The Giants usually are not a franchise that specializes in surprises, but they outdid themselves Tuesday when they hired Packers quarterbacks coach Ben McAdoo as their new offensive coordinator.
Mike Sullivan, most recently the Buccaneers offensive coordinator and formerly a quarterbacks and receivers coach for the Giants, was believed to be the leading candidate since the day Kevin Gilbride resigned earlier this month.
Sullivan spent 2004-11 with the Giants and was the quarterbacks coach when the Giants won Super Bowl XLII following the 2007 season and was the receivers coach when they won another title four years later. He had familiarity with the Giants’ system, coach Tom Coughlin and team ownership.
Giants co-owner John Mara, who said the team’s offense was “broken” this season, had strong words of support for Sullivan, saying, “We obviously think very highly of him.’’
McAdoo, 36, who interviewed with the Giants on Monday, must have blown them away, given how quickly they hired him.
“He’s a very detail-oriented, meticulous teacher, a fundamentalist, first and foremost,” Coughlin said in a statement. “I was very, very impressed by the presentation that he made, in terms of the fundamental details of his presentation, whether it is quarterback fundamentals, offensive philosophy.
“I think this is the best coach for the job. With his experiences, I think he brings a lot to the table. Our players are going to be exited to hear what he has to say.”
Giants quarterback Eli Manning, who threw a league-high 27 interceptions this season, quickly endorsed the hire.
“I was able to talk to him over the phone last week and we had a great conversation,” Manning said. “Obviously, he’s had a ton of success in Green Bay, and I look forward to working with him and improving our offense.”
The Giants offense ranked 28th in yards (307.5) and points per game (18.4) in 2013, leading their 7-9 record. The Packers’ offense, despite being without starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers for nearly half the season, was ranked third in the league in yards a game (400.3) and tied for eighth in scoring (26.1 points a game).
The Packers won the NFC North despite losing Rodgers and with McAdoo preparing three different starting quarterbacks in his place — Seneca Wallace, Matt Flynn and Scott Tolzien. Tolzien threw for 339 yards when the Giants defeated Green Bay, 27-13, on Nov. 17.
“Think about what they overcame this year in Green Bay,” Coughlin said. “[Flynn] wasn’t even on their roster to start the season, and they still got in the playoffs. [McAdoo] is a detailed, very, very meticulous coach.’’
McAdoo was the fourth person to interview for the job — after Sullivan, Dowell Loggains, who was the Titans’ offensive coordinator last season, and Karl Dorrell, the Texans’ former quarterbacks coach. The Giants also were said to be interested in Saints offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael.
“Working for a class organization like the Giants and a championship coach like Tom Coughlin, and being able to work with Eli Manning, who is a very talented and proven quarterback, is very exciting for me,” McAdoo said Tuesday. “We have a great opportunity in front of us, and I can’t wait to get started.
“This is obviously a big step. It’s also another step in the progression of a coach’s career. It’s a golden opportunity for me. It’s an opportunity I feel I’ve been groomed for. And I look forward to it.”
Asked when he hopes to start, McAdoo said, “Yesterday,” adding, “We need to get moving quickly. It’s a great staff. I look forward to coming in and starting with a clean slate.”
This will be the first time since 2007 the Giants will have an offensive play caller other than Gilbride, and Manning has been in the same system his entire career. McAdoo has never called plays before.
“I think the players will respond to this,’’ Coughlin said. “We’re going to try to compromise the system with what we have here. However, there will be change. And that change will be very positive and very well-received by our team and our players. And if our players are scrambling around to learn a new system — good. That’s another fire in their rear end.”
McAdoo described his system as “an up-tempo, attacking-style offense,’’ adding, “We’re going to play with good energy. And we’re going to rely on fundamentals.”
After McAdoo interviewed with the Giants on Monday, he interviewed with the Dolphins on Tuesday for their vacant offensive coordinator job. He previously interviewed for the Browns head coaching job, which also remains vacant. This explains why the Giants acted so swiftly.