He called it “a bummer.’’ But Brian Burns was certainly not shocked to hear that his defensive coordinator, Shane Bowen, was fired the day after the Giants lost in Detroit.
“It’s the nature of the business, once you have that first fire, things just start to happen from there,’’ Burns said Tuesday. “I’ve seen it before. It’s not like a crazy shocker, but it’s tough sometimes, having that relationship with somebody for so long and then they just leave.’’
Giants ownership fired head coach Brian Daboll 10 games into the season, and interim head coach Mike Kafka, two games into his tenure in charge, fired Bowen.
The Giants held a 27-17 lead with 12:16 remaining in regulation, but the Lions scored the last 17 points to win it 34-27 in overtime. It was the fifth time this season Bowen’s defense failed to hold a fourth-quarter lead.
Burns, leading the Giants with a career-high 13 sacks, said he was “at the crib’’ on Monday when his teammate, safety Jevon Holland, called to inform him of Bowen’s dismissal.
“I wish we could have got it done for him,’’ Burns said. “I like Shane. I worked with him this whole year, being a leader of the defense, we had to develop a certain relationship.’’
Under Bowen, the Giants this season were 30th in yards allowed per game (385.0), 23rd in passing yards allowed (227.8), 32nd in rushing yards (157.2) and 30th in points allowed (27.8).
Burns is heartened with Kafka’s choice as the replacement. Although he maintained, “I feel on our defensive staff it could have really gone either way, all our coaches are experienced and really smart,’’ he was pleased that it was outside linebackers coach Charlie Bullen named as the interim defensive coordinator.
Bullen is Burns’ position coach, hired by Daboll in 2024. Bullen worked with current Broncos’ defensive coordinator Vance Joseph with the Dolphins and later the Cardinals.
“Charlie’s a smart coach,’’ Burns said. “He has a lot of experience, he was under a great tree. Talking ball with him every day, watching extensive film with him every day, I picked up on his football knowledge. They chose Charlie and I’m grateful for that because me and him have a very tight relationship.’’
Burns is second in the NFL in sacks, behind only Myles Garrett of the Browns, and credits Bullen for his breakthrough season.
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“I feel like he really brought out the best in all of us,’’ Burns said. “I feel like [Kayvon Thibodeaux] was playing his best ball since he’s been here. I’ve been playing the best ball of my career from a rushing standpoint, from a dropping standpoint, really just understanding the entire defense. So I really feel like he’s getting the best out of us. Charlie’s a guy who’s gonna shoot it straight to you, he’s not gonna sugarcoat much. He’s gonna demand your best because he’s gonna give you his.’’
There was one particular piece of advice Burns said he took to heart from Bullen.
“He said to do something you haven’t done, you have to do something you haven’t done,’’ Burns said. “That’s essentially talking about my process. I really feel like he helped my process out a lot. Just from watching film to what I do with my body to just the intentionality I put into everything that I’m trying to get towards. We’ve had multiple talks about my play, where he sees it and he shoots it straight. That’s all that I can ask for him and that’s what I appreciate.’’
