Pat Shurmur wants to coach in 2020 after Giants firing
Pat Shurmur isn’t going into hiding.
And he might not be going very far at all.
Fired by the Giants last week, Shurmur prefers to jump right back into coaching and is expected to be sought after for an offensive coordinator position in 2020 rather than sit out a season, a source told The Post. Shurmur called plays in both of his head coach stops (Browns) and has been offensive coordinator for the Rams, Eagles and Vikings.
Shurmur’s identification of Daniel Jones as a top quarterback in the 2019 NFL Draft – when many others around the league scoffed at the idea – as well as his work with Jones throughout a promising rookie season will be a selling point to teams looking to develop young passers.
Jones threw for 3,027 yards, 24 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, with an 87.7 passer rating. The No. 6 pick out of Duke lost 18 of 21 fumbles and endured a nine-game losing streak, though the young Giants did not have enough winning pieces around him.
So, where could Shurmur end up?
An NBC Sports Washington report said the NFC East rival Redskins have internally discussed Shurmur in case new coach Ron Rivera wants to replace coordinator Kevin O’Connell. An ESPN report said there has not been an interview scheduled and none is imminent.
Three of Shurmur’s nine wins as Giants coach were against the Redskins, where he could develop second-year quarterback Dwayne Haskins and be reunited with two of his former quarterbacks, Case Keenum and Colt McCoy. The Giants chose Jones over Haskins in the draft.
Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy – one of four candidates interviewed by the Giants so far to be Shurmur’s replacement – could hold the key to Shurmur’s future. If Bieniemy fills one of the four (including the slow-moving Cowboys) head coach vacancies, Shurmur is a logical candidate to replace him.
Shurmur spent 10 seasons as a position coach (1999-2008) under Chiefs coach Andy Reid when both were with the Eagles. The Chiefs have Shurmur’s son, Kyle, as a practice squad quarterback behind MVP Patrick Mahomes.
If Bieniemy is hired by the Panthers, Browns or Cowboys, he will need a strong offensive coordinator to make up for his lack of play-calling experience. Reid calls plays for the Chiefs, and Bieniemy’s only play-calling experience during a 19-year career came during two years at the University of Colorado.
Bieniemy could call upon Shurmur because of his experience with Reid’s offense.
Shurmur worked wonders with Keenum on the 2017 Vikings, which made him a hot candidate in head coach searches. He was only two years into a five-year contract with the Giants.
Former Giants coach Ben McAdoo has sat out two seasons since he was fired. Steve Spagnuolo, who filled the interim role between McAdoo and Shurmur, sat out one season before turning around the Chiefs defense as coordinator.
For more on the Giants, listen to the latest episode of the “Blue Rush” podcast:
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