The all-new Giants will not be all new.
New head coach Brian Daboll has made his first major decision, and it will be a popular one in the locker room he now controls. Daboll is planning on bringing back Patrick Graham as the defensive coordinator, proving he is not going to wipe away every remnant of the Joe Judge coaching regime.
The only caveat: Graham interviewed for the Vikings head coach position on Saturday. If he gets that job, he obviously will be headed to Minnesota. If he does not get hired for that job, he will return to the Giants.
Daboll worked with Graham for three seasons (2013-2015) with the Patriots on Bill Belichick’s staff.
“I’ve had a good relationship with Pat for some time in this league,’’ Daboll said Monday. “He’s very diligent. He’s smart. I think the players respect him. He understands different defenses and I have a good working relationship with him. I did when I was back at New England. Certainly, we hope that he has an opportunity to become a head coach. I think that’s everybody’s dream, but selfishly, I would love him to be here. He offers a lot to our program. I think he’d be a great support system for me and I’m hoping that that works out.’’
Graham recently interviewed with the Steelers for their open defensive coordinator job but he will not leave the Giants for that role, if it is offered to him.
Graham reportedly will have a second interview with the Vikings on Tuesday and is one of four candidates still in the mix. Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell, Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh and Buccaneers defensive coordinator Raheem Morris will also have second interviews, though San Francisco defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans turned down a second interview.
Daboll is inclined to retain several defensive assistant coaches from Judge’s staff. Jerome Henderson, the defensive backs coach, is likely to stay.
Graham, 43, was a key hire for Judge two years ago. The Giants’ defense in 2020 finished No. 9 in the NFL in scoring, allowing 22.3 points a game. In 2021, Graham’s defense was No. 23 in scoring at 24.5 points a game.
The Giants went 6-10 in 2020 and there was concern in the building that Graham might be one-and-done, that he might receive head-coach offers. The Jets were interested in talking with him but he declined the interview.
“That’s very important,’’ co-owner John Mara said of Graham’s possible return. “He’s very well respected in this building, the players have a lot of respect for him, as do I. He’s a terrific defensive coordinator. Look, for his own sake, I hope he gets a head-coaching job, but as Brian said, selfishly we’d be very happy if he stayed.’’
Graham was one of six candidates to interview for the Giants’ head-coach job. He was an extreme long shot to replace Judge, his good friend, but he did make an impression with Joe Schoen, the new general manager.
“I tell you what, I didn’t know Patrick Graham,’’ Schoen said. “We interviewed him for this head-coaching job, I did my research on him and there’s a lot of positive feedback throughout the league, not only in the building.
“Just spending three hours with him in an interview setting, he’s passionate, very high football acumen, he got me fired up in the interview. If he gets that Minnesota job, that’s great for him. Selfishly, I would love to keep him here because I’m fired up to work with him. I think he’s a good ball coach.’’