Giants add 2 to ‘D’ staff

Pat Shurmur has hired two new coaches to the Giants’ 2019 staff: outside linebackers coach Mike Dawson and assistant defensive backs coach Henry Baker, the team announced Monday.

“We are thrilled to add Mike and Henry to our coaching staff,” Shurmur said in a Giants press release. “They are both outstanding teachers, communicators and motivators. They are also great people, and we look forward to both of them contributing to our success.”

Dawson, 43, replaces Rob Leonard, who left to coach the Miami Dolphins’ linebackers on the staff of new head coach Brian Flores. And Baker, 42, replaces Deshea Townsend, who left to coach the Chicago Bears’ defensive backs under head coach Matt Nagy.

Dawson, Shurmur and Giants linebackers coach Bill McGovern all coached on the same Philadelphia Eagles staff together for three seasons (2013-15) under Chip Kelly. Shurmur was the offensive coordinator, McGovern the outside linebackers coach, and Dawson the defensive quality control coach for one year before spending two as defensive line assistant.

Dawson, with 20 years experience at all levels, also coached under McGovern (defensive coordinator) at Boston College in 2009-11.

The past three seasons, Dawson has coached a college defensive line under head coach Scott Frost: at Nebraska in 2018 and at Central Florida in 2016 and 2017.

Baker’s hiring already had been reported by the website, FootballScoop. Baker, of Paterson, N.J., had coached Rutgers’ cornerbacks in 2017, North Carolina’s corners in 2018, and had been re-hired to be the Scarlet Knights’ corners coach and passing game coordinator prior to this jump.