Tag: Jerome Henderson

Giants promote Mike Kafka to assistant head coach, announce staff changes

The New York Giants have promoted three assistants, including Mike Kafka to assistant head coach, and announced other staff additions.

The New York Giants have promoted offensive coordinator Mike Kafka to assistant head coach, secondary coach Jerome Henderson to defensive passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach Shea Tierney to offensive passing game coordinator.

All three will continue in their previous roles while taking on the additional responsibilities.

In addition, Charlie Bullen was hired as the new outside linebackers coach, and Zak Kuhr was added as a defensive assistant.

The moves should complete the Giants’ coaching staff for the upcoming season.

Earlier this week, the Giants hired Shane Bowen as their new defensive coordinator, replacing Wink Martindale, and Mike Kelly to assume the open tight ends role after Andy Bischoff left to join Joe Harbaugh’s staff with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Both Bowen and Kelly came from Tennessee, where they served under the now-former head coach Mike Vrabel.

Kuhr also comes from Tennessee — first as a quality control coach in 2020 and then worked with the Titans’ defense under Bowen, becoming their inside linebackers assistant in 2021.

Bullen was most recently with the Arizona Cardinals (2020-22) as their outside linebackers coach. Before that he was with the Miami Dolphins from 2012-2018, working with the linebackers and defensive line. He will assume the roles held by Drew Wilkins, who was let go last month.

[lawrence-related id=723856,723854,723837]

Giants’ options for defensive coordinator beginning to dwindle

The New York Giants have been thorough in their search for a new defensive coordinator but their options are beginning to dwindle.

After an ugly falling out between head coach Brian Daboll and defensive coordinator Wink Martindale, the New York Giants were thrust into the hunt for a new DC.

Their search has been thorough but thus far, has yielded no fruit.

Earlier this week, general manager Joe Schoen said he’d like to have a DC in place over the coming days but that clock is ticking.

Nearly a month after the Giants and Martindale “parted ways,’ the Giants are still without a defensive coordinator and following a recent spate of hirings, their options are beginning to dwindle.

Giants will interview Jerome Henderson for vacant DC position

The New York Giants will interview defensive backs coach Jerome Henderson for their vacant defensive coordinator position.

The New York Giants are casting a wide net in search of a defensive coordinator but they aren’t neglecting candidates that are already under their employ.

Defensive backs coach Jerome Henderson will reportedly get a formal interview for the position.

This season, Henderson was in charge of a young secondary that included rookies Deonte Banks and Tre Hawkins III, as well as second-year players Cor’dale Flott and Dane Belton.

Henderson, 54, has 17 years of NFL coaching experience, the last four with the Giants. Before landing with the Giants, Henderson coached for the Atlanta Falcons, Dallas Cowboys, Cleveland Browns, and New York Jets.

From 2006-2007, Henderson, who is widely respected by his players and around the league, served as the Jets’ director of player personnel.

[lawrence-related id=723226,723221,723216]

11 defensive coordinator candidates Giants could consider

The New York Giants are on the hunt for a new defensive coordinator and these are 11 potential candidates they could consider.

Wink Martindale resigned as the New York Giants’ defensive coordinator on Monday after just two seasons with the team. It was a rather unceremonious end that was handled poorly by both sides.

The departure of Martindale now thrusts the Giants into a defensive coordinator search for the second time in three years.

General manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll are expected to get to work immediately but before they do, here’s a look at 11 potential candidates.

Note: Some of these candidates may currently be employed with other teams and would require termination (or resignation) before joining the Giants.

Giants vs. Patriots: 5 things to know about Week 12

The New York Giants and New England Patriots square off on Sunday afternoon in Week 12, so here are five things fans should know.

The New York Giants (3-8) play host to the New England Patriots (2-8) this Sunday afternoon at MetLife Stadium in a Week 12 matchup between two of the league’s most storied franchises.

Here are five things to know before kickoff on Sunday.

36 days till Patriots season opener: Every player to wear No. 36 for New England

Here’s a list of every Patriots player to wear the No. 36 jersey number

The New England Patriots are officially 36 days away from their regular season opener. So we’re continuing our countdown series by listing every Patriots player that has ever worn the No. 36 jersey.

Running back Kevin Harris currently wears the number, which initially belonged to core Patriots special-teamer Brandon King. Harris, a sixth-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft, has seen more work behind starter Rhamondre Stevenson at training camp.

Whether that carries over into the regular season or not remains to be seen.

But Lawyer Milloy is the name people typically think about when it comes to the No. 36 in New England. Milloy was drafted in the second round of the 1996 NFL draft by the Patriots and helped them upset the St. Louis Rams at Super Bowl XXXVI.

Here’s every player throughout franchise history that has worn the No. 36 (via Pro Football Reference):

Giants minicamp: Notes, videos and highlights from Day 1

News, notes, highlights and a few videos from Day 1 of the New York Giants’ 2023 mandatory minicamp.

After canceling their final two practices of organized team activities (OTAs) due to poor air quality, the New York Giants were back at it on Tuesday. This time for their mandatory two-day minicamp.

