Joe Judge made a surprising move Wednesday to bring on a familiar face to help coach New York’s defense
NY Giants head coach Joe Judge made a curious decision to add recently fired Tennesse Volunteers Head Coach, Jeremy Pruitt, to the NY Giants coaching staff.
Dan Duggan of The Athletic first reported the news late Wednesday night. Duggan stated that Pruitt’s role is yet to be determined.
Pruitt was fired after Tennesse self-reported numerous recruiting violations to the NCAA. Shortly afterward, Pruitt was relieved of his duties along with several other coaches and recruiters for the Volunteers.
If the move makes any sense for the NY Giants, there is familiarity between Judge and Pruitt. Both coaches worked together during Judge’s entire tenure in Alabama with the Crimson Tide. This has become a familiar theme in Judge’s hirings during his tenure as the Giants’ head coach. He has often hired several former colleagues from his stops at Alabama and the New England Patriots.
Pruitt’s specialty has always been on the defensive side of the ball. The NY Giants lost their outside linebackers coach in Bret Bielema as he joined his native Fighting Illini as the team’s new Head Coach. It is possible that Pruitt can replace his position or will fulfill another defensive role for the Giants. Pruitt’s coaching resume has largely been built around coaching teams’ defensive backs but the Giants are already set with two coaches in the secondary. Pruitt may have a fluid role coaching the defense and may help with several things amongst multiple defensive units.
Pruitt went 16-19 in three seasons in Knoxville. Pruitt has always had a good reputation as a bright-minded defensive specialist and will now look to prove he can succeed at the NFL level. It is a bit surprising to see the NY Giants make the move as they are historically a conservative organization and shy away from drama and turmoil. That is precisely what Pruitt was going through this past week as he tried to put behind his ugly end to his tenure in the SEC and is now hoping for a fresh start and a clean slate in the NFL, his first time ever working in professional football.