The Giants’ search to replace defensive coordinator Wink Martindale is fully underway.
They have already interviewed Ravens secondary coach Dennard Wilson, who has never been a defensive coordinator.
They also will interview a more experienced candidate — Titans defensive coordinator Shane Bowen, according to ESPN, which reported that Bowen is interviewing for the Jaguars’ defensive coordinator job, too.
The Titans just fired coach Mike Vrabel, so Bowen is available for interviews, as the Titans are letting him speak to defensive coordinator-needy teams.
Bowen, 37, started in the NFL as a defensive assistant for the Texans from 2016-17. He was the Titans’ outside linebackers coach from 2018-20. And then he became their defensive coordinator in 2021. So he was in Tennessee for Vrabel’s entire tenure.
Vrabel — who, like Daboll, has deep Patriots connections — worked with Bowen in Houston in 2016 and 2017, too. In those seasons, Vrabel was the Texans’ linebackers coach and defensive coordinator.
Bowen and Vrabel first crossed paths in 2012 at Ohio State, when Vrabel was the defensive line coach and Bowen was a graduate assistant.
In three seasons under Bowen, the Titans’ defense finished 10th, 11th, and 29th in Pro Football Focus’ ratings.
Giants coach Brian Daboll essentially fired Martindale this week, culminating an ugly, drawn-out divorce. Martindale and Daboll spent two seasons together in East Rutherford, and the Giants finished 30th and 26th in PFF’s defensive ratings.
Darryl Slater may be reached at [email protected].
Read the full article here