Sports

Giants interested in Patrick Graham, Aaron Glenn for defensive coordinator

Joe Judge had no previous connection to the Giants before being named the 19th head coach in franchise history, but it looks as if he is not afraid to keep around coaches or bring in assistants who have or had ties to the team.

The Giants have requested permission to interview Dolphins defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, The Post confirmed. Graham was the defensive line coach for the Giants in 2016 and 2017. Judge has a working relationship with Graham, as the two served on Bill Belichick’s staff with the Patriots together for four years.

Another NFL assistant Judge will consider for defensive coordinator is Aaron Glenn, according to a source. Glenn, 47, is the Saints’ defensive backs coach. He played 15 years in the NFL and was the Jets’ first-round draft pick in 1994. Glenn was a Jets scout in 2012 and 2013.





Graham, 40, in 2019 completed his first season running the Dolphins’ defense for first-year head coach Brian Flores; Flores is another former Belichick assistant. The Dolphins are expected to grant permission for Graham to speak with the Giants.

The Dolphins struggled to stop anyone last season, although they did show improvement. They finished 30th in total defense and last in the league in scoring, allowing 30.9 points a game.

Judge was responsible for special teams and wide receivers this past season with the Patriots, making it significant he is retaining assistants off Pat Shurmur’s staff from those position groups.

Tyke Tolbert, the popular wide receivers coach, will be retained by Judge, according to NFL Network. Thomas McGaughey, the popular special teams coordinator on Shurmur’s staff, is also coming back.





Tolbert in 2019 often had to work with a patchwork group of receivers, as suspension and injuries made it a challenge to put the same players on the field on a week-to-week basis. Tolbert gained high marks for helping the development of rookie Darius Slayton, who caught 48 passes for 740 yards and a team-high eight touchdowns.

— With Ryan Dunleavy





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