The season is barely in the rearview mirror and the Giants have already made an important sign to kick off the new year.
Patrick Graham, the defensive coordinator and assistant head coach, who earns players from his earnings and denies points for conflicting offenses, is not going anywhere. He signed a contract extension and the team announced Tuesday night that Graham has decided not to consider coaching opportunities for 2021.
The Jets reached out to the Giants just a day after Adam Gase was fired and asked permission to question Graham for their vacancy as head coach. There are five other openings and Graham may have attracted other interest. Graham closes all inquiries and will return for a second season to further strengthen the by far the strongest unit in the team.
Graham, who has only been a coordinator for two years – he hosted the show in Miami for the Dolphins in 2019 – was considered a longtime candidate for a head coach, but so was Joe Judge when he apparently got nowhere to beat the Giants did not get a job a year ago. All it takes is one team to fall in love.
One team has already fallen in love with Graham and the team can keep the relationship going.
‘Yes, it worked! It’s going to be a lot easier to find Pat now, ” linebacker Blake Martinez tweeted after seeing the news about Graham.
Earlier in the day, Martinez did not feel nearly as angry, considering possibly losing Graham to another team.
“It’s quite one of those bittersweet things,” Martinez said. ‘I’m like’ Okay, Pat. ‘I’m kind of that stage 5 girlfriend. I’m like ‘You may not leave me. I’m going to get you. ‘But no, I’m excited for him. He’s a very smart coach, an amazing coach, and I’m glad for him. ‘
If Graham had an official fan club, Martinez would be the president, treasurer and chief recruiter. They worked together in Green Bay in 2018 and Graham believed Martinez could have been the center of a defense while he had an interest in signing a free agency. Martinez finished third in the NFL with 151 tackles and is a game in the middle of the Giants defense.
Logan Ryan, the veteran safety with Graham’s versatility to use him in various roles, calls Graham ‘Black Picasso.’
The Giants scored 6-10 and were carried by a defense that finished 12th overall in the NFL and improved from 30th in 2019 to ninth in defense, allowing for 22.3 points per game. The Giants were the second best in the league in defending the red zone. Despite not having a dreaded forward, Graham was able to plan the giants on 40 sacks, which tied for 12th place in the league.
Graham was the Giants defense coach in 2016 and 2017, appointed by Ben McAdoo. Graham’s personality has emerged this season as perhaps the most reliable sounding board for Joe Judge, the first-year head coach.
Graham said he explains who the closest allies in coaching are with this: “If we go to the strip, with whom do I have dinner?” It was always at Judge who worked with Graham in New England on Bill Belichick’s staff.
“I’m attracted to people who are better than me,” Graham said.
Last week, as he prepared for the season finale against the Cowboys, Graham was asked about ‘your defense.’ He does not let it slip. “Our defense,” he said. There’s no ego issue with Graham, an Ivy League product who tends to correct anyone who says he’s played at Yale. “I was on the team at Yale,” he says.
The Giants wanted to keep him in their team, though Judge obviously would not stand in anyone’s way.
“I’m probably expecting a number of requests for several of our coaches during this season,” Judge said. “We’ll handle it internally as it comes.”
The Giants handled it internally by sweetening and expanding Graham’s agreement. The Chargers have asked permission to speak to offensive coordinator Jason Garrett about the opening of their head coach.
For now, any aspirations for Graham for Graham will be driven forward in the future.
“I think he’s going to do a great job,” said cornerback James Bradberry. ‘Coach Graham is a very, very smart guy. I know he also went to an Ivy League school. His football knowledge, his football IQ, is higher than many guys I have ever had. I wish him the best when it happens. I think he will be a good candidate. ‘
He is no longer a candidate. The Giants took care of that.