Jan 222019
 
Michael Thomas, New York Giants (December 9, 2018)

Michael Thomas – © USA TODAY Sports

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GIANTS LOSE DESHEA TOWNSEND TO BEARS…
The Chicago Bears have hired Deshea Townsend as their new defensive backs coach. The 43-year old Townsend had served as the New York Giants’ assistant defensive backs coach under Head Coach Pat Shurmur and Defensive Backs Coach Lou Anarumo.

Townsend joined the Giants last year after serving as the defensive backs coach of the Tennessee Titans in 2016-2017. He was an NFL cornerback for the Pittsburgh Steelers (1998-2009) and Indianapolis Colts (2010).

MICHAEL THOMAS TO PLAY IN PRO BOWL…
New York Giants safety Michael Thomas will play in the Pro Bowl as the team’s special team player as a replacement for Los Angeles Rams linebacker Cory Littleton. Thomas was elected as a first alternate to the Pro Bowl last month. This is the first time Thomas will play in the NFL’s all-star game, joining teammates running back Saquon Barkley, place kicker Aldrick Rosas, and linebacker Olivier Vernon (also a first alternate). Safety Landon Collins was also elected to play, but he will not do so as he is recovering from shoulder surgery.

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Apr 042018
 
Bill McGovern, New York Giants (October 15, 2017)

Bill McGovern – © USA TODAY Sports

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NEW YORK GIANTS ASSISTANT COACH MEDIA SESSIONS…
Transcripts and video clips of Wednesday’s media sessions with the following position coaches are available in The Corner Forum and at Giants.com:

WILLIAM GAY VISITS THE GIANTS…
Unrestricted free agent cornerback William Gay (Pittsburgh Steelers), who was cut by the Steelers in March, reportedly will visit the New York Giants on Thursday. The 33-year old, 5’10”, 187-pound Gay was originally drafted in the 5th round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Steelers. Gay has played in every regular-season game in 10 seasons with the Steelers (2007-2011, 2013-2017) and one with the Arizona Cardinals (2012) with 101 starts. Despite all of that playing time, Gay has just 13 career interceptions. Gay is a savvy veteran who can play the slot corner position but who also is clearly in the final stages of a solid career. He lacks speed and saw his playing time markedly decline in 2017. Good locker room presence.

NAT BERHE VISITS PITTSBURGH STEELERS…
New York Giants unrestricted free agent safety Nat Berhe is visiting with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Berhe had his fourth nondescript season for the Giants in 2017, playing in 15 games with no starts and accruing just 12 tackles and one sack.

Berhe was drafted in the 5th round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the Giants. He played in all 16 games as a rookie, mostly on special teams. Since then, he has proven to be an injury-prone player, missing all of 2015 with a blood clot in his leg, over half the season in 2016 with two concussions, and one game in 2017 with a hamstring injury. In all, Berhe has played in 38 games with two starts in four seasons, accruing only 47 tackles and one pass defense.

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Feb 232018
 
Johnathan Hankins, New York Giants (August 20, 2016)

Johnathan Hankins – © USA TODAY Sports Images

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NEW YORK GIANTS AWARDED 4TH ROUND COMPENSATORY PICK…
The NFL has awarded the New York Giants a 4th-round compensatory pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. The pick will be the 35th selection in the 4th round, or 135th overall. The pick is primarily due to the team losing defensive tackle Jonathan Hankins in free agency to the Indianapolis Colts last offseason. Hankins signed a 3-year, $30 million contract with the Colts.

Compensatory picks are awarded to teams that have lost more qualifying free agents than they gained the previous year in free agency. The placement of the picks is determined by a proprietary formula based on the player’s salary, playing time, and post-season honors with his new team, with salary being the primary factor.

REPORT – GIANTS LOSE STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING COACH TO COWBOYS…
ESPN is reporting that the Dallas Cowboys have hired New York Giants Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach Markus Paul as their new strength and conditioning coach. Paul had been with the Giants since 2007. Aaron Wellman, whom the Giants hired in 2016, remains the team’s strength and conditioning coach.

NEW YORK GIANTS CUT LINEBACKER DEONTAE SKINNER…
The New York Giants waived linebacker Deontae Skinner on February 22. Skinner was originally signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by the New England Patriots after the 2014 NFL Draft. He has spent time with the Patriots (2014-2015), Eagles (2015-2016), Raiders (2017), and Giants (2016-2017). Skinner was placed on Injured Reserve with a hamstring injury in late November 2017.

