EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Patrick Graham, the Giants' defensive coordinator/assistant head coach the previous two seasons, today became the fifth candidate – the first in-house – to interview for the Giants' head coach position.
He was the team's defensive line coach in 2016-17.
Graham, who turned 43 on Monday, met at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center with team president John Mara, chairman Steve Tisch, senior vice president of player personnel Chris Mara and Joe Schoen, who was hired last week as the Giants' new general manager.
The other candidates who have spoken to the Giants are Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, who had a second, in-person interview here yesterday; Dallas defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who visited team headquarters Monday; and defensive coordinators Leslie Frazier of Buffalo and Lou Anarumo of Cincinnati, who were interviewed via teleconference. Anarumo was the Giants' defensive backs coach in 2018.
Former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores is scheduled to interview at the team's facility on Thursday, while Frazier will have an in-person meeting with club officials on Friday.
Graham has received much praise for his work game-planning and calling the defensive signals the last two seasons.
In 2021, the defense kept the Giants competitive in several games when the offense struggled to score points, despite the short or long-term loss of Blake Martinez, Jabrill Peppers, Logan Ryan, Adoree' Jackson and Lorenzo Carter due to injuries or COVID-19. Although the Giants finished 21st in the NFL by allowing 354.8 yards a game, they were 11th after giving up an average of 5.3 yards-per-play.
Tae Crowder, the 255th and final selection of the 2020 NFL Draft, stepped in for Martinez to call plays in the huddle and led the Giants with 130 tackles. Second-year safety Xavier McKinney had a team-high five interceptions and won an NFC Defensive Player of the Week Award. Azeez Ojulari led the team and finished second among NFL rookies with 8.0 sacks.
The Giants' defense improved significantly in Graham's debut season as coordinator. The unit ranked ninth by allowing 357 points, 94 fewer than their total in 2019.
The defense was 12th in the NFL by allowing 349.3 yards-per-game after finishing 27th at 377.3 yards the previous season. It was their best defensive finish since 2016, when they were 10th in the league by allowing 339.7 yards a game. Giants opponents averaged just 5.3 yards a play, the NFL's ninth-lowest figure.
One year after placing 20th in the NFL, the rushing defense ranked 10th, allowing 111.4 yards a game. That was also their best figure since 2016 (when they were tied for third at 88.6 rushing yards a game). The pass defense jumped from 28th in the league in 2019 to a tie for 16th by giving up 237.9 yards game, the team's lowest figure since 2013, when the Giants allowed 223.3 yards a game through the air and were 10th in the league.
Graham has 13 years of NFL coaching experience with four teams. He has coached in the playoffs in eight of those seasons and has been part of teams that have won seven division titles, two conference championships and one Super Bowl (XLIX with New England).
Graham was the Miami Dolphins' defensive coordinator in 2019.
Prior to joining the Dolphins, Graham spent the 2018 season as the Green Bay Packers' inside linebackers coach and defensive run game coordinator. Under his tutelage, Martinez totaled 144 tackles (91 solo) and a career-high 5.0 sacks. Green Bay's defense limited opponents to 4.3 yards per rush, which was 13th in the league.
Graham's line was instrumental in the Giants fielding the NFL's most improved defense in 2016. The team allowed 158 fewer points and 1,290 fewer yards than it did in 2015. Their 17.8 points per game allowed was second in the NFL and the team's best since 2002.
Graham began his NFL coaching career in New England, where he spent seven seasons with the Patriots (2009-15). He was a coaching assistant in 2009 before being promoted to defensive assistant in 2010 and linebackers coach in 2011. Graham moved to defensive line from 2012-13 before returning to the linebackers in 2014-15.
During his tenure with New England, the Patriots won the AFC East title all seven seasons, the conference championship twice and Super Bowl XLIX. In his five years as a position coach (2011-15), New England led the NFL in takeaways (150) and was tied for fourth in sacks (214).
Graham played collegiately at Yale, where he was a defensive lineman for the 1999 team that shared an Ivy League title with Brown. He earned his bachelor's degree in sociology with a concentration in economics and African American studies.
A native of Waterbury, Conn. (born in Des Plaines, Ill.), Graham and his wife, Pamela, have two children, Morgan and Silas.
View photos of the career of Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham.
Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham
Blake Martinez (54), Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham
2021 Preseason Giants vs. Patriots
Patrick Graham
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham during OTA practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday May 27, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham during OTA practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday May 27, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham talks with New York Giants linebacker Tae Crowder (48) before a week 6 football game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday October 17th, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham talks with New York Giants defensive end Leonard Williams (99) before a week 13 football game against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday December 5th, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) and New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham during a week 11 football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday November 22nd, 2021 in Tampa, Florida
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham talks with New York Giants linebacker Tae Crowder (48) before a week 6 football game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday October 17th, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham during a week 12 football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday November 28th, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham talks with New York Giants linebacker Tae Crowder (48) before a week 6 football game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday October 17th, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham during a preseason game against the New York Jets on Saturday August 14th, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Defensive coordinators Patrick Graham and Steve Spagnuolo talk following a week 8 football game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday November 1st, 2021 in Kansas City, Missouri
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham during a NFL Training Camp practice at MetLife Stadium on Wednesday August 12, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham during a week 14 football game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, December 12, 2021 in Inglewood, California.
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham during a NFL minicamp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Saturday May 15, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham during a preseason game against the New England Patriots on Sunday August 29th, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Defensive coordinators Patrick Graham and Steve Spagnuolo talk following a week 8 football game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday November 1st, 2021 in Kansas City, Missouri
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham before a week 16 football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday December 26th, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham during a week 2 Thursday Night football game against the Washington Football Team on Thursday September 16th, 2021 in Landover, Maryland.
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham during a NFL Training Camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Friday July 30, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham during a NFL Training Camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Friday July 30, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham during a NFL Training Camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Saturday August 7, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham during OTA practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Friday June 4, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham during a week 1 game against the Denver Broncos on September 12th, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham during a NFL Training Camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Wednesday July 28, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham during a NFL Training Camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Thursday July 29, 2021 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham looks on before an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham during a week 6 regular season football game against the Washington Football Team at MetLife Stadium on October 18th, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham during a training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Monday August 17, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham watches training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Wednesday September 2, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham embraces free safety Xavier McKinney (29) as players warm up before an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Monday, Nov. 22, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham watches from the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Monday, Nov. 22, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham watches from the sideline during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021, in East Rutherford, N.J. The New York Giants defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 13-7. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
New York Giants' Patrick Graham watches warm-ups before an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
New York Giants head coach Joe Judge talks to defensive coordinator Patrick Graham during a training camp practice at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on Wednesday August 26, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Patrick Graham talks with the players during NFL football training camp, Friday, July 26, 2019, in Davie, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Patrick Graham speaks to the media NFL rookie mini camp on Thursday, May 9, 2019, in Davie, Fla. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, left, talks with middle linebacker Raekwon McMillan (52) during NFL football training camp,Friday, July 26, 2019, in Davie, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Patrick Graham looks on from the sideline during an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Monday, Oct. 28, 2019 in Pittsburgh. The Steelers defeated the Dolphins 27-14. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Patrick Graham looks on from the sideline during an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019 in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Patriots defeated the Dolphins 43-0. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Patrick Graham watches players during NFL football training camp,Friday, July 26, 2019, in Davie, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Patrick Graham talks on his headsets from the sideline during an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019 in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Patriots defeated the Dolphins 43-0. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Patrick Graham speaks to the media during NFL rookie camp on Thursday, May 9, 2019, in Davie, Fla. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
New York Giants defensive line coach Patrick Graham talks to defensive lineman Damon Harrison (98) during NFL training camp practice on August 3, 2016 at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants defensive line coach Patrick Graham talks to the defensive line during NFL mini-camp on April 27, 2016 at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants defensive line coach Patrick Graham during NFL mini-camp on April 27, 2016 at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants defensive line coach Patrick Graham talks to Dalvin Tomlinson (94),Damon Harrison (98), Olivier Vernon (54) and Kerry Wynn (72) during a NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks on, Sunday October 22, 2017 in East Rutherford, N.J. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul (90) stands with defensive line coach Patrick Graham before a preseason week 1 NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins on August 12, 2016 in East Rutherford, NJ. (Evan Pinkus via AP)
