N.Y. hires Shurmur, Arizona taps Wilks
The New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals hired new head coaches Monday.
The Giants announced they have tapped Minnesota offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, a day after the Vikings lost the NFC championship game to the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Cardinals announced they have named Steve Wilks, who was defensive coordinator of the Carolina Panthers this season.
The 52-year-old Shurmur replaces Ben McAdoo, who was fired in early December with the Giants mired at 2-10.
The 48-year-old Wilks, who has agreed to a fouryear contract with a team option for a fifth, replaces Bruce Arians, who retired after five seasons and a franchise-record 50 wins.
The Giants won’t officially introduce Shurmur until Friday.
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.
Shurmur just finished his second year with the Vikings. He began last season as the tight-ends coach, and for the final nine games was also the offensive coordinator, the title he retained this season.
Shurmur posted a 9-23 record in his two seasons with the Browns.
Wilks spent five seasons as Panthers secondary coach before his promotion to defensive coordinator a year ago.
The Cardinals were 8-8 last season despite a myriad of significant injuries
The team planned to introduce Wilks at a news conference wTuesday. GRONKOWSKI WATCH >> Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski will likely spend at least part of this week going through the concussion protocol after a helmet-to-helmet hit from Jacksonville safety Barry Church on Sunday forced him to leave the AFC championship game.
There was no update from the Patriots on Gronkowski, but he was at the team’s facility Monday for meetings. PANTHERS NAME DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR >> The Panthers wasted little time naming a new defensive coordinator after Steve Wilks left to become head coach of the Cardinals. Coach Ron Rivera promoted defensive-line coach Eric Washington. BROWNS TO HIRE HALEY >> The Browns are hiring former Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley for the same position in Cleveland, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. FALCONS NAME ASSISTANT >> The Atlanta Falcons announced that Greg Knapp is returning to the team as quarterback coach. Knapp replaces Bush Hamdan, who left to become offensive coordinator at the University of Washington. SEAHAWKS PART WITH AIDE >> The Seattle Seahawks have “mutually parted ways” with defensive assistant coach Travis Jones after five seasons, the team said.