The New York Giants haven't played a meaningful January football game since a playoff loss at the Green Bay Packers in 2017 and are now working to remove the stink from the organization's now-departed regime. General manager Dave Gettleman was graciously allowed to enter retirement after his teams went 19-46 across his New York tenure, and head coach Joe Judge and his overall record of 10-23 were shown the door Tuesday.
It was reported in the middle of December that Judge was safe in his job through the end of the season, but that was before the Giants ended the campaign with six consecutive double-digit defeats and before Judge defended his team and its "culture" via a questionable and lengthy rant that ultimately did him few favors. While speaking with the media Wednesday, Giants co-owner John Mara admitted when asked that this is "the most embarrassed" he's felt about the state of the franchise.
Asked if this is the most embarrassed he's ever been about the state of the Giants' franchise, John Mara said: "Honestly, I would have to say yes. Yes it is. I kept thinking during the season we had hit rock bottom, then each week it got a little worse."
— Ralph Vacchiano (@RVacchianoSNY) January 12, 2022
Per Ralph Vacchiano of SNY, Mara seemed to confirm a previous report that potential general managers wanted to have the final say on the team's coaching decision and didn't want to be automatically married to Judge. In their statement released Tuesday, Mara and fellow co-owner Steve Tisch insisted the new GM "will lead the effort to hire a new head coach."
Said John Mara: "All personnel decisions in this building have ben made by the GM and head coach. When they agree on a personell decision they come to me with it, and if they both agree, I OK it."
— Ralph Vacchiano (@RVacchianoSNY) January 12, 2022
He said the only time he'll overrule them is if there's an off-field conduct issue
Earlier in the day, the Giants interviewed Buffalo Bills assistant GM Joe Schoen.
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