Despite compiling a 10-19 record over this first two seasons (so far), New York Giants head coach Joe Judge doesn’t appear to be going anywhere.
Judge expressed a confidence in his long-term job security on Monday, telling reporters that he’d never have accepted the position if the Giants weren’t willing to commit to him long-term.
“I’ve said this from the beginning, I’m not interested in coming and having some kind of quick flash, I’m not interested in shortcuts, I’m not interested in quick fixes. I want to do this the right way and when I took this job, I made it very, very clear that I was only going to do this if we were all committed to doing this the right way and that’s been something that’s been very clear from ownership on down,” Judge said.
“I’m very happy with the support the ownership gives. Both families are tremendous people to work for and I know that this team is very, very important to them. To be honest with you, it’s their family business and football’s my family business, too. I take a lot of pride in what we do and the product is important to me not only in just the wins and losses, which ultimately in this business is the most important part, but it’s also how you do it and how you prepare and how you conduct yourself throughout the course of the week, how your team represents you on and off the field and how the players reflect what you’re trying to represent within that community and the city you represent.”
As it turns out, Judge’s confidence appears validated.
Ralph Vacchiano of SNY reports that Giants ownership is extremely confident in Judge and have committed to him long-term. They believe he is their Bill Belichick or Bill Parcells.
Interestingly, they avoided comparing Judge to Tom Coughlin.
Judge is widely expected to be brought back for his third season with the Giants, despite an immensely disappointing season and a dismal 10-19 record as a head coach overall. Though nothing is final until Mara and Steve Tisch say it is, multiple team and league sources said the belief is Judge’s job is safe – and that’s even if, as expected, ownership nudges GM Dave Gettleman into retirement at the end of the year.
“A few weeks ago I would’ve told you no chance he gets fired,” said one NFL source. “Now? Even after (the Giants’ 37-21 loss to the Chargers on Sunday), I’d probably still say ‘No chance.’ (Mara) loves Judge. He thinks he’s found his (Bill) Belichick or (Bill) Parcells. And there’s just no way he gives up on another coach this soon.”
Since Coughlin left after the 2015 season, the Giants have fired two head coaches in Ben McAdoo and Pat Shurmur, and Mara doesn’t appear ready to unload a third.
This news will not be something fans will agree with, as most have been calling for Judge’s dismissal for the better part of the season.
Unless something drastic changes between now and the end of the season, it appears that Judge will get a third year as the Giants head coach and another chance to try and fix the team.
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