The Jury is out: Giants Hire Joe Judge as Head Coach

The Jury is out: Giants Hire Joe Judge as Head Coach

After Giants fans hearts were broken on Tuesday morning as the Carolina Panthers gave Matt Rhule everything he could’ve ever dreamed of in a 7 year 60 million dollar deal a report came out that the Giants were hiring Patriots Assistant Joe Judge. Most fans first reaction was “Joe Who?”. Judge’s resume was impressive considering the coaches he has worked for being Nick Saban and Bill Bellicheck. Bellicheck seemed to rely on Judge throughout this season as they promoted Judge after 2018 not only to let him coach what has been a top 5 special teams unit since Joe has been there but the wideouts as well. Many fans in the NY/NJ region were puzzled and concerned that Mara made another move similar to both Shurmur and Mcadoo. Big Blue Nation had reasons to be a bit hesitant to support this hire being that Judge has spent more time in a kindergarten classroom than a head coach position.

 On Thursday, the Giants ownership introduced Judge as the 19th head coach in franchise history. He was asked weird and tough questions from the media but handled it with a tough Bellicheck like demeanor. One of the many quotes that grabbed Giants fans attention “We're going to put a product on the field that the people in this city and region can be proud of because this team will represent this area. We'll play fast, we'll play downhill, we'll play aggressive….”  Judge emphasized how he wants his teams to play like people from this area hard-working, blue-collar, and consistent going hard to work each and every day. This description fits the Giants teams of the past that have won. Judge shows similarities to Coughlin and Parcells to Giants greats that will be remembered forever. How Pat Shurmur has led this team the past few years is very close to the opposite of what Judge wants to establish in East Rutherford.

Reporters and fans after Thursday’s presser were won over. Joe’s lack of experience as a head coach didn’t seem to rattle him he has a plan and whether it’s a vast improvement or a smaller one record-wise this team will be different in 2020 in a way that will provide this City with exciting football to watch. Judge ended his presser with a bang saying “We will punch you in the nose for 60 minutes, we will play every play like it has a history and a life of its own, with a relentless, competitive attitude. We will play fundamentally sound, we will not beat ourselves. That is our mission right here.” An inspirational press conference was just one step in the right direction for Joe Judge and the G-MEN.

Joe will now get right to work and prepare for a draft where he has the #4 pick and over 60 million dollars in cap space. Fans should be excited for what is to come as there is young talent that is already on the roster like Saquon Barkley, Daniel Jones, Dexter Lawerence, Darius Slayton, Julian Love, and if they can find a way to retain Markus Golden this team could only be a few years away from being true competitors in a weak NFC East.

Giants fans should be ecstatic that ownership was willing to go outside the box and hire Judge something unlike what the Giants have done in the past. Every time we hear from the former Patriots assistant the more you can envision him leading a tough team that will dominate games in the Meadowlands for years to come.

-By: Sam Kirk

Writer/Gamer