Signs point to Patrick Graham returning to New York Giants as defensive coordinator
The expectation is Patrick Graham will return as New York Giants defensive coordinator, after the Minnesota Vikings went in a different direction in their head coaching search
The Minnesota Vikings landed on Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell as their next head coach, after interviewing Patrick Graham twice for the opening, which seemingly clears the way for Graham to return to the New York Giants as Brian Daboll‘s defensive coordinator.
Graham, 43, arrived to the Giants as former head coach Joe Judge’s defensive coordinator and assistant head coach. After Graham interviewed twice for the Vikings’ vacancy, Daboll and New York Giants general manager Joe Schoen expressed a desire to retain him.
"“He did a really good job,” Schoen said of Graham Monday. “So if he gets that Minnesota job, that’s great for him. Selfishly, I would love to keep him here because I’m fired up to work with him because I think he’s a good ball coach.”"
In addition to emerging as a finalist for the Vikings job, Graham also interviewed for the New York Giants’ vacancy.
"“I didn’t know Patrick Graham and we interviewed him for this head coaching job,” Schaoen said. “I did my research on him and there’s a lot of positive feedback throughout the league, not only in the building but around the league on Patrick. He had been at Note Dame, he had been at New England, Green Bay, Miami. Just spending three hours with him in an interview setting, he’s passionate, very high football acumen, he got me fired up in the interview.”"
Following the New York Giants’ strong showing on defense the past two seasons, Graham had become a bit of a hot commodity this hiring cycle, one year after turning down the opportunity to interview for the Jets job that ultimately went to Robert Saleh.
Why Patrick Graham returning to New York Giants is great news for Brian Daboll
Graham’s defense finished this season ranked 21st in total defense, despite myriad injuries to key players such as linebacker and captain Blake Martinez, safety Jabrill Peppers, cornerback Adoree’ Jackson, and others.
Retaining Graham is a win for Daboll, in his first foray as a head coach.
Around the NFL Graham is held in high regard because of his adaptability as a coordinator, molding scheme and game plans to his personnel, his leadership abilities, and the fact that regardless of circumstances, his players play hard every week.
“His makeup and background are really impressive,” an NFC personnel director tells FanSided, on the condition of anonymity, as he is not authorized to speak about other teams. “I’ve heard a lot of impressive things about him, and he’s done a really nice job with what he’s been given to work with.”
Similarly, former NFL Executive of The Year Randy Mueller pointed out in the season’s finale week that losing Graham would have been a significant loss for the New York Giants.
“He is the number one asset this team possesses,” Mueller tweeted. “Losing him is the only way things get worse for Giant fans.”