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The New York Giants search for a new defensive coordinator has ended right where many people thought it would all along, with the hiring of a highly-successful old one -- Steve Spagnuolo. Spagnuolo, who held the job in 2007 and 2008, will return to that role in 2015 as the replacement for Perry Fewell. An official announcement from the Giants is still forthcoming, but the news is being widely reported.
Source says the Giants are hiring Steve Spagnuolo as defensive coordinator. Everyone look surprised.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) January 15, 2015
Spagnuolo has been considered the front-runner for the post ever since Fewell was let go following a disappointing season that saw the Giants go 6-10 and finish 29th in the league in total defense.
Spagnuolo, of course, was the architect of the defense that helped the Giants upset the previously unbeaten New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII, 17-14.
Spagnuolo's defenses in New York were known for being aggressive and for pressuring the quarterback. Under Spagnuolo the Giants were seventh in the league in total defense in 2007 and had a leaue-leading 53 sacks. In 2008 the Giants were fifth in overall defense and sixth in the league in sacks with 42. The Giants went 12-4 that season, the best regular-season record of the Tom Coughlin era.
Spagnuolo spent three seasons as head coach of the St. Louis Rams, compiling a 10-38 record. He was defensive coordinator of the New Orleans Saints in 2012 and has been with the Baltimore Ravens the past two years, working as defensive backs coach in 2014.
Raheem Morris, Pepper Johnson and Dennis Allen also interviewed for the job.
Bringing Spagnuolo back makes sense. Coughlin's Giants haven't made the post-season in three years, and Coughlin is facing what is likely a "win or else" season in 2015. Turning to someone he has had success with in the past rather than gamble on a first-time coordinator or someone he has not worked with previously seems logical.
Did the Giants make the right decision? Vote in the poll.