When searching for a head coach of any kind in any sport, using Bill Belichick as a measuring stick isn’t a bad idea, until you look at the numbers.
The New York Giants’ choice of New England Patriots wide receivers/special teams coach Joe Judge to be their next head coach has to have some Giants fans worried.
Thus far, hiring from the Belichick coaching tree has not gone well over the years as the great Gil Brandt has reminded us.
Patriots assistants under Bill Belichick to become head coaches elsewhere:
Brian Flores 5-11
Matt Patricia 9-22-1
Bill O’Brien 54-47
Josh McDaniels 11-17
Eric Mangini 33-48
Romeo Crennel 28-55
Total: 140-200-1 (.412)— Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) January 7, 2020
For those wondering why Mike Vrabel, the current head coach of the Tennessee Titans, is not on the list, it’s because he did not coach under Belichick.
Vrabel played for the Patriots from 2001-2008. When he retired from he NFL as player after the 2010 season, Vrabel coached at his alma mater, Ohio State, from 2011-2013. He was hired as the Houston Texans’ linebacker coach in 2014 and became their defensive coordinator in 2017. He is now in his second season as the head coach in Nashville.
Judge could certainly be the outlier, the exception, but why the Giants chose to hire another first-time head coach — one who has no head coaching experience at any level — is still a bit head-scratching.
Judge is said to be a teacher who pays great attention to detail, much like Belichick. In the search for the next Belichick, the Giants are hoping they’ve found theirs. Either that or Judge is going to be another name on that long list of busts.
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