Shane Bowen Likely to Remain with Giants Despite Mike Vrabel’s Hiring

New York: So, it looks like Shane Bowen is set to stick around with the Giants for another season as their defensive coordinator. There was some buzz after Mike Vrabel got hired by the Patriots, making folks wonder if Bowen might follow him there. After all, Bowen was Vrabel’s right-hand man on defense for four years when they were with the Titans.

But sources say Bowen really wants to stay with the Giants, and it seems like Vrabel is looking at other options for his coaching staff. During his interviews with the Bears, Jets, and Patriots, Bowen’s name didn’t come up, which suggests Vrabel isn’t keen on bringing him along.

Now that Vrabel’s officially in charge, he could ask the Giants for permission to chat with Bowen, but the Giants might block that since it would just be a lateral move. The plan is to keep Bowen, even though his defense didn’t shine during a rough 3-14 season. Still, his unit did better than the offense, which is something.

Head coach Brian Daboll is on board with Bowen returning. However, the Giants are likely to lose Ryan Cowden, who’s expected to join Vrabel’s staff in New England. Cowden and Vrabel have a history from their time in Tennessee.

After the season ended, some thought Bowen’s job might be in jeopardy when co-owner John Mara expressed frustration with the defense’s performance. He mentioned needing improvements and was tired of seeing teams score easily against them. But Mara didn’t mean to imply Bowen was on the hot seat.

Bowen’s first season saw the Giants ranked 21st in scoring defense, allowing 24.4 points per game. They were decent against the pass but struggled against the run. Injuries to key players like Dexter Lawrence and Kayvon Thibodeaux didn’t help either.

Bowen and Vrabel have a long history together, dating back to their time at Ohio State. Bowen has always been more about teamwork than ego, keeping most of the previous staff when he joined the Giants. He’s built a good rapport with his team and seems ready to lead them again next season.