Shurmur hired as coach
Shurmur Giants Monday EAST The Vikings Giants head RUTHERFORD, afternoon, has coach. been offensive announced hired less coordinator as N.J. than the the — hiring New 24 Minnesota hours York late Pat after Championship by Shurmur the Philadelphia and Game. the Vikings Eagles in were the beaten NFC who Shurmur, was fired 52, in replaces early December Ben McAdoo, 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. “He has an outstanding track record in developing young players, and it is clear his players respond to his guidance and direction,” co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch said in a statement. “We interviewed six talented and qualified candidates, and we feel like Pat, with his vision and experience, is the right person to lead our team.” The Giants won’t officially introduce Shurmur until Friday. A winter storm in the Midwest is preventing him from coming to New Jersey today and he will be at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., today through Thursday. Shurmur returns to the head coaching ranks for the first time since leading the Cleveland Browns in 2011 and 2012. He takes over a troubled team that posted a 3-13 record a year after making the playoffs. Shurmur was interviewed on Jan. 6 by Mara, new general manager Dave Gettleman and assistant GM Kevin Abrams. Following that meeting in Minneapolis, Shurmur had an hour-long phone conversation with Tisch. Shurmur has been a part of teams that have qualified for the playoffs nine times and won seven division titles. He was Philadelphia’s quarterbacks coach when the Eagles played in the Super Bowl against New England in the 2004 season. Shurmur is finishing 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.