Ex-Giants coaches Pat Flaherty, Perry Fewell hired by Jacksonville Jaguars

Yes, the influence of Tom Coughlin is being felt by the Jacksonville Jaguars already. Clocks at Jaguars headquarters have been five minutes fast since Coughlin was introduced as executive vice president on Monday. Now, the first former Giants coaches has found their way to Jacksonville.

The Jaguars Saturday announced the hiring of Pat Flaherty as offensive line coach. They are also reportedly hiring former Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell as secondary coach.

“Flats” was Coughlin’s offensive line coach all 12 seasons with the Giants. He served in that capacity for the San Francisco 49ers let season, let go when Chip Kelly and his entire staff were swept out.

“Pat Flaherty is a Super Bowl winning coach and teacher and I could not be more excited to welcome him to our staff,” Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone said in a statement. “With over 35 years of coaching experience, Coach Flaherty brings a wealth of knowledge to the offensive line room and will help develop our group into a tough, physical unit, which will be key to our success for this year and for years to come.”

Even before this move, there had been speculation in Jacksonville that Marrone does not have a completely free hand in assembling a coaching staff. Coughlin, of course, praised the hiring of Flaherty.

“Pat Flaherty not only has 17 years of NFL coaching experience, he also has helped several offensive linemen become Pro Bowl players in their careers, such as Chris Snee, Shaun O’Hara and David Diehl,” Coughlin said Saturday in a statement. “His work with the Giants’ offensive line helped that team win two Super Bowls. His credentials are impeccable and his vast knowledge and teaching ability will be a great benefit for our offensive linemen.”

Flaherty was replaced by Mike Solari when Ben McAdoo took over as head coach. Solari has vast experience in the West-Coast based offense McAdoo runs. It was also hoped that Solari could have greater influence on the development of 2015 first-round pick Ereck Flowers than Flaherty had.

Flowers just completed a season in which he gave up 59 pressures, second-most among NFL offensive tackles.

The hiring of Fewell, Giants defensive coordinator from 2010-2014, was reported by NFL insiders Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport simultaneously. Fewell spent the last two seasons with the Washington Redskins.