Giants fire defensive coordinator Perry Fewell
The New York Giants have fired defensive coordinator Perry Fewell, the team announced Wednesday.
Newsdayhad previously reported that the entire coaching staff would be retained. Giants owner John Mara said any decision about coaching changes would be made by head coach Tom Coughlin.
Fewell had been the Giants' defensive coordinator since 2010 and won Super Bowl XLVI. In 2014, the Giants defense ranked 29th in yards allowed and 22nd in points allowed. The defense was ranked 25th in the league by Football Outsiders' advanced metric, DVOA. The unit ranked in the bottom half of the league in scoring in four of Fewell's five seasons.
The Giants also fired secondary/cornerbacks coach Peter Giunta, who has been with the team since 2006. Coughlin said the restructuring of the defensive coaching staff provides the ability to "revive our defensive people."
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“I did it last year for different reasons,” Coughlin said, according to the Giants' official website. “The opportunity was there. Kevin was retiring. I took advantage of the opportunity to do what I, first and foremost, wanted to do, which was revive the quarterback. The decision here gives us the ability to revive our defensive people, to introduce, if you will, a new, different system, perhaps not that big a change, but nevertheless there will be some change involved and create an opportunity. I just think it is an opportunity for us, to a certain extent, to stimulate our defensive team due to the fact that you will end up with a new coordinator. Those people will bring a new system, a new focus and a new area of concentration.”
In a radio interview, Giants safety Antrel Rolle said he had a special bond with Fewell.
"I'd ride or die with Perry Fewell any day," Giants safety Antrel Rollesaid. Rolle, a free agent, also said that Fewell's departure could impact whether he re-signs with the team.
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