Giants hire former Cardinals DC James Bettcher for same position

After reports surfaced of new Arizona Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks looking elsewhere at defensive coordinator, it didn’t take long for James Bettcher to find a new defense to run.

The New York Giants picked Bettcher as their new defensive coordinator, the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Jan. 23. New York made the move official Feb. 15.

“James coaches a defense that’s hard to score against,” first-year Giants coach Pat Shurmur said in a release. “He had great success in Arizona, and we’re certainly glad to have him here.”

Rapoport reported Bettcher chose the Giants over the Tennessee Titans.

Bettcher also had the option to return to Arizona as defensive coordinator under head coach Steve Wilks, reported 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station’s Mike Jurecki.

Keim On James Bettcher: "He was a strong candidate; he’s a fantastic coach. He had a great interview and did a great job. I thought he did a phenomenal job with our defense, and he’s going to continue to grow in the league, and I think his future ahead of him for sure."

— Mike Jurecki (@mikejurecki) January 24, 2018

Carolina Panthers linebackers coach Al Holcomb followed Wilks to the Valley and become his new defensive coordinator.

The 39-year-old Bettcher started in the NFL with the Colts in 2012 as the outside linebackers coach. He came with Bruce Arians to Arizona in 2013, serving as outside linebackers coach for two years before being promoted to defensive coordinator in 2015.

Arizona has been in the top-seven for yards allowed in all three of Bettcher’s years running the defense.

Bettcher and Shurmur was of the nine candidates to interview for the Cardinals’ previously open head coaching position after Arians retired.

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