The NY Giants lost a position coach, when linebackers coach Brett Bielema was hired as Illinois head coach Saturday
NY Giants linebackers coach Brett Bielema was hired by the University of Illinois to replace former head coach Lovie Smith, the university announced Saturday.
Bielema had interviewed for several positions since being hired by NY Giants head coach Joe Judge last winter, clearly eyeing a head coaching opportunity. He lands in the Big Ten, and takes over a program that finished just 2-5 this season.
Losing Bielema creates a long-term void in the Giants’ coaching staff, with Jody Wright taking over outside linebackers in the interim.
Here’s a look at four possible replacements the Giants can tab to replace Bielema long term:
Jody Wright
Wright, 39, has an extensive track record working alongside the Giants’ coaching staff, and was hired as a defensive assistant.
During a 16-year career that included a pair of stints with the Alabama Crimson Tide, he shared a staff briefly with Judge under Nick Saban in 2010, and also worked under Giants tight ends coach Freddie Kitchens in 2019.
An extensive background coaching offensive and defensive position groups, and if the Giants’ inside linebackers improve dramatically down the stretch it will obviously be an audition for Judge to consider promoting Wright to the position full-time.
Sean Duggan
Despite the fact that he is only 27, Duggan has plenty of big-time coaching experience under his belt.
Back in 2016, months after graduating from Boston College, he joined the University of Hawaii staff and coached the Rainbows’ linebackers for two seasons. Duggan also has spent time as a defensive assistant at Ohio State, where last season the Buckeyes ranked in the top-five natinoally in yards per play, total defense, and scoring defense en route to a Big Ten Championship.
Duggan returned to his alma mater this past season, where as a player he played in 45 career games and was a captain.
Given his experience with marquee programs, his rising profile in the college ranks, and the Giants’ youth at linebacker, Duggan could be a name to watch.
Siriki Diabate
Diabate, 29, is currently the linebackers coach at Middle Tennessee State and widely considered one of the rising assistants in college football.
Prior to getting hired by the Blue Raiders, he spent time in the NFL interning for the Buffalo Bills, and Dallas Cowboys.
Diabate has done a nice job developing talent, producing high level talent in Conference USA. In all likelihood, Diabate will need to show success as a defensive coordinator before receiving serious consideration for an NFL position coach job, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Giants show some interest given Judge’s track record for working with successful college coaches.
Brent Pry
Penn State linebackers coach Brent Pry has interviewed for multiple college head coaching vacancies, and could be on the cusp of taking the next step in his career.
Pry was instrumental in developing Micah Parsons into a first-team All-American and arguably the premier defensive prospect in the 2021 NFL Draft class, converting the former five-star defensive end recruit into a dominant inside linebacker.
Additionally, Pry’s Nittany Lion defense ranked No. 23 nationally in 2019, but produced 45 sacks.
Hiring Pry would reunite him with former Penn State defensive line coach Sean Spencer, who holds the same position on Judge’s staff, as well as sixth-round rookie linebacker Cam Brown.
Matt Lombardo is the site expert for GMenHQ, and writes Between The Hash Marks each Wednesday for FanSided. Follow Matt on Twitter: @MattLombardoNFL.