Report: Giants finalizing deal to make Joe Judge next HC

The New York Giants are finalizing a deal to make New England Patriots special teams coordinator and wide receivers coach Joe Judge their new head coach, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Judge is the first special teams coordinator to be hired as a head coach since the Baltimore Ravens selected John Harbaugh in 2008.

The 38-year-old chose the Giants over his alma mater, Mississippi State, which also offered him its vacant position, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Judge had been an assistant on Bill Belichick's staff in New England since 2012, working exclusively on special teams until adding wide receivers coach to his list of roles in 2019.

The Giants were expected to zero in on Baylor's Matt Rhule, but he reportedly struck a seven-year, $60-million deal to become the Carolina Panthers' next head coach before his scheduled interview with New York.

The Giants also interviewed Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Don Martindale, and Dallas Cowboys defensive assistant Kris Richard for their job.

Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels was expected to meet with the team as well. Mike McCarthy interviewed with the Giants before being hired as Jason Garrett's replacement in Dallas.

The Cleveland Browns are now the only team still looking for a head coach.

Copyright (C) 2020 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.