Pat Shurmur fired as head coach of Giants

For the second time in two years, the New York Giants are searching for a new head coach.

The Giants have fired head coach Pat Shurmur following his second season with the team, according to multiple reports.

The #Giants have fired coach Pat Shurmur, source says. It’s over after two years.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 30, 2019

There has also been talk that general manager Dave Gettleman could be fired as well, so parting ways with Shurmur may only be the first big move the Giants are making after failing to reach the postseason once again.

The Giants finished the season 4-12 with their loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. Shurmur ended up going 9-23 in two seasons with the team. While New York was said to be pleased with the work he did in helping to develop rookie quarterback Daniel Jones, the results for Shurmur were worse than his predecessor, Ben McAdoo.

Shurmur was the head coach of the Cleveland Browns for two seasons in 2011 and 2012, and the overall results were identical, as he finished with a record of 9-23 there as well. He’s unlikely to land another head coaching gig in 2020, though he could be sought after as an offensive coordinator.

Two seasons isn’t exactly a lot of time to get things turned around for a struggling franchise, but it’s possible the Giants already have a replacement in mind for Shurmur.

Saquon Barkley backs Giants coach Pat Shurmur amid hot seat talk

Pat Shurmur is one of several NFL head coaches who are in danger of losing their jobs when the regular season concludes on Sunday night, but he has the support of at least one of his star players.

New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley was asked on Thursday if he still believes in Shurmur, and he said he remains confident in the head coach and the team’s entire staff.

Saquon Barkley: Still a believer in Pat Shurmur #Giants pic.twitter.com/huRb3jf1Gd

— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) December 26, 2019

“I not only believe in Pat Shurmur, but I believe in all the coaches we have here,” Barkley said. “It’s easy to point the blame at one person. … At the end of the day, it’s not only on one person why we haven’t been successful these last two years.”

Two seasons may not be enough time for a head coach to completely turn things around for a team, but Shurmur’s predecessor, Ben McAdoo, had an overall record of 13-15 when the Giants fired him in his second season on the job. Even if the Giants manage to pull off the upset against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Shurmur would be 10-22 in his two seasons as the head coach in New York.

The Giants have yet to commit to bringing Shurmur back in 2020, but they have reportedly been pleased with the work he has done with rookie quarterback Daniel Jones. However, it’s worth noting that developing a rookie QB is one of the reasons Freddie Kitchens was promoted to head coach with the Cleveland Browns, and we all see how that has worked out. In fact, Baker Mayfield was asked a similar question recently to the one Barkley was asked about his coach on Thursday, but Mayfield’s response was much different.

Sunday’s game probably won’t have a huge bearing on what the Giants do with Shurmur. They may have already made up their minds regardless of whether they are able to spoil the Eagles’ fun or not.

Daniel Jones to start for Giants against Redskins

The Eli Manning era with the New York Giants may be over for real this time.

Daniel Jones has been practicing this week after missing Week 14 and 15 with an ankle injury, and Giants head coach Pat Shurmur announced on Friday that the rookie will start Sunday’s game against the Washington Redskins.

Daniel Jones will start on Sunday vs. Redskins after missing two games with a high ankle sprain, per Pat Shurmur. Eli Manning back to the bench. #Giants

— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) December 20, 2019

Unless Jones gets injured again, that almost certainly means Manning has made his final start as a Giant. If so, he gets to end his career in New York on a high note, having led the team to a 36-20 win over the Miami Dolphins at home last week.

Giants fans understood that last week’s game could be Manning’s last under center for the franchise, and the way they greeted him when he took the field is a reflection of that. It’s also worth noting that Manning improved his career record to 117-117 as a starter by leading the Giants to a win over Miami, so he’ll remain at .500 if he never makes another start. That is a legitimate possibility, though there have been rumblings that he wants to continue playing in 2020.

Janoris Jenkins cut by Giants in wake of inappropriate tweet about fan

New York Giants cornerback Janoris Jenkins once again made headlines for the wrong reason with his social media activity this week, and the team has had enough of his antics.

The Giants announced on Friday that they are moving on from Jenkins with a waived/injured designation. While the veteran suffered an ankle injury during Monday night’s loss against the Philadelphia Eagles, head coach Pat Shurmur said in a statement that Jenkins’ inappropriate remark this week ultimately cost him his job.

“This was an organizational decision,” coach Pat Shurmur said. “From ownership to management to our football operations, we felt it was in the best interests of the franchise and the player. Obviously, what happened this week, and the refusal to acknowledge the inappropriate and offensive language, was the determining factor.”

Jenkins seemed thrilled with the decision.

