Just as the Giants were announcing that the man who was instrumental in the development of Eli Manning, quarterbacks coach Chris Palmer, was retiring, word came out yesterday that Palmer wasn’t retiring at all. He’s leaving the Giants, but is set to become the head coach of the New York Sentinels — who are moving to Hartford, Conn. — in the 1-year-old United Football League.
Palmer, 60, spent the past three years with the Giants and 20 years as an NFL assistant — including two years as head coach of the expansion Cleveland Browns. Palmer has been a coach for 38 years and twice worked as an assistant under coach Tom Coughlin.
“I really enjoyed working with coach Palmer,” Manning said. “Over the last three years we’ve had some great success, and I’ve improved as a quarterback. I’m really sorry to see him go.”
Palmer said he enjoyed his time with the Giants.
“I had a great run with the Giants,” he said. “I want to thank the Maras and the Tisches for three great years. I enjoyed my time there very much. And it was not only the players, but the people and the organization.”
It was no secret that Palmer aspired to again be an offensive coordinator, which likely is why he waited almost a month after the Giants season ended to make his decision. Once it became apparent Kevin Gilbride was not leaving his position as offensive coordinator, Palmer no doubt felt it was time to go. The Sentinels recently fired Ted Cottrell, and that’s the opening Palmer will fill. The Sentinels are relocating to Hartford, which will work out fine for Palmer, a native of Brewster who coached in the state of Connecticut early in his career.
This will be the fourth professional league for Palmer, who previously worked in the Canadian Football League and the United States Football League with the New Jersey Generals.
Coughlin last week filled the main void on his staff with the hiring of Perry Fewell as the new defensive coordinator. Now he has to find a new quarterbacks coach. Jim Zorn, recently fired as the Redskins head coach, was a respected quarterbacks coach and is available. On the Giants staff, offensive assistant Sean Ryan could be a candidate.