Giants coordinator expected to return despite Patriots hiring Mike Vrabel

The New York Giants are expected to run it back with defensive coordinator Shane Bowen.

With general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll returning for a fourth season despite losing a franchise-record 14 games, it seems they will keep their defensive coordiantor for a second season as well.

Simply coming off the disastrous 2024 season raised enough questions about Bowen's job moving forward. However, after the New England Patriots hired Mike Vrabel as their next head coach, there were plenty of questions about whether Bowen would follow him there.

According to Paul Schwartz of The New York Post, Bowen is not expected to follow Vrabel to New England and the expectation is that the Giants won't make a change at defensive coordinator.

"Sure, the less-than-shocking news Sunday that Mike Vrabel was hired as the Patriots head coach sparked speculation that Bowen could be headed to New England, considering Bowen made the calls on defense for four years when Vrabel was the Titans head coach," Schwartz wrote. "The belief, according to sources, is that Bowen wants to remain with the Giants and that Vrabel is thinking of going in a different direction as he assembles his new coaching staff."

Schwartz also reported that during his other head coach interviews with the Chicago Bears and New York Jets, Vrabel "discussed and revealed his wish list of coordinators," which reportedly did not include Bowen.

The Giants defense failed to take many steps forward in Bowen's first season as coordinator. It didn't help that All-Pro talent Dexter Lawrence missed the final five games of the season while former first-round pick Kayvon Thibodeaux also missed more than a month due to a wrist injury.

The Giants defense has some promising pieces, and Bowen has had success before, but the secondary needs a massive import of talent while the defensive line has to bring in quality depth.

Either way, it seems Bowen will return for a second season.

MORE NFL: Giants trade idea lands Falcons $180 million quarterback for draft pick