Best news ever.. Thank you

— JackRabbit2.0 (@JjenkzLockdown) December 13, 2019

While sitting out practice on Wednesday because of his injured ankle, Jenkins responded to some fan criticism on Twitter by calling the person a “retard.” He did not apologize until he sat down for a conversation with Shurmur, and even then he left the tweet up and downplayed it.

“It’s a culture that I grew up in where I’m from, you know what I’m saying. We use all kinds of words for all kinds of slang,” Jenkins told reporters on Thursday, per ESPN’s Jordan Raanan. “If you don’t know, it’s a ‘hood thing. Whatever. I’m not calling nobody no name or pick at nobody. It’s just something we use in the hood back at home.”

The Giants signed Jenkins in 2016 after the former second-round pick spent the first four seasons of his career with the then-St. Louis Rams. Jenkins was kicked off the team at Florida during his college days and has made headlines through his tweets in the past, so it’s not surprising to see his tenure in New York end on this type of note.

Report: Giants coach Pat Shurmur, GM Dave Gettleman could both be fired

The New York Giants collapsed on Monday night in the type of performance that can cost a head coach his job, and the team could be planning to clean house at the conclusion of the season.

After the Giants jumped out to a 17-3 lead over the Philadelphia Eagles only to lose in overtime, the seat underneath head coach Pat Shurmur is as hot as it has been all year. According to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan, there is a feeling around the NFL that both Shurmur and general manager Dave Gettleman could be fired.

Expectations around the league are that Shurmur won’t survive this mess and GM Dave Gettleman is also in trouble.

— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) December 10, 2019

Shurmur is in only his second season as the head coach of the Giants, but he has a worse winning percentage than former coach Ben McAdoo had when the team parted ways with him during his second year on the job. While New York’s brass has reportedly been pleased with the way Shurmur has developed rookie quarterback Daniel Jones, they expected more than seven victories in 29 games.

Gettleman has been on the job the same amount of time as Shurmur, but general managers are typically given more time to make their mark on an organization than head coaches. Gettleman is largely responsible for drafting Saquon Barkley and Jones, which should work to his advantage. However, he probably is not feeling that great about his job security given the recent comments Giants owner John Mara made.

Turnover is never easy for an NFL team, and the Giants have had plenty of it in recent years. If they decide to stick with Shurmur and/or Gettleman, stability will be their primary motivation.

Eli Manning likely to start against Eagles as Daniel Jones battles ankle injury

The Eli Manning era is not over just yet for the New York Giants.

Giants head coach Pat Shurmur told reporters on Wednesday that rookie quarterback Daniel Jones has an ankle injury and has been wearing a walking boot. Because of the injury, Shurmur says it is “very likely” that Manning will start against the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night.

#Giants coach Pat Shurmur tells reporters that QB Daniel Jones is in a walking boot with a mild high-ankle sprain… and Eli Manning will “very likely” start on Monday. So, Manning gets a potential farewell tour, after all.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 4, 2019

High-ankle sprains usually take around a month or more to fully heal, so it’s possible that Manning could be New York’s starter for the remainder of the season.

Jones has played well for the Giants given the circumstances, and Shurmur made it clear early on that the former Duke star was not going to be benched for Manning for any performance-based reason. However, Manning has been the Giants’ primary backup since Jones took his job, and he has always known he could potentially play again if the rookie struggled or suffered an injury.

This could very well be Manning’s last season in New York, so Giants fans have an opportunity to give him a proper send-off now that he will be back under center. Manning will turn 39 in January and could try to play somewhere else next year, but that seems unlikely given some of the reports we have heard.

Giants owner declines to offer vote of confidence to Pat Shurmur, Dave Gettleman

It’s been a very disappointing season for the New York Giants, and the seat is getting hot for both coach Pat Shurmur and general manager Dave Gettleman.

If that wasn’t clear already, Giants co-owner Steve Tisch made it pretty obvious on Tuesday. When asked by WNBC’s Bruce Beck if he still had confidence in Shurmur and Gettleman, Tisch passed on the question, stating that he would sit down with co-owner John Mara after the season and discuss their futures.

My question to Steve Tisch at the March of Dimes Luncheon – Do you believe in your coach & GM? “Those decisions & conversation are not going to be made this morning. It’s really at the end of the season that John and I are going to sit down and talk about these issues.” #Giants pic.twitter.com/rWiooPJyua

— Bruce Beck (@BruceBeck4NY) December 3, 2019

In other words, that’s the opposite of a ringing vote of confidence. Shurmur is now 7-21 in two seasons as the team’s coach, which coincides with Gettleman’s tenure as GM. General managers tend to get more time, especially since Gettleman invested in young quarterback Daniel Jones, but Shurmur’s days definitely seem numbered. There’s even speculation on who might succeed him. Tisch knows what people will make of his words — the easy thing to do would have been to say yes. Instead, he turned the heat up on his staff as the 2-10 team limps toward the finish line.