According to sources within the league, the New York Giants have appointed Shane Bowen as their upcoming defensive coordinator, as reported by The Athletic on Monday.
Bowen, who held the same position for the Tennessee Titans over the past three seasons, steps into this role after the Titans relieved head coach Mike Vrabel of his duties in January.
Last season, the Titans’ defense allowed an average of 335.5 yards per game, putting them on par with the Green Bay Packers and ranking 17th in the NFL. Additionally, their 21.6 points allowed per game positioned them 16th in the league.
Before assuming the role of defensive coordinator, Bowen served as the Titans’ outside linebackers coach for three seasons and as a defensive assistant for the Houston Texans for two seasons.
The decision to bring Bowen on board follows the mutual agreement between the Giants and former defensive coordinator Wink Martindale to part ways in January.
This separation came after a strained relationship between Martindale and head coach Brian Daboll. Martindale’s departure came amidst a series of changes within the coaching staff, with the position remaining vacant as the Giants took their time with the hiring process.
The Giants finished the 2023 season with a 6-11 record, with their defense ranking 26th in points allowed (23.9) and 27th in total defense.
Bowen’s appointment brings closure to the Giants’ search for a defensive coordinator, ending a period of uncertainty that persisted for a month.
Although Martindale’s exit seemed imminent during the latter part of the season, it took some time for the Giants to finalize their decision. General manager Joe Schoen expressed his hopes for a resolution during his remarks to reporters at the Senior Bowl last week.
The Giants considered various candidates for the position, including in-house options like current defensive backs coach Jerome Henderson.
However, the search extended into the weekend before Bowen emerged as the chosen candidate. Schoen and Daboll now have a full complement of coordinators, with Michael Ghobrial recently hired as the new special teams coordinator.
Giants fans can anticipate improvements in the team’s rush defense under Bowen’s leadership.
During Bowen’s tenure with the Titans, the team excelled in this area, ranking among the top in the league. In 2022, the Titans led the NFL in rushing defense, surrendering an average of just 76.9 yards per game. Such success offers optimism for the Giants, who have struggled in this aspect over the past two seasons.
