After losing defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo to the St. Louis Rams over the weekend, Tom Coughlin wasted no time naming his replacement, tabbing linebackers coach Bill Sheridan for the job.
The 50 year-old held that position for the past four seasons and working under Spagnuolo the last two years will allow him to continue the system his predecessor learned in Philadelphia.
“I’m sure, as much as anything, that’s Tom’s motivation for promoting from within, whether it was me or Peter Giunta, (was) to keep the defense in place,” Sheridan said to reporters. “It’s obviously a proven, excellent system that Steve brought from Philadelphia.
“You’re obviously going to have a slightly different tint to it, because you have a different coordinator and will get different input from whoever Tom brings in from outside to complete the staff.”
Coughlin wanted continuity, since the Giants performed so well under Spagnuolo. Sheridan will continue the system, while maybe making a tweak or two.
“Bill is a very good football coach,” Coughlin said to reporters. “He does an excellent job of teaching, of reinforcing what we aspire to be with our defensive team. He’s coached our linebackers, he’s given a big assist to Steve in all that he has done.”
Before coming to the Giants, Sheridan was an assistant coach in college, with stints in Michigan, Notre Dame, Michigan State, Maine, Cincinnati and Army.
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