Offensive line problems and wild inconsistency from Eli Manning led to the offense of the New York Giants struggling all season.
The Giants finished the season 28th in the league in offense and averaged just 18.4 points per game. Offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride announced he was retiring at season’s end after serving seven seasons in the position and winning two Super Bowl titles with the team.
Giants co-owner John Mara praised Gilbride’s contributions with the team during an interview Tuesday on WFAN in New York.
“He did an outstanding job for this franchise and I told him that,” Mara said, via Bob Glauber of Newsday. “People have short memories. They forget that he called two Super Bowls. There’s no question our offense didn’t play well [this season] . . . but I don’t want to diminish what Kevin did for this franchise. We wouldn’t have won two Super Bowls without him.”
But this year’s offense wasn’t close to playing at a Super Bowl level. Gilbride pointed at issues along the team’s offensive line as being the biggest hindrance to this year’s team being able to find consistency on offense. Whatever the reason may be, the Giants fell woefully short of their preseason goal of playing in the Super Bowl that is being hosted at their home stadium in just over three weeks.
In that regard, Mara was glad that Gilbridge elected to retire instead of the Giants possibly having to make a decision to let him go after a down season.
“He retired,’' Mara said, “and fortunately it didn’t come to any situation where he had to be forced out.”
The Giants have already interviewed several candidates to replace Gilbride as coordinator.
New York interviewed former Buccaneers offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan and former Titans offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains on Wednesday and they reportedly scheduled an interview with Packers quarterbacks coach Ben McAdoo this weekend. Former Houston Texans quarterbacks coach Karl Dorrell also will interview for the job.