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The New York Giants, a franchise built on the belief that stability and continuity are the best path forward, are now entering a period of fundamental change and uncertainty.
We already saw today that Ben McAdoo became the first head coach fired this year, and now Jerry Reese became the first general manager fired. While the moves to excise the coach and GM are hardly unexpected, the Giants are a team that has only twice before had a head coach fail to finish the season.
The move to fire Jerry Reese before the end of season is stunning, as the Giants have never fired a general manager.
The rationale for firing Reese is that he simply has not done a good enough job of adding talent to the roster. And It is easy to point to the Giants’ weakness along the offensive line and in the linebacking corps as evidence of the fact.
It’s worth noting that the issues that cost Reese his job may run deeper, and Aditi Kinkhabwala, former Giants’ beat writer and current NFL Network corespondent, observed that McAdoo was not Reese’s choice for head coach
And the irony in what's happening w/ #Giants? Ben McAdoo was NOT Jerry Reese's choice as head coach. I was told then, and again recently, he liked two other candidates more.
— Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) December 4, 2017
It would absolutely make sense if ownership wanted to bring in a head coach and general manager at the same time to avoid any (potential) similar friction and disagreements on the vision for the team.
As of now, Assistant General Manager Kevin Abrams is the acting general manager. Abrams has been with the Giants for 19 years, and has been the Assistant GM for the last 16. He is well respected around the league and is the man who is primarily responsible for negotiating contracts and scouting pro personnel. Abrams is well respected around the league and has been a big part of the Giants’ reputation for rarely letting players they like leave the building without a contract. He interviewed for the Detroit Lions’ GM position in 2016.
This is the first time in memory that the Giants will be looking for a new head coach (and coaching staff) as well as general manager. The search should prove to be vigorous, as the Giants are still considered one of the best jobs in the NFL, and all potential candidates know that they are in the market.