACH…
The New York Giants have officially hired New Orleans Saints Running Back Coach Joel Thomas for the same position with the team. The Saints gave the Giants permission to interview the 49-year old Thomas on Saturday, January 13. He has coached in New Orleans for the past nine seasons as the running backs coach. Thomas replaces Jeff Nixon, who was hired by Syracuse University to be their new offensive coordinator.

Thomas’ full coaching bio is available in the Coaching Staff section of the website.

GIANTS HIRE STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING COACH…
The New York Giants have officially hired Aaron Wellman as executive director of player performance. The 49-year old Wellman replaces Craig Fitzgerald, who was hired by the Florida Gators to be their new director of football performance.

Wellman actually returns to the Giants, having served four seasons as New York’s strength and conditioning coach under head coaches Ben McAdoo and Pat Shurmur from 2016-2019. He left the team in early 2020 to become the senior assistant athletic director for football performance at Indiana University.

Thomas’ full coaching bio is available in the Coaching Staff section of the website.

SEAHAWKS INTERVIEW MIKE KAFKA…
The Seattle Seahawks are the second team to express interest in New York Giants Offensive Coordinator Mike Kafka for their head coaching vacancy. The Tennessee Titans interviewed Kafka on January 12. The Seahawks have also now requested an interview.

GIANTS INTERVIEW ANOTHER FOR SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR…
The New York Giants have expressed interest in Chicago Bears Assistant Special Teams Coach Carlos Polk for the team’s special teams coordinator vacancy. The 46-year old Polk has served as an assistant special teams coach with the Chargers (2010-2012), Buccaneers (2014-2018), Cowboys (2019), Jaguars (2021), and Bears (2022-present).

The Giant also interviewed San Francisco 49ers Assistant Special Teams Coach Matt Harper this past weekend.

As previously reported, the Giants had requested to interview three other special teams coordinators, but were blocked by their teams, including Ryan Ficken (Los Angeles Chargers), Marquice Williams (Atlanta Falcons), and Chris Tabor (Carolina Panthers).

Giants Interview Defensive and Special Teams Coordinators

Posted by Eric Kennedy

Jan 152024

Jerome Henderson, New York Giants (June 13, 2023)

GIANTS INTERVIEW MORE DEFENSIVE COORDINATORS…
According to media reports, the New York Giants have requested to interview Los Angeles Chargers Defensive Coordinator Derrick Ansley and Miami Dolphins Linebackers Coach Anthony Campanile for the team’s defensive coordinator vacancy. The team has also interviewed their own defensive backs coach, Jerome Henderson, for defensive coordinator.

The 42-year old Ansley has served as defensive backs coach of the Raiders (2018), defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach of the Titans (2019-2020), defensive backs coach of the Chargers (2021-2022), and defensive coordinator of the Chargers (2023).

The 41-year old Campanile has served as defensive backs coach of Boston College (2016-2017), co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach for Boston College (2018), linebackers coach of Michigan (2019), and linebackers coach of the Dolphins (2020-2023).

The 54-year old Henderson has served as defensive backs coach for the Jets (2008), Browns (2009-2011), Cowboys (2012-2015), Falcons (2016-2019), and Giants (2020-2023).

As previously reported, the Giants have also interviewed Baltimore Ravens Defensive Backs Coach Dennard Wilson and Tennessee Titans Defensive Coordinator Shane Bowen for the same position.

GIANTS INTERVIEW SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR…
The New York Giants interviewed San Francisco 49ers Assistant Special Teams Coach Matt Harper this past weekend for the team’s special teams coordinator vacancy. The 39-year old Harper served in various coaching capacities with the Philadelphia Eagles from 2013 until 2020. He has been with the 49ers in his current position since 2021.

Titans Interview Mike Kafka: Giants Interview RB Coaches

Posted by Eric Kennedy

Jan 152024

Mike Kafka, New York Giants (May 19, 2022)

TENNESSEE TITANS INTERVIEW MIKE KAFKA…
The Tennessee Titans interviewed New York Giants Offensive Coordinator Mike Kafka for their head coaching vacancy on Friday, January 12. The 36-year old Kafka joined the Giants last year after servicing as quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator of the Kansas City Chiefs. He also drew interest for head coaching vacancies last offseason with the Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Carolina Panthers, and Arizona Cardinals.

GIANTS INTERVIEW RUNNING BACKS COACHES…
The New York Giants interviewed New Orleans Saints Running Back Coach Joel Thomas on Saturday, January 13 for the same position with the team. The Saints gave the Giants permission to interview the 49-year old Thomas, who has coached in New Orleans for the past nine seasons as the running backs coach.

The Giants have also been granted permission by the Tennessee Titans to interview Tight Ends Coach Tony Dews for the running back coach position. While the 50-year old Dews coached tight ends in 2023, he was Tennessee’s running backs coach from 2018 to 2022.

Older Entries Newer Entries