Could this be a case of if you beat ’em, join ’em for Perry Fewell?
The Redskins asked for and received permission from the Giants to interview Fewell, Big Blue’s defensive coordinator, for their vacant head-coaching position.
Fewell’s unit helped the Giants beat Washington twice this season, allowing only 23 points in the two victories over the 3-13 Redskins.
His defense staged an impressive comeback, ranked near the bottom of the NFL after six games yet climbing all the way up to No. 8 in the league by the end of the regular season. The Redskins on Monday fired Mike Shanahan and are in the market for a new coach. So far, the list of reported candidates includes Ravens offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell, Panthers defensive coordinator Sean McDermott and Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell.
The Giants on Thursday will begin organizational meetings and the greatest priority, according to co-owner John Mara, is to figure out how to fix what he called a “broken’’ offense. There will be plenty of discussion involving ownership, general manager Jerry Reese and coach Tom Coughlin about the job status of offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride and other offensive assistants, such as his son, receivers coach Kevin M. Gilbride, and quarterbacks coach Sean Ryan. The performance of special teams coordinator Tom Quinn also figures to be part of the conversation. Fewell’s job security is not considered to be tenuous at all.
Fewell is no stranger to this process. He interviewed in 2011 for the openings with the Browns, Panthers, Broncos and Titans but was not hired by any of those teams. Afterward, Fewell acknowledged that some of those interviews were conducted to comply with the Rooney Rule, which ensures minority candidates are interviewed for all head-coach openings.
Coughlin first hired Fewell in 1998 as defensive backs coach for the Jaguars and in 2010 brought him in to run the Giants’ defense. A year earlier, Fewell served as interim head coach in Buffalo after the Bills fired Dick Jauron. Fewell went 3-4 with the Bills finishing up that season.
Having Fewell in the NFC East with the Redskins would be fascinating, considering the Giants have 23 unrestricted free agents, including key defensive linemen Justin Tuck and Linval Joseph and linebacker Jon Beason, players who no doubt Fewell would love to bring with him if he’s headed to a new destination.