Report: Giants’ assistant Bret Bielema interested in Michigan State job

The New York Giants coaching staff that was announced last week by head coach Joe Judge could already be taking a hit. The Detroit Free Press is reporting that Bielema has “definite” interest in taking the Michigan State job vacated last week when Mark Dantonio retired.

Bielema is the Giants’ outside linebackers coach and also carries the title of senior defensive assistant.

Bielema spent the last two seasons with the New England Patriots, where he and Judge worked together. Bielema was head coach at Wisconsin from 2006-2012 and Arkansas from 2013-2017. He has a 97-58 career record between the two schools.

This is what Judge said about Bielema when the Giants’ staff was announced a week ago:

“There’s a lot of things (to like) about Bret,” Judge said. “I think Bret brings a great personality to the group, brings a great perspective on how he sees the game, he’s coached the front for some time, he’s coordinated defenses at a high level. Players respond to Bret in a positive way. He has a great way of teaching, he has a great way of getting the guys motivated, and he gets the most out of his players. He brings experience from the NFL, as well as college, so not only does he understand what’s going on in the league now, he understands what the players coming from college are used to and how to better translate the trends they’re going to see.”

The Free Press reported that Bielema “is eager to return to the college game.”

Here is a look at some of the other candidates, including former Giants head coach Pat Shurmur.