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Feb 152018
 
Pat Shurmur, New York Giants (January 26, 2018)

Pat Shurmur – © USA TODAY

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NEW YORK GIANTS COACHING STAFF OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED…
New York Giants Head Coach Pat Shurmur officially announced his coaching staff today via press release. Most of the names had already been previously unofficially reported by the press. They include:

  • Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach: Mike Shula
  • Running Backs Coach: Craig Johnson
  • Wide Receivers Coach: Tyke Tolbert
  • Tight Ends Coach: Lunda Wells
  • Offensive Line Coach: Hal Hunter
  • Assistant Offensive Line Coach: Ben Wilkerson
  • Offensive Assistant: Ryan Roeder
  • Defensive Coordinator: James Bettcher
  • Defensive Line Coach: Gary Emanuel
  • Linebackers Coach: Bill McGovern
  • Assistant Linebackers Coach: Rob Leonard
  • Defensive Backs Coach: Lou Anarumo
  • Assistant Defensive Backs Coach: Deshea Townsend
  • Defensive Assistant: Bobby Blick
  • Special Teams Coordinator: Thomas McGaughey
  • Assistant Special Teams Coach: Anthony Blevins
  • Strength and Conditioning Coach: Aaron Wellman
  • Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach: Markus Paul
  • Performance Manager: Joe Danos
  • Director of Performance Nutrition: Pratik Patel

The bios for these coaches are available in the Coaching Staff section of the website.

“We’re thrilled to announce our coaches,” Shurmur said. “They’re all excellent people, career coaches, guys who have had success in the profession developing players. We’re excited to have them here at the New York Giants. Some of the coaches I have a history with, some were on previous staffs here, and other coaches are guys I’ve known through the profession. I took a good look at some of the coaches that were here, and we certainly wanted to make sure that some of the really fine coaches that were in the building a year ago had an opportunity to stay.

“I’ve been through this and when you’re a new coach, the process of putting together your initial staff is time-consuming. There are many, many excellent coaches out there, but you want to try to bring in the right guys that fit.”

In the team’s press release, the Giants stated that Shurmur will call the plays while Shula will play a primary role in devising game plans as well as working with the quarterbacks.

“I’ve known Mike a very long time,” Shurmur said. “He’s done an outstanding job developing and working with quarterbacks. He was the offensive coordinator of a team that was recently playing in the Super Bowl. They’ve done an excellent job on offense in Carolina. We share a vision in terms of what we want to do offensively. We’re excited that he’ll be with us. He’ll be the offensive coordinator and also work with the quarterbacks. He’ll assume all the roles that any offensive coordinator would have, and he’d obviously be in position to call it, if need be.”

Other comments from Shurmur:

  • On Hal Hunter: “(With) Hunter, there’s a little bit of a scheme fit. He’s done a good job coaching the offensive line wherever he’s been.”
  • On James Bettcher: “James coaches a defense that’s hard to score against. He had great success in Arizona, and we’re certainly glad to have him here.”
  • On Thomas McGaughey: “I knew Thomas in the profession, and after having a chance to visit with him, I knew it would be a perfect fit here. He’s an outstanding coach. He coached top 10 units in special teams.”

ARTICLES…

Feb 052018
 
Steve Tisch, Pat Shurmur, and John Mara; New York Giants (January 26, 2018)

Steve Tisch, Pat Shurmur, and John Mara – © USA TODAY Sports

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REPORT – GIANTS HIRE TWO MORE ASSISTANT COACHES…
The Sporting News is reporting that the New York Giants are hiring Ben Wilkerson as assistant offensive line coach and Deshea Townsend as assistant defensive backs coach. Wilkerson will work under new offensive line coach Hal Hunter while Townsend will work under new defensive backs coach Lou Anarumo.

Ben Wilkerson:

  • 2018-Present: Assistant Offensive Line Coach, New York Giants
  • 2015-2017: Assistant Offensive Line Coach, Chicago Bears
  • 2014: Assistant Football and Track Coach, North Shore Senior High School (Texas)
  • 2012-2013: Offensive Line Coach, Grambling State University
  • 2011: Offensive Administrative Intern, Louisiana State University
  • 2010: Offensive Graduate Assistant, Louisiana State University
  • Pro Experience: Offensive Lineman, Cincinnati Bengals (2005-2006), Atlanta Falcons (2007-2008), Florida Tuckers (2009)
  • Collegiate Experience: Offensive Lineman, Louisiana State University (2001-2004)
  • Born November 22, 1982

Deshea Townsend:

  • 2018-Present: Assistant Defensive Backs Coach, New York Giants
  • 2016-2017: Defensive Backs Coach, Tennessee Titans
  • 2013-2015: Cornerbacks Coach, Mississippi State University
  • 2011-2012: Assistant Defensive Backs Coach, Arizona Cardinals
  • Pro Experience: Cornerback, Pittsburgh Steelers (1998-2009), Indianapolis Colts (2010)
  • Collegiate Experience: Defensive Back, University of Alabama (1994-1997)
  • Born September 8, 1975

Although not officially announced, the following assistant coaching positions now appear to be filled, while others remain to be determined:

ARTICLES…