Pat Shurmur officially hired as New York Giants’ head coach

The New York Giants made it official late Monday afternoon, announcing the hiring of Pat Shurmur as the team’s 18th head coach.

“We are pleased to welcome Pat to our organization and look forward to the leadership he will provide for our team,” said Giants’ co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch in a prepared statement. “He has an outstanding track record in developing young players, and it is clear his players respond to his guidance and direction. We interviewed six talented and qualified candidates, and we feel like Pat, with his vision and experience, is the right person to lead our team.”

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported via Twitter that Shurmur is receiving a five-year contract from the Giants.

Shurmur, 52, is a veteran NFL coach. He has been an offensive coordinator for the St. Louis Rams (2009-10), Philadelphia Eagles (2013-15) and the Minnesota Vikings, where he took over that role midway through the 2016 season when Norv Turner resigned from the job. Shurmur has been lauded for his work with quarterbacks. He was quarterbacks coach in Philadelphia with Donovan McNabb. The Rams won seven games with Shurmur guiding Bradford through his rookie season. In 2013, Eagles’ QB Nick Foles had a career year, throwing 27 touchdown passes to two interceptions and going to the Pro Bowl. This season, journeyman Case Keenum played the best football of his six-year career and went 11-3 as a starter in the regular season and helping Minnesota reach the NFC Championship Game.

Shurmur was the head coach of the Cleveland Browns in 2011 and 2012, compiling a 9-23 record. He dealt with the lockout as a rookie coach and an ownership change in his second season with the Browns.

Shurmur is one of six candidates the Giants interviewed. They also spoke with Steve Spagnuolo, Steve Wilks, Josh McDaniels, Matt Patricia and Eric Studesville.

Shurmur’s Vikings lost to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday. He had been expected to travel to New Jersey for a final meeting before signing his contract, but a winter storm in Minneapolis left him unable to travel.

“I want to thank John Mara and Steve Tisch for giving me the opportunity to be the head coach of the New York Giants,” said Shurmur. “I am looking forward to getting to work with Dave Gettleman and Kevin Abrams and starting the process to once again build a championship team. I have been fortunate to work with many great coaches and players, and I am thankful for those relationships. I would like to thank my family and friends for their tremendous support.”

The Giants will officially introduce Shurmur at a press conference Friday at 11 a.m. ET. Between now and then, Shurmur and Gettleman are expected to travel to the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. to scout 2018 NFL Draft prospects, including quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Josh Allen. ESPN’s Jordan Ranaan reported that Shurmur will head to Mobile on Tuesday — if weather allows.

“I can’t wait to start working with Pat,” said Gettleman. “I know he will provide the type of leadership we need to take our team back to where it belongs. I have followed Pat’s career for many years, and he has had great success wherever he has been. What struck me during our conversation is that being the head coach of the New York Giants is not too big for him. He is made for this moment and this opportunity.”

Arif Hasan of SB Nation’s Vikings website, Daily Norseman, recently endorsed the Giants’ hiring of Shurmur:

“Pat Shurmur is a great fit as a head coach for any organization, and the Giants got a good one,” Hasan said.

Now we begin to find out if Hasan, and the Giants, are right about Shurmur.