Gettleman is staying in his role because the team is pleased with the plan he has put into place so fargetty images
The Giants have fired coach Pat Shurmur after just two seasons, but GM Dave Gettleman is "being retained," according to Pat Leonard of the N.Y. DAILY NEWS. Giants President & CEO John Mara in a statement said of Gettleman, "We believe he is the right person to lead us going forward." Shurmur's 9-23 record produced the "second-lowest win percentage (.281) of any full-time Giants head coach." Shurmur and Gettleman were both hired after the '17 season in part "because they were on board" with bringing Eli Manning back as the starting QB for the '18 season. However, their effort to "win now in year one, rather than begin a full-scale rebuild, set the franchise back." Meanwhile, Shurmur made "several comments in the second half of this season that were critical of Gettleman's roster." Gettleman has been "hiding from public view since a late July press conference, ducking accountability" on the state of the franchise (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 12/30). In N.Y., Steve Serby writes firing a GM after just two years has "never been the Giants Way." However, it was clear that the Giants "cannot sell" Shurmur anymore to their fans (N.Y. POST, 12/30).
QUICK FALL FROM GRACE: ESPN.com's Jordan Raanan notes Shurmur was hired because the Giants were "looking for an adult in the room" after Ben McAdoo's stint as coach. Gettleman "even wrote the word 'adult' at the top of his notepad during Shurmur's interview." However, Shurmur's tenure "didn't come without incident," as his stained relationships with WR Odell Beckham Jr. and DE Olivier Vernon resulted in both players being traded (ESPN.com, 12/30). On Long Island, Tom Rock writes Shurmur's firing "brings a new era of upheaval for the Giants." The '20 season will begin with a "fourth different head coach (including interim status) in a four-year span for the first time" (NEWSDAY, 12/30). In Newark, Steve Politi writes, "Once upon a time, the Giants head coaching vacancy was the most prized in the NFL, but now it looks like a career killer." This "mess falls on Mara, who once was [considered] the NFL's gold standard when it came to owners" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 12/30).
GIANTS PLEASED WITH GETTLEMAN: NFL Network's Mike Garafolo notes Gettleman is staying in his current role because the team is "pleased with the plan" he has put into place so far. Ownership also believes that he and Dir of College Scouting Chris Pettit will "continue to build up the talent" on the roster. There has been talk that "some coaches wouldn't want to work along with Gettleman," but the Giants are "obviously not concerned with that" ("Good Morning Football," NFL Network, 12/30). However, ESPN's Adam Schefter cites sources as saying that the Giants "still could be making more changes." The incoming coach is "expected to have input" on whether Gettleman stays (TWITTER.com, 12/30). In Newark, Matt Lombardo writes that would be a "wise" plan, as Mara and Chair & Exec VP Steve Tisch would have the "opportunity to interview the deepest pool of candidates possible." It also would give Shurmur's successor the ability to "have input over who will be picking the talent to build the roster in their image" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 12/30).
DESERVING OF MORE TIME? NFL Network's Kyle Brandt notes Gettleman is an "easy target" for critics, as a "lot of that he brings on himself." Brandt: "What I like about Dave Gettleman is he is not afraid to make an unpopular decision. ... He inherited a very bad team. I think he has definitely made them younger and I think he might've made them better, but we don't know." NFL Network's Peter Schrager notes Gettleman is "not always the easiest to necessarily get along with if you've got a difference of opinion." However, he is "willing to take big swings and is a man of conviction" ("Good Morning Football," NFL Network, 12/30).
