New York Giants set to hire Pat Shurmur as new head coach
Tuesday 16 January 2018 11:43, UK
The New York Giants are expected to hire Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur as their next head coach, according to multiple reports.
The Giants can't officially hire Shurmur until the Vikings' season is over, and that was extended by at least another week after Stefon Diggs' incredible touchdown in the final seconds of their win over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
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Shurmur has been one of this offseason's hottest coaching candidates after he helped back-up QB Case Keenum to a career season in Minnesota.
A report earlier this month even suggested Keenum and Shurmur could be a 'package deal', with the free-agent-to-be Keenum signing with whichever team hires Shurmur as its head coach.
The 52-year-old interviewed with the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Arizona Cardinals and the Giants, and it had been reported that he was the Cardinals' top choice.
The Bears have already hired former Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy to fill their vacancy, while the Lions are expected to offer their job to New England Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia.
However, reports say Shurmur is the Giants' top choice to succeed Ben McAdoo, and that he will accept the position if offered.
Shurmur spent 2011 and 2012 as head coach of the Cleveland Browns, going 4-12 and then 5-11 before being fired.
He then spent three seasons as Chip Kelly's offensive coordinator with the Philadelphia Eagles, taking over as interim head coach when Kelly was fired with one game remaining in the 2015 season.
Shurmur was hired by the Vikings as tight ends coach in 2016 but was promoted to interim offensive coordinator midseason when Norv Turner resigned after a 5-2 start.
This season, in Shurmur's first full year running the offense, the unit finished 11th in yards per game (356.9) and 10th in points (23.9) while Keenum posted a 98.3 passer rating, comfortably the best of his career.
