Giants Officially Hire Steve Spagnuolo To Be Defensive Coordinator

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- He's back.

Steve Spagnuolo, who played an integral roll in the Giants' run to the Super Bowl XLII championship, was rehired as defensive coordinator on Thursday, the team announced.

Spagnuolo was the Giants' defensive coordinator in 2007 and 2008. He was the architect of the defense that stopped Tom Brady and the Patriots' dream of a 19-0 season in the 2007 championship game.

Perry Fewell — along with defensive backs coach Pete Giunta — was fired last week by head coach Tom Coughlin.

Both Coughlin and general manager Jerry Reese were retained by owner John Mara.

In 2014, New York finished ranked 29th in yards allowed and gave up 400 points for just the fifth time in franchise history.

"I don't know that it's a philosophical change," Coughlin told WFAN host Mike Francesa on Wednesday in regard to what he's looking for from his new defensive coordinator. "It's certainly, depending on who that person may be, going to allow that that individual be able to reflect on his strengths, his experiences and what he has done well.

"We know exactly what we're trying to accomplish there. And within reason it will be the philosophy that we've always had here."

Following a successful first stint with the Giants, Spagnuolo, now 55, was hired to be the head coach of the Rams. In three seasons in St. Louis he went 10-38, missing the playoffs each time.

Spagnuolo then became Saints' defensive coordinator in 2012 and the Ravens' senior defensive assistant in 2013. This past season, he served as the secondary coach in Baltimore.

Other candidates for the vacant position were Pepper Johnson and Dennis Allen.

Big Blue went 6-10 this past season and missed the playoffs for the third consecutive season.

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