The New York Giants fired head coach Joe Judge on Tuesday after just two seasons on the job, NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported.
The team later confirmed Judge's dismissal and announced that it would first hire a general manager, who would then lead the search for the next head coach. Former GM Dave Gettleman announced his retirement on Monday.
"Steve (Tisch) and I both believe that moving in the other direction is in the best interest of our franchise," team president John Mara said in a statement. "We met with Joe yesterday afternoon to discuss the status of the team. I met with Joe again this afternoon, and during that conversation I told Joe about my decision. We appreciate Joe's efforts on behalf of the organization." praise them.
"I said before the season started that I wanted to feel good about the direction we played when we played our last match of the season. Unfortunately, I can't make that statement, which is why we made this decision. .
"We will hire a general manager and that person will lead the effort to hire a new head coach."
The 40-year-old judge was hired as the latest new face on the Big Blue sideline ahead of the 2020 season, reigning in old-fashioned glory. But the judges, like Pat Shurmur and Ben McAdoo before him, were not given the opportunity to coach for the third season.
Judge went 10-23 in his two seasons as head coach.
While the Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears, Miami Dolphins and Minnesota Vikings all fired their head coaches within 24 hours of the end of their seasons, Giants management had two discussions with a judge about the team's direction before coming to a decision to relieve. days meeting. of his duties.
New York went 4-13 in 2021, a franchise-worst for losses in a season, with six consecutive defeats to end the campaign - and Judge's tenure. Their time in Gotham largely began with Judge's 2020 Giants losing their first five routes to a 6-10 performance. Under the stretch of that first season, the Giants showed some life and things were going in the right direction.
However, the 2021 season was marked by a judge with enthusiasm about how the team was progressing internally leading to 2022 success and defending his tenure, saying the Giants were not a "clown organization" that That was after a 29-3 loss to the Bears. In week 17. But the fiery press conferences hardly distract from the mounting losses on the field.
The #Giants never gave Joe Judge assurances as his second season spiraled. It ended on a six-game losing streak, with strange press conferences and on-field strategy, and for the third straight time, New York is looking for a new head coach after just two years.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 11, 2022
The lack of results at news conferences greatly stymied Histrionics.
A former special teams coordinator with the New England Patriots, Judge brought an old-school approach to his first head-coaching opportunity, which made headlines for running players and even coaches as punishment.
As his approach was seen by some as a method from the past, his team failed to take steps toward the future.
Former first-round pick Daniel Jones struggled with injuries and failed to progress as the team expected as franchise quarterback. Running back, Saxon Barkley suffered injuries and reduced his output. The offensive line remained an issue as the Giants' offense averaged 16.3 points per game during the judge's two years, the last in the NFL at the time. The Giants fired offensive coordinator Jason Garrett in the middle of the 2021 season, but the move did not yield results as the unit returned after Garrett left.
In the same period, his defense breathed a sigh of hope, but was still ranked 17th overall.
The Giants made a splash in the 2021 off-season, signing wide receiver John Ross and tight end Kyle Rudolph, making a big move to sign wide receiver Kenny Golladay. All those moves fell reasonably flat.
The hope was that the judges would resurrect a proud franchise from the gloom of the post-2016 drought. Instead, the Giants extended a season-long double-digit loss to five in two seasons at Judge. The team has not won any playoff games since Super Bowl XLVI to cap the 2011 season and has only had one playoff trip over the past 10 years.