The Miami Dolphins might be forced to make an unwanted change to their coaching staff if Patrick Graham leaves for the N.Y. Giants.
According to a report on social media Twitter, Patrick Graham is the target of New York Giants’ new head coach Joe Judge to take on the same role as defensive coordinator.
The #Giants have requested permission to interview #Dolphins defensive coordinator Patrick Graham for their DC role, sources tell me and @RapSheet. Expectation is it’ll be granted. Graham, who was in NE with Joe Judge, was with NYG in 2016-17.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) January 11, 2020
Graham was hired last off-season by Brian Flores, to run the Dolphins defense. Miami’s defense played well above the talent level they had on the field. This off-season, Graham was sticking around but now it appears that he may be on his way out.
If and when Graham leaves the Dolphins will have to look for a replacement for the coordinator job. Flores fired Chad O’Shea after the season leaving a hole at offensive coordinator. It is expected that Chan Gailey will take over that role.
Losing Graham on defense may not be as bad as it seems. Flores had a big hand in the defensive gameplan and during the game. It is not clear how much influence Graham had. A lateral move would be surprising but if he is given an assistant head coach title it would at least make a bit more sense.
Miami is already replacing secondary coach Tony Oden and replaced him with a former high-school coach. Now after only one season, Miami’s head coach may need to replace more of his staff and that can not bode well for a team trying to change the culture and rebuild, especially if the coaches wind up being coaches who are not likely going to be around for a long time.
We should know more about the Graham situation by mid-week.