New York Giants place kicker Graham Gano (9) reacts after kicking a field goal during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
The New York Giants didnโt have to look far to find their new special teams coordinator.ย
The team announced on Thursday that they have brought in Michael Ghobrial, who spent the previous three seasons as an assistant on the New York Jetsโ coaching staff. The 35-year-old replaces Thomas McGaughey, who was fired on Jan. 8 after six seasons at the position.ย
During his time with the Jets, Ghobrial worked under special teams coordinator Brant Boyer and alongside Leon Washington, creating one of the top special-teams units in the NFL.ย
New Yorkโs kick-off coverage allowed an average of 15.3 yards per return, which ranked first in the NFL, while their opponentsโ 40.4-yard net average on punts was seventh-best.ย
Jets rookie returner Xavier Gipson ranked second in the NFL with an average of 23.2 yards per kick-off return and was tied for 12th-best with a 9.7-yard punt return average. He famously provided the game-winning, 65-yard punt return for a touchdown in Week 1 this season against the Buffalo Bills after Aaron Rodgers went down with his season-ending ACL injury.
The hope within the Giantsโ ranks is that Ghobrial can boost a unit that once again struggled in 2023.
They clearly have something promising in punt returner Gunner Olszewski, who won NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors in Week 17 for a 94-yard punt return for a touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams. It was the Giantsโ first punt return for a touchdown since December of 2015.
But Big Blueโs kick-return game ranked third-worst in the NFL, averaging just 19.2 yards per return and their field-goal percentage ranked second-worst (71%).ย
Before joining the Jets, Ghobrial worked in the college ranks as a special teams coordinator for Washington State (2020),…
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