The New York Giants have a new defensive coordinator. The Giants have hired former Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator Shane Bowen as DC, replacing Wink Martindale, confirmed by CBS Sports’ top NFL insider Jonathan Jones.
According to Dianna Russini, general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll placed a high emphasis on taking their time when hiring. The search lasted 27 days, with eight interviews, before hiring a replacement. Bowen and former Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Derrick Ansley were the only two candidates with experience at the position.
Bowen spent the last three seasons as the DC Titans, dating back to 2021. Prior to that role, the 37-year-old was Tennessee’s outside linebackers coach from 2018 to 2020. His NFL career began in 2016, while he was defensive. assistant with the Houston Texans, a role he held for two seasons.
In his first season at Tennessee, the team had the second-ranked rushing defense in the NFL. The following season, the Titans led the league in rushing defense, allowing just 76.9 yards per game. In 2023, the Titans were 13th in rushing defense, 18th in yards allowed and 16th in points.
This season, the Giants defense was tied for first in turnovers (31) and bottom six in the NFL in yards and points allowed. The Giants finished 6-11 in 2023.
Bowen worked as a graduate assistant for Ohio State, assisting then-defensive line coach Mike Vrabel in 2012. As a defensive assistant with the Texans, Bowen again worked with Vrabel, who was at the time the Houston linebackers coach. When Vrabel was named head coach of the Titans in 2018, he hired Bowen as outside linebackers coach. Vrabel was fired at the end of the 2023 season.
