Ben McAdoo, New Giants Coach: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

Giants head coach, Giants new coach, New York Giants

Offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo is reportedly set to take over the entire New York Giants squad. (Getty)

He was a favorite for a reason.

According to multiple reports, the New York Giants are set to officially hire Ben McAdoo, 38, as the team’s new coach, just two weeks after Tom Coughlin had resigned from the position. McAdoo spent the last two seasons as the Giants offensive coordinator.

The team is expected officially introduce McAdoo as the head coach on Friday.

Here’s everything you need to know about the first-time head coach:


1. McAdoo’s Only Experience as a Coordinator Came With the Giants

Ben McAdoo giants, Ben McAdoo coach, Ben McAdoo head coach

Before joining the Giants organization, McAdoo worked as the quarterbacks coach of the Green Bay Packers. (Getty)

Although he’s set to become the 17th head coach in New York Giants history, McAdoo does not have a wealth of head coaching experience. In fact, he only has two seasons as an offensive coordinator.

Prior to joining the Giants staff in 2014, McAdoo worked as the tight ends coach with the Green Bay Packers as well as the team’s quarterback coach from 2012 to 2013. He worked closely with Aaron Rodgers who endorsed McAdoo as a head coach, telling Newsday:

Ben’s a great coach. He’s really advance quickly, and the key is he’s got an excellent work ethic. He puts in the work and he cares about it a lot.

Before Green Bay, McAdoo also worked with the San Francisco 49ers and served as the tight ends and offensive tackles coach for Stanford during the team’s 2005 spring camp. He spent several years at the college level and even got his start as a graduate assistant for Michigan State.


2. He’s Received Praise From Several New York Players Including Eli Manning

Ben McAdoo giants, Ben McAdoo coach, Ben McAdoo head coach

McAdoo has completely revamped Eli Manning’s approach as a quarterback and it’s improved his stats. (Getty)

Although Aaron Rodgers is a fairly strong endorsement, McAdoo has also received praise from New York Giants players as well, including Eli Manning. The pair completely revamped the veteran quarterbacks game ahead of the 2014 season and, this year, Manning had one of the most statistically impressive seasons of his career.

In the past two seasons Manning has thrown 65 touchdowns and 28 interceptions, completing 62.8 percent of his passes.

And it isn’t just the offensive guys giving McAdoo the seal of approval. Cornerback Prince Amukamara tweeted this out on Wednesday night:

Running back Orleans Darkwa told the New York Post McAdoo is much more than the face he presents on the sidelines, saying, “He can definitely get energetic. When you might see him out on the field, he might not be as energetic ’cause he’s focused on the game, but he knows when to get us going, he knows when to get us ready, and a lot of the guys respect him.”


3. McAdoo Also Interviewed for the Eagles Coaching Job

McAdoo had been keeping his coaching options open over the last few weeks and even thought about staying in the NFC East, interviewing with the Philadelphia Eagles on January 7.

Although he didn’t get a second interview with Philadelphia, McAdoo reportedly impressed the Eagles front office. It was also possibly enough to spark the Giants ownership, making certain that McAdoo didn’t end up on the other side of the division.


4. The Giants Also Interviewed Former NFL Head Coaches Mike Smith & Doug Marrone

Giants head coach, Giants new coach, New York Giants

Doug Marrone, whose most recent head coaching gig came in Buffalo, was also reportedly a front-runner in New York. (Getty)

In addition to McAdoo, the Giants also interviewed several other possible head coaching candidates, ranging from former head coaches looking to get back into the league to coordinators looking for their first shot.

According to multiple reports, New York spoke with former NFL head coaches Mike Smith and Doug Marrone, as well as current Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin.

Rumors had been circulating, as recently as Wednesday afternoon, that Marrone was the front-runner for the job with Big Blue. ESPN’s Adam Schefter told a Philadelphia radio station that he would “handicap” Marrone as the favorite.


5. McAdoo Is Now One of the Youngest Head Coaches in the NFL

At just 38 years old, McAdoo will become one of the youngest head coaches in the entire NFL. In fact, he’s only three years older than Eli Manning.

Recently-minted Miami Dolphins head coach Adam Gase, who the Giants were also reportedly interested in hiring at the start of their search, is the youngest in the league at 37.

Still, age is not necessarily a precursor to success. According to ESPN, McAdoo and the Giants are already working on his coaching staff. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo reportedly has the option to stay on as defensive coordinator and former Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin is among the favorites to take over as offensive coordinator.