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Giants quarterbacks coach Danny Langsdorf is headed back to college.

(John O'Boyle | NJ Advance Media)

EAST RUTHERFORD ‐ New Nebraska offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf had a decision to make. He could remain the Giants quarterbacks coach for another year and hope things panned out for the team next season while he worked with Eli Manning. Or he could go to a place where his future was more secure and get back to running an offense as he did the previous nine seasons at Oregon State.

Langsdorf chose the latter.

“It’s hard to project the future and what will happen,” he said Tuesday while packing his car at the Giants facility after accepting the Nebraska job. “I try not to look too far ahead and really project on what can happen in the future. I tried to deal with the moment and go from there.”

Langsdorf, 42, reunites with coach Mike Riley, who jumped from Oregon State to Nebraska several weeks back. So even though Langsdorf has never been to Nebraska, there is a comfort level moving his wife and two children to the Midwest.

When Riley contacted him about the position, he weighed his options and ultimately jumped at the opportunity for a variety of reasons.

“Just a chance to run the offense, call plays, be in charge in a place that has a lot of tradition and history,” Langsdorf said of the Nebraska job, where he will get to see Rutgers often in the Big Ten. “And a place that ‐ I don’t know the place, I know the people, that is a big part of it too, being familiar with a lot of the guys.”

Riley brought four of his former Oregon State assistants with him to Nebraska.

The Giants are now left with a void on their staff. Langsdorf was considered a bright, young coach who did a good job this year working with Manning and second-year quarterback Ryan Nassib, even if Manning did fall short of Langsdorf 70 percent goal. Manning completed a career-best 63.1 percent of his passes this season.

Coughlin said he will look around before deciding on a replacement. It didn't seem likely that receivers coach Sean Ryan would shift back to quarterbacks. Coughlin complimented Ryan for the job he did with the Giants receivers (including rookie Odell Beckham Jr.) and gave him credit for their success on third downs this season.

The Giants boss didn’t seem quite as thrilled with Langsdorf, who joined the team less than a year ago.

“He is leaving. It’s his choice,” Coughlin said. “You don’t expect someone to be here for a year, but that’s his decision. Wish him well. Let’s go.”

Langsdorf did, back to the college game after a year with the Giants. He says he returns an even better coach after working with Manning.

“What a true pro, really a great worker. He really communicates well,” Langsdorf said. “I probably got more out of it than he did.”

Some would likely beg to differ. Surely Manning learned plenty from Langsdorf as well.

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Jordan Raanan may be reached at jraanan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JordanRaanan. Find NJ.com Giants on Facebook.