Ex-Cardinals Coach James Bettcher Named Giants’ New Defensive Coordinator

Newly minted New York Giants coach Pat Shurmur has quickly replaced the team’s defensive coordinator with former Arizona Cardinals coach James Bettcher. 

James Bettcher Joins Giants News

Bettcher, 39, joined Arizona in 2013 as its linebackers coach and was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2015 after Todd Bowles vacated the position to become the New York Jets’ head coach.

The Tennessee Titans also reportedly interviewed Bettcher to be their defensive coordinator, and he was offered that job.

Bettcher will be replacing Steve Spagnuolo, the Giants’ interim head coach who had been with the team since 2015. Shurmur, a former Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator, was hired by New York on Monday.

Under Bettcher, the Cardinals allowed the fewest yards per rush (3.67) and forced the most fumbles (60) since 2015, per ESPN Stats & Information. They also had the seventh-most sacks during that stretch with 121, compared with the Giants, whose 85 were the fewest in the NFL. He led Arizona’s defense to a top-ten ranking in the past three years. The Denver Broncos are the only other team to have achieved this feat.

Bettcher is known for leading running, blitz-happy defenses, which should give the Giants some hope. New York finished this season ranked 31st in yards allowed per game and passing yards per game, and 27th in rushing yards per game.

Bettcher was believed to be the top candidate for the Cardinals head-coaching job, but the team ultimately selected former Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks. Incidentally, the Giants also considered Wilks as a head coaching candidate.

“He was a strong candidate,” said Cardinals General Manager Steve Keim. “James Bettcher is a fantastic coach and he had a great interview. He did a great job. I thought he did a phenomenal job with our defense. He’s going to continue to grow in this league.”

Per some reports, Shurmur will also temporarily handle offensive coordinating duties for the Giants as the team seeks a replacement for Mike Sullivan, who has been the team’s offensive coordinator since 2016. Sullivan is now the quarterbacks coach for the Denver Broncos.