Giants tab Shurmur as coach

Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur has been hired as the New York Giants head coach.

The Giants announced the hiring late Monday afternoon, less than 24 hours after Shurmur and the Vikings were beaten by the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC title game.

The 52-year-old Shurmur replaces Ben McAdoo, who was fired in early December with the team mired with a 2-10 record and owners and fans upset with his handling of the benching of two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning.

Defensive coordinator Steve

Spagnuolo took over for the final four games and posted a 1-3 record.

The Giants won’t officially introduce Shurmur until Friday because of travel delays related to a winter storm.

Shurmur returns to the head coaching ranks for the first time since leading the Cleveland Browns in 2011-’12. He takes over a troubled team that posted a 3-13 record.

Cardinals tab Wilks: Steve Wilks was named head coach of the Arizona Cardinals.

The Cardinals announced that the 48-year-old Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator had agreed to a four-year contract with a team option for a fifth.

Wilks replaces the colorful and outspoken Bruce Arians, who retired after five seasons.

Packers add assistant: Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy is another step closer to finalizing his staff after hiring Bowling Green safeties coach Ryan Downard.

The university announced Downard was leaving for a job with the Packers, but it doesn’t appear Downard will be the safeties coach.

Downard was a defensive assistant for new Packers defensive coordinator Mike Pettine in Cleveland and appears to be targeted for the defensive quality control position.

Safeties coach Darren Perry still is under contract, but McCarthy has given him permission to seek employment elsewhere after he was not hired to replace fired defensive coordinator Dom Capers. Knapp returns to Falcons: The Atlanta Falcons announced that

Greg Knapp is returning to the team as quarterback coach.