Dave Gettleman on whether he thought he would be fired: “Of course”

As the New York Giants rode a nine-game losing streak - the longest in franchise history - into Week 15 of the 2019 season, general manager Dave Gettleman said there was no doubt in mind about whether he thought he would be fired.

“Of course,” Gettleman said Thursday on WFAN.

A 9-23 record in two seasons was apparently bad enough to release Pat Shurmur, but excusable enough for Gettleman to stay. Co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch are sticking with Gettleman through at least the 2020 season.

Gettleman told WFAN’s Evan Roberts and Joe Benigno that he didn’t know his job was safe until Mara and Tisch told him he’d be coming back “just the other day,” after the season ended.

“There were substantive discussions between myself and ownership regarding my job performance and vision moving forward over the past few weeks.” Gettleman said.

“Listen, this is a bottom-line business, and it’s about winning,” he added. “And we hadn’t won enough, and I had been a part of it. We all have high standards, and we all expect to be the best. I obviously haven’t met that standard, and I’m disappointed.”

On what was apparently a busy media day for the GM, Gettleman also appeared on 97.7FM ESPN Radio’s Michael Kay Show.

In the midst of the Giants head coach search, former Packers coach Mike McCarthy and Baylor coach Matt Rhule have reportedly been requested for interviews. Gettleman also revealed though that newly-hired Redskins coach Ron Rivera would have been a possible candidate.

“Before we could turn around, the [Washington] deal was done,” Gettleman said.

After circulating rumors, Redskins owner Dan Snyder officially announced Rivera as the team’s next head coach Wednesday and Rivera had his introductory press conference Thursday. Rivera coached the Carolina Panthers for nine seasons before being fired on Dec. 3.

Gettleman and Rivera worked together from 2013-2017 when both were with the Panthers, highlighted by an appearance in Super Bowl 50.

“Ron’s a terrific football coach,” Gettleman said. “Great defensive mind. He’s a leader of men. He’s a formidable coach.”

Gettleman also revealed that he was not involved in the decision-making process of firing Shurmur, saying it was “not my call.” Perhaps Gettleman’s lack of involvement in the Shurmur decision caused him to act to slowly on Rivera. Gettleman was not a part of the decision to fire the head coach so he did not know he needed to look for a new one.

Regardless of who the Giants choose to hire next, Gettleman has learned at least one lesson about winning and rebuilding throughout the past losing seasons.

“I came into it and I thought we could do both at the same time and I was wrong.”