NFL notes

The New York Giants announced Monday that Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur will be their new head coach. Shurmur replaces Ben McAdoo, who was fired in early December.
The New York Giants announced Monday that Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur will be their new head coach. Shurmur replaces Ben McAdoo, who was fired in early December.

GIANTS

Shurmur hired as coach

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur has been hired as the New York Giants head coach.

The Giants announced the hiring late Monday afternoon, less than 24 hours after Shurmur and the Vikings were beaten by the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game.

Shurmur, 52, 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 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.

CARDINALS

Wilks takes over

PHOENIX — Steve Wilks is the new head coach of the Arizona Cardinals. Wilks, 48, spent last season as defensive coordinator of the Panthers after five seasons as the team’s secondary coach. He’s been an NFL assistant for 12 years. Wilks replaces the colorful and outspoken Bruce Arians, who retired after five seasons and compiled a franchise-record 50 victories.

With the hiring of Wilks, all three major football programs in the state have black coaches — Wilks, Herm Edwards at Arizona State and Kevin Sumlin at Arizona. Wilks is the Cardinals’ second black coach (Dennis Green was the first) and the only minority candidate to get an NFL head coaching job this hiring cycle. 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. Wilks also coached for 11 years at the collegiate level, including a one-year stint as head coach at Savannah State in 1999.

The Cardinals planned to introduce Wilks as coach at a news conference today at team headquarters.

PANTHERS

Washington new DC

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Carolina Panthers wasted little time naming a new defensive coordinator after Steve Wilks left to become head coach of the Arizona Cardinals.

Panthers Coach Ron Rivera promoted defensive line coach Eric Washington as Wilks’ replacement on Monday, just hours after the hiring of Wilks became official. Rivera said after the season that he had a hunch Wilks would get a head coaching job, and was prepared in the event that it happened.

Wilks’ departure means the Panthers will enter next season with three new coordinators.

Rivera fired offensive coordinator Mike Shula two days after the season and replaced him with Norv Turner. Special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey was replaced by former assistant coach Chase Blackburn. McGaughey’s contract was up and he wanted to pursue other options.

Washington has served as the Panthers defensive line coach for the past seven seasons. During that span the Panthers defensive line has recorded more sacks (219) than any team in the NFL.

BROWNS

Haley tabbed as OC

CLEVELAND — A

person familiar with the negotiations says the Browns are hiring former Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley.

Cleveland Coach Hue Jackson is turning his offense over to Haley, who spent six seasons in Pittsburgh before he was fired last week, said the person who spoke Monday night to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team has not announced the move.

A former head coach with Kansas City, Haley worked with one of the NFL’s most high-powered offenses in Pittsburgh. He’ll inherit one with far less talent, but Cleveland is expected to upgrade its offense in free agency and the draft.

Haley, 50, will assume play-calling duties from Jackson, who is 1-31 with Cleveland.

Haley was criticized following Pittsburgh’s playoff loss to Jacksonville for failing to have quarterback Ben Roethlisberger sneak on two fourth-down plays. The Steelers failed to convert and were beaten 45-42.

photo

AP Photo/File

This is a 2016, file photo showing Steve Wilks of the Carolina Panthers NFL football team. Wilks is the new head football coach of the Arizona Cardinals.

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AP Photo/Fred Vuich, file

This Aug. 26, 2017 file photo shows Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley standing with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) before an NFL preseason football game against the Indianapolis Colts in Pittsburgh. A person familiar with the negotiations says the Browns are hiring Todd Haley. Cleveland coach Hue Jackson is turning his offense over to Haley, who spent six seasons in Pittsburgh before he was fired last week, said the person who spoke Monday, Jan. 22, 2018 to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team has not announced the move.

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