The New York Giants were forced to make several coaching staff changes on the fly this week after offensive coordinator Jason Garrett tested positive for COVID-19 and outside linebackers coach/senior defensive assistant Bret Bielema took the head coaching job at Illinois.
Tight ends coach Freddie Kitchens will assume the play calling duties with Garrett out, while the Giants announced inside linebackers coach Kevin Sherrer and defensive assistant Jody Wright would split Bielema’s duties.
However, Jay Glazer reported on FOX NFL Sunday that Jessie Armstead, who currently serves as special assistant to the general manager, would descend from the front office in order to coach the outside linebackers in Week 15.
Armstead, an eighth-round pick of the Giants in the 1998 NFL Draft, spent nine of his 12 seasons in East Rutherford, earning five trips to the Pro Bowl and four All-Pro nods. He was inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor in 2010.
Glazer did not elaborate further on Armstead’s exact role or what it means for Sherrer or Wright, and also did not touch on whether or not Armstead would remain in that role over the final two weeks of the season.
Whatever the case may be, Giants fans are certain to love it. Not only was Armstead an intense and dominant linebacker during his playing days, he’s a long-time fan favorite.
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