Giants dismiss Judge after just two seasons in charge
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Giants have cleaned house, firing coach Joe Judge a day after general manager Dave Gettleman retired.
The Giants announced the move late Tuesday afternoon, ending some brief speculation that the owners planned to hire a new general manager and let him determine the 40-year-old coach’s fate.
Co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch said they felt it was best for the Giants to move in another direction after five straight seasons of double-digit losses.
The Giants have made the playoffs once since winning the Super Bowl in February 2012. Judge went 10-23 in his two seasons in New York.
The Giants have gone through four coaches in the past six seasons, starting with Ben Mcadoo in 2016, interim coach Steve Spagnuolo, Pat Shurmur in 2018 and Judge who was hired in 2020.
Mara said he met with Judge on Monday and again Tuesday, informing him of the decision at the second meeting.
Browns ‘fully expect’ Mayfield to be back
Baker Mayfield’s subpar season didn’t cost him his starting job, with Cleveland general manager Andrew Berry saying the Browns “fully expect” Mayfield to return as their quarterback after an injury-plagued 2021.
Mayfield played most of the season with a torn labrum in his left, non-throwing shoulder and the injury contributed to him regressing and the Browns (8-9) missing the playoffs.
The 2017 Heisman Trophy winner and former Oklahoma star will have surgery Jan. 19.
Seahawks’ Smith charged with DUI
Seattle Seahawks backup quarterback Geno Smith’s arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence came after the Washington State Patrol pulled him over for going 96 mph in a 60 mph zone and driving erratically across several lanes of traffic, according to an arrest report.
Smith was arrested Monday following the Seahawks’ return from Arizona after their last game of the season.
Odds and ends
The Carolina Panthers have fired three assistant coaches, including special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn, offensive line coach Pat Meyer and defensive line coach Frank Okam . ... Florida hired New York Giants offensive line coach Rob Sale to a similar position under new Gators coach Billy Napier . ... Coaching staffs of the New York Jets and Detroit Lions will lead the squads for the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama, on Feb. 5.