Benching fan favorite Eli Manning in favor of journeyman Geno Smith likely was the nail in the coffin of ex-Giants coach Ben McAdoo’s tenure in New York – and he is at “at peace” with it.
In a piece he penned for Peter King’s new Football Morning in America venture, McAdoo wrote about the decision to go with Smith over Manning and end the 37-year-old quarterback’s consecutive starts streak at 210.
In the piece, which appears in a section called “What I Learned,” McAdoo wrote that he was at peace with how he handled benching Manning, whether the decision was right or wrong.
“I was not ending Eli’s career with the Giants; I was making sure we knew what we had behind him with a high draft choice before a big quarterback draft,” McAdoo wrote. “I gave him the option to start the games to keep his streak alive. I understand why he said no, and he was a true pro about it. My bedside manner hurt me that week. I’m working on that. I do think it was special how his former teammates and the fans rallied around him that week. But if there’s one thing I want fans of the Giants to know, it’s that I made this call to try to make the Giants stronger for the future. It probably got me fired, but I believe I did the right thing for the right reasons.”
McAdoo interviewed for several coordinator positions this offseason, but he is not on an NFL staff at this time.
After going 13-15 overall as head coach of the Giants, it seems unlikely the 41-year-old will be offered another head coaching gig in the near future.
Whether you’re looking to get into shape, or just get out of a funk, The Charge has got you covered. Sign up for our new wellness newsletter today.
