Giants hire Shurmur as head coach
Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur officially was hired as the head coach of the New York Giants.
The Giants announced the hiring late yesterday 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 twotime Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo took over and posted a 1-3 record.
The Giants will introduce Shurmur on 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., through Thursday.
The Giants interviewed five other candidates, including Patriots coordinators Josh McDaniels and Matt Patricia.
Shurmur returns to the head coaching ranks for the first time since leading the Cleveland Browns in 2011-12. He takes over a troubled Giants team that posted a 3-13 record a year after making the playoffs. Shurmur posted a 9-23 record in his two seasons with the Browns, going there after a two-year stint as the offensive coordinator with the Rams.
Wilks in as Arizona boss
Steve Wilks is the new head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, who signed the 48-year-old Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator to a four-year contract with a team option for a fifth. Wilks spent one season as coordinator in Carolina after five seasons as the Panthers secondary coach before his promotion a year ago.
Wilks replaces Bruce Arians, who retired after five seasons and a franchise-record 50 wins. The Cardinals were 8-8 last season.
Wilks was in Arizona for a second interview last week and was interviewed for the Tennessee job, which went to Mike Vrabel.
Also, Eric Washington was named the Panthers new defensive coordinator, replacing Wilks. Washington served as the Panthers defensive line coach for seven seasons. The Panthers also fired offensive coordinator Mike Shula two days after the season, replacing him with Norv Turner.
Browns to bring in Haley
Cleveland Browns coach Hue Jackson, who handled game-planning and play-calling duties while going 1-31 over two seasons, is hiring former Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Todd Haley, a source said. Haley spent six seasons guiding the Steelers’ high-powered offense before he was fired following a playoff loss last week.
A former head coach with Kansas City, Haley will help try to turn around the Browns following an 0-16 season, inheriting an offense with far less talent than he had in Pittsburgh. The Browns are expected to upgrade their offense through free agency and in the draft, using either the No.1 or No. 4 picks on a quarterback . . . .
The Seattle Seahawks let go defensive assistant coach Travis Jones after five seasons. Jones is the fifth member of Seattle’s staff who will not return . . . .
The Atlanta Falcons announced that Greg Knapp is returning as quarterbacks coach. Knapp was the Falcons’ offensive coordinator under Jim Mora from 2004-06.
More horse play in Philly
Philadelphia police said a man is accused of punching a police horse and an officer during an arrest before the Eagles’ 38-7 NFC championship victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. Police said a 19-year-old man struck the horse twice in the shoulder, then hit the corporal in the face.
Police also said a week earlier before the Atlanta game, an Eagles fan punched a horse and was arrested.