Shula gets interview to remain OC
The Giants are considering retaining at least one voice in Daniel Jones’ ear that’s familiar.
Mike Shula, the Giants’ offensive coordinator for two years under Pat Shurmur, interviewed Monday with new coach Joe Judge. He is under strong consideration for a role on the staff, a source told The Post, but the Giants already hired Jerry Schuplinski as quarterbacks coach, which limits the options for Shula.
Judge is a former high school and college quarterback but never coached the position in his special teams background. Schuplinksi worked with Judge on the Patriots’ staff and drew praise from young quarterbacks Jimmy Garoppolo and Jacoby Brissett, now starting for the 49ers and Colts, respectively.
If Shula is the offensive coordinator, it would be an odd sort of promotion because he would resume calling plays.
Shurmur called plays during Jones’ impressive rookie season, while Shula and longtime Giants assistant Ryan Roeder essentially were the quarterback coaches. Shula last called plays for the 2013-17 Panthers, including when NFL MVP Cam Newton led the way to a Super Bowl appearance.
Giants inside linebackers coach Bill McGovern and defensive line coach Gary Emanuel will not be retained, a source said. Former Giants star Antonio Pierce — an assistant coach under Herm Edwards at Arizona State — reportedly is drawing interest in NFL coaching circles and could slide into McGovern’s vacancy.
The return of defensive coordinator James Bettcher never was an option — Patrick Graham will succeed him — and special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey was retained in Judge’s first staff move.
Another logical destination for Shula is Broncos quarterbacks coach if he follows Shurmur to his new job as offensive coordinator in Denver. Shula has been an offensive coordinator or quarterbacks coach every season since 1996 except for four years (2003-06) as the University of Alabama’s head coach before Nick Saban’s arrival. Graham also will be Giants assistant head coach, The Post confirmed, which usually is just a title used to justify a bigger salary. In this case, however, unless the Giants are going to give an equal or higher title to the offensive coordinator, it could be a sign that Graham will be Judge’s top lieutenant.
The Giants brass hopes a former head coach will be added to the staff, and Jim Caldwell, Jay Gruden, Jason Garrett and others have been floated as offensive coordinator possibilities. But it is unlikely one of those big names would fall further down the pecking order than the 40-year-old Graham, with one year of coordinator experience.
Shula would better fit the bill.
Even if Jones has to learn a new playbook, continuity with Shula, whose interview was first reported by ESPN, would be important to his development. Jones threw for 3,027 yards and 24 touchdowns with 12 interceptions in 13 games.
“I think there’s a bond that you share with the guys that you coach, especially at that position where you’re right in the middle of everything,” Shula said during the final week of the season.
“I think he’s done a really good job. His knowledge of what he’s being asked to do and then the speed at which he does it has been impressive for a young guy.”