Freddie Kitchens Reportedly Expected to Join Giants Staff Under Joe Judge
By Michael Luciano
New York Giants head coach Joe Judge isn't done rounding out his first staff, and he could follow up the hiring of former Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett as offensive coordinator by adding another recently deposed offensive mind.
Former Cleveland Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens, who was fired after one disappointing 6-10 season as the man in charge, is expected to link up with Judge in New York.
Sources: Freddie Kitchens is expected to be part of Joe Judge's staff with the New York Giants.
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) January 21, 2020
Unclear what his role will be.
Kitchens, a former Alabama quarterback, was the running backs coach at Mississippi State in 2005, when Judge was a graduate assistant.
Kitchens has proven to be one of the best running back coaches in the league, as he made a nearly 1,500 yard rusher out of Nick Chubb last year. Craig Johnson was fired as Giants running backs coach, so there is an opening for a man of Kitchens' expertise.
Joe Judge has added two former NFL head coaches to his coaching staff: Jason Garrett & Freddie Kitchens.
— WBG84 (@WBG84) January 21, 2020
That's the first time since the merger the Giants had two assistants on the same staff that we're once NFL head coaches. #GiantsPride
Kitchens and Saquon Barkley could be a special tandem, though it still remains unclear what role he'll assume.
The 45-year-old has proven he isn't head coach material, but he knows his way around offensive football, and the backfield in particular. Accumulating more knowledge when you yourself have no experience as a head coach and only one year of experience on the offensive side of the ball is a very wise strategy for Judge to employ.