Joe Judge has experienced a high level of success for someone who is just 38 year old, winning two BCS National Championships while coaching at Alabama and three Super Bowl titles during his time with the New England Patriots.
Now in his first year with the New York Giants, Judge looks to bring that winning culture back to a team that hasn’t experienced it in more than a decade. And one of his former players, safety Devin McCourty, believes he’s perfectly built to accomplish that goal.
“He’s straight to the point,” McCourty said during an appearance on ‘MSG’s 150 At Home‘ earlier this week. “He’s a guy that’s from Philadelphia originally. He’s made for that area. You talk about that New York, Philly, being up here in Boston, sports are huge and the criticism is huge. But Joe’s a guy, to me, for the six to eight years I’ve been around him, he’s meant for that. He has no problem challenging people. But he also has no problem motivating and being, not really friends per se as a coach, but having that strong bond and relationship with guys.
“I’ve talked to Nate Solder and different guys at events we had earlier this offseason, because whenever players get together, it’s like ‘Hey, tell me about this guy Judge. Is he good?’ I’ve had conversations with guys, and even as they had some early contact with him, I think guys are excited to have him. I think he’ll do an awesome job in New York. He has a lot of guys that I was coached by at one point in time and I have relationships with them and know what they’re about. I wish them the best luck, other than when they have to play us in different years. I think Joe Judge is a guy made to have success in New York.”
One of McCourty’s former Patriots teammates, linebacker Rob Ninkovich, recently shared similar sentiments during an appearance on the “Giants Huddle Podcast.”
“Well, I think they have a tremendous work ethic,” Ninkovich said of Judge and defensive coordinator Patrick Graham. “I was with Pat a long time. Me and Pat are very close and good friends. He helped me a lot in my career because he was so thorough in everything that he did in preparation. Same with Joe Judge. Joe Judge is going to be a guy that’s first in, last guy out. He’ll probably sleep there four or five nights a week. I know that sounds crazy, but he’s that into it. Same with Pat. Those guys, they’re not going to leave any stone unturned when it comes to preparation.”
This has to be music to the ears of Giants fans who are desperate for some consistency and success in East Rutherford.