Running back Saquon Barkley, who has not yet signed his franchise tender, is not permitted to take part in team-related activities and was not in attendance per NFL rules. He will not be fined for his absence.

On the schedule were press conferences with the team’s defensive assistants, head coach Brian Daboll and assistant general manager Brandon Brown. Select players also spoke with members of the media following a two-hour practice.

Here’s a look at some notes, highlights and videos from Day 1.

Giants coaches making rounds at various Pro Days

The New York Giants have dispatched several coaches and assistants to Pro Days across the county, including Clemson and South Carolina.

The NFL Scouting Combine is over and colleges around the country are now conducting ‘pro days’ where NFL draft prospects will display their wares for interested scouts, executives, and coaches.

The New York Giants had representatives at two major programs’ pro days this week — South Carolina and Clemson.

Jerome Henderson is likely there to get an up-close look at South Carolina’s stellar corners, Cam Smith and Darius Rush.

Smith is Pro Football Focus’ No. 3 ranked corner in this year’s class and Rush ran 4.36 40 at the Combine at 6-foot-2 and 198 pounds. Smith ran a 4.43 40-yard dash at the Combine.

The Giants are looking for an outside corner to pass with Adoree’ Jackson.

The Giants also sent defensive coordinator Wink Martindale down to Clemson, a noted football ‘factory.’

The Giants may appear to have enough depth in their defensive front after Monday’s free-agent signings but one can never have enough. Due diligence must be paid whether you need players at those positions or not.

[lawrence-related id=707384,707374,707369]

[mm-video type=video id=01gvgcm3gww1j9bk2qhd playlist_id=none player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gvgcm3gww1j9bk2qhd/01gvgcm3gww1j9bk2qhd-4dfbb6863c9fa8d20f9aa0f1ff665f49.jpg]

Giants sent a large contingent to Senior Bowl

The New York Giants sent a rather large contingent to the Senior Bowl this week, including GM Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll.

There has been no break for the New York Giants since their loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the divisional round of the NFC Playoffs.

General manager Joe Schoen held exit meetings, while several of the team’s coordinators and assistants have been interviewing for other jobs. Then, collectively, the group headed down to Mobile, Alabama to take in Senior Bowl week.

In addition to Schoen, head coach Brian Daboll, offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, defensive coordinator Wink Martindale and defensive backs coach Jerome Henderson all made the trip.

“I just like to come because it’s the initial part of the draft process for me,” Daboll told the New York Post. “I haven’t been looking at college players so I like to come down here, it’s a chance to get your eyes on some guys out there on the practice field and also meet with some guys in meetings.

“You’re trying to build your team throughout the entire year. It’s important to be down here, you’ve got however many guys you get the chance to watch practice for a few hours each day and get to talk to some of ’em at night. I think it’s a good start.”

In the eyes of Schoen, having the entire staff together for the Senior Bowl and subsequent prospect meetings will only help ease the 2023 NFL draft process.

“As we go through it, whether it’s bringing guys in on 30s [private visits at the Giants facility], private workouts and the combine, if I can get Dabes, Kafka and Wink in front of 50, 55 prospects here and then 45 at the combine and our 30 visits, by the time at the end of it the head coach has had exposure to basically our whole draft board,” Schoen told The Post.

“When you’re aligned, the personnel staff and the coaching staff, on players and the smart, tough, dependable that we’re looking at that also have ability, those are the best decisions you’re gonna make.”

The week wraps up on Saturday with the 74th annual Senior Bowl game.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbx61yex5whq8aq player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]

[listicle id=705982]

Follow the Giants Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

Giants convert Jarren Williams to safety

The New York Giants have converted Jarren Williams to safety and Jerome Henderson believes it will serve him well.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbx61yex5whq8aq player_id=none image=https://giantswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

The New York Giants’ secondary is in flux after a flurry of moves this offseason that left them thin and inexperienced, especially at safety.

They currently have Xavier McKinney and Julian Love penciled in as their starters and added Iowa’s Dane Belton via the NFL draft this year but are seeking some more delta at the positions.

Enter Jarren Williams, a backup cornerback who will be tried at safety this summer. It is no reflection on his ability to play cornerback, however.

“I don’t think it’s disrespect at all,” Williams told the New York Post this month. “It’s a great opportunity. I’m really excited, gonna keep learning the position, take the teaching, take the coaching and I think it’s gonna be good for me, for real.”

The 24-year-old Williams, a practice squad player mainly last year who came out of small St. Francis (PA), is gaining the respect and confidence of the coaching staff, most notably secondary coach Jerome Henderson.

“He’s a physical guy at corner,” Henderson said. “I thought as a corner he tackled like a safety and I thought him playing safety would give us some extra athleticism back there. I like his skill set back there. He’s a young developing player that I can see having a really bright future in this league so I’m just excited to see how he grows.”

The Giants have been seeking answered this offseason. Perhaps this one will come from within their own building.

[listicle id=693559]