Special Teams Coordinator Mike Sweatman Retires; Tom Quinn Promoted

Special Teams Coordinator Mike Sweatman Retires; Tom Quinn Promoted: According to various press reports, Special Teams Coordinator Mike Sweatman has retired. Assistant Special Teams Coach Tom Quinn has been promoted to fill Sweatman’s position. The official announcement is expected today.

It had been rumored since the season ended that the 60-year old Sweatman was retiring. Sweatman not only served as the Giants’ special teams coach under Coughlin since 2004, but he was also the special teams coach with the Giants from 1990-1992 and an assistant special teams coach with the team from 1985-1989.

Quinn, who just turned 39 years old, has only spent one season (last year with the Giants) as an NFL coach.

Giants Officially Hire Chris Palmer as Quarterbacks Coach: The Giants have officially announced that they have hired 57-year old Chris Palmer as their new quarterbacks coach, replacing Kevin Gilbride who was promoted to offensive coordinator earlier this month.

As we reported on Sunday, Palmer served as the quarterbacks coach for the Dallas Cowboys in 2006. Before that, from 2001-2005, he was the offensive coordinator for the expansion Houston Texans. From 1999-2000, Palmer was the head coach of the expansion Cleveland Browns. And from 1997-1998, he was Tom Coughlin’s offensive coordinator in Jacksonville – ironically replacing Gilbride who had then moved on to become the head coach of the San Diego Chargers. Even more ironically, from 1999-2000, John Hufnagel was Palmer’s quarterbacks coach with the Cleveland Browns. The Giants fired Hufnagel as their offensive coordinator late in the 2006 season.

“Chris is an excellent football coach,” said Coughlin. “He’s very sound, very logical and very good with the players. He’s always done a good job working with quarterbacks. Just look at the numbers in Dallas this year after they made a quarterback change.”

“My knowledge of Chris Palmer’s coaching ability goes way back,” said Coughlin. “When I was with the Giants in the late ’80s, Chris visited with (Defensive Coordinator) Bill Belichick and the defensive staff. They were interested in the run and shoot offense and Chris was well-versed in that offensive scheme. When Kevin Gilbride left our staff in Jacksonville to become the head coach in San Diego, we brought in Chris. He did an outstanding job as our offensive coordinator for a couple of years before he became the head coach in Cleveland. I’ve had an opportunity to work with Chris before, and it’s an opportunity to add another outstanding coach to our staff.”

Palmer met with QB Eli Manning on Monday.

“I had Chris speak with Eli the other day and they talked for about 20-25 minutes,” said Coughlin. “They discussed many aspects of the quarterback position and I know they’re going to work hard together on the fundamentals. Chris will contribute to the game plans, but we’re specifically asking the quarterbacks coach to be involved in the fundamentals of the position.”

“I’m excited about Coach Palmer becoming our quarterbacks coach,” said Manning. “He has a history of working with some quarterbacks that have done great things in this league. I had the opportunity to meet with him on Friday and we had a good conversation. I think we communicated well. We talked about some things I need to do to improve. I look forward to getting started and working with him during the offseason to become a better quarterback.”

“I thought the conversation with Eli was excellent,” said Palmer . “I enjoyed my visit with him. I think Eli is an extremely talented quarterback and I look forward to working with him…I’m excited about joining the Giants and working with the staff and the quarterbacks.”