The season is barely in the rearview mirror and the Giants have already made a major signing to propel them into the New Year.
Patrick Graham, the defensive coordinator and assistant coach who earned radish from his players and denied points for opposing offenses, is going nowhere. He signed a contract extension and the team announced Tuesday night that Graham decided not to consider head coaching opportunities for 2021.
The Jets just a day after firing Adam Gase arrived at the Giants, asking permission to interview Graham for his head coaching vacancy. There are five other openings and Graham could have attracted another interest. Graham closed all inquiries and will return for a second season to further strengthen what was by far the team’s most powerful unit.
Graham, a two-year-old coordinator (he directed the program in Miami for the Dolphins in 2019), was considered a long-term candidate for a head coaching concert, but so was Joe Judge when he left the site. apparently to get the Giants a year ago. It only takes one team to fall in love.
One team has already fallen in love with Graham and that team maintains the relationship.
“Yes, it worked! It will be a lot easier to find Pat now, “Blake Martinez said in front of him, after seeing the news about Graham.
Earlier in the day, Martinez didn’t feel so frantic, contemplating possibly losing Graham to another team.
“It’s one of those bittersweet things,” Martinez said. “I’m like, ‘Okay, Pat.’ I’m kind of like a Phase 5 clinger girlfriend. an amazing coach and I’m happy for him. ”
If Graham had an official fan club, Martinez would be the president, treasurer, and chief recruiter. They worked together in Green Bay in 2018 and Graham believed Martinez could be the centerpiece of a defense, pushing for his free agency signing. Martinez finished third in the NFL with 151 tackles and is a fixture in the middle of the Giants defense.
Logan Ryan, the security veteran whose versatility allowed Graham to use him in various roles, calls Graham “Black Picasso.”
The Giants went 6-10 and were led by a defense that finished 12th overall in the NFL and improved from 30th in 2019 to ninth in scoring defense, allowing 22.3 points per game. The Giants were the second best in the league in defense of the red zone. Despite not having a dreaded spike attack, Graham was able to get the Giants to 40 sacks, tied for 12th in the league.
Graham coached the Giants defensive line in 2016 and 2017, hired by Ben McAdoo. Graham’s personality emerged this season as perhaps the most reliable sounding board for Joe Judge, the first-year head coach.
Graham said he explains who the closest allies are to training with this: “When we go to the combined, who do I dine with?” Invariably, it was with the judge, who worked with Graham in New England with Bill Belichick’s staff.
“I’m attracted to people who are better than me,” Graham said.
Last week, as he prepared for the season finale against the Cowboys, Graham was asked about “your defense.” He didn’t let it slip. “Our defense,” he said. There’s no ego problem with Graham, an Ivy League product prone to correct anyone who says he played at Yale. “I was on the Yale team,” he says.
The Giants wanted to keep him on their team, even though the judge would not step in to anyone, of course.
“I probably expect multiple requests for multiple coaches throughout the offseason,” the judge said. “We’ll deal with this internally as they come out.”
The Giants treated it internally by sweetening and extending Graham’s agreement. The Chargers asked permission to speak with offensive coordinator Jason Garrett about the opening of the head coach.
For now, all aspirations to coach Graham will be pushed forward in the future.
“I think he would do a good job,” cornerback James Bradberry said. “Coach Graham is a very, very smart guy. I know he also went to an Ivy League school. His football knowledge, his football IQ, is above many guys I’ve had around him. I wish the best for him if that happens. I think he would be a good candidate. “
He is no longer a candidate. The Giants took care of that.