Charlie Bullen Stays with Giants in New Role

Charlie Bullen will continue working with the New York Giants. He will now be the run-game coordinator. This comes after he helped improve the team's defense against running plays.
By Newsroom | Sports, NFL |

The New York Giants are keeping coach Charlie Bullen on the team under new head coach John Harbaugh. Bullen will now also be in charge of the team's run game. This move comes after Bullen showed skill in improving the Giants' defense against runs during the past season. The team hopes his knowledge will help them stop opposing teams from running the ball effectively.

Charlie Bullen will remain with Giants, adding title of run-game coordinator - 1

Coaching Staff Changes Under New Leadership

When John Harbaugh took over as head coach for the New York Giants, many coaching staff members were let go. Reports from January 2026 indicate that most defensive coaches from the previous staff were dismissed. Amidst these changes, Charlie Bullen was seen as one of the few defensive coaches who might stay.

Charlie Bullen will remain with Giants, adding title of run-game coordinator - 2

  • Previous Staff Departures: Several coaches, including Andre Patterson, John Egorugwu, Marquand Manuel, and Jeff Burris, were told they would not be retained by the new head coach.

  • Bullen's Potential Retention: Early reports suggested Bullen was the only defensive coach with a chance to remain on Harbaugh's staff.

  • Harbaugh's Sought-After Coaches: There was speculation that Jim Leonhard could be a candidate for defensive coordinator, and Todd Monken was considered a favorite for offensive coordinator, given his past work with Harbaugh.

Bullen's Rise to Interim Defensive Coordinator

In November 2025, Charlie Bullen was appointed interim defensive coordinator. This decision came after the Giants had a difficult time protecting leads, especially in the late stages of games. Interim head coach Mike Kafka made this change after the team's sixth consecutive loss.

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Charlie Bullen will remain with Giants, adding title of run-game coordinator - 3

  • Kafka's Decision: Kafka stated he had faith in the previous defensive coordinator, Shane Bowen, but felt a change was necessary due to the defense's inability to hold onto leads.

  • A Curious Choice: Bullen, who had 18 years of coaching experience but no prior experience as a defensive coordinator, was chosen over coaches like Marquand Manuel and Andre Patterson, who had experience at that level.

  • Bullen's Impact: Despite being new to the defensive coordinator role, Bullen is credited with helping to revitalize the team's struggling defense. He was given five games to prove his abilities.

Defensive Performance Under Bullen

The Giants' defense was one of the worst in the league, allowing an average of nearly 28 points per game, which led to Shane Bowen's dismissal. Charlie Bullen took over with the goal of making needed improvements.

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  • Positional Coach Success: Even before becoming interim defensive coordinator, Bullen made a positive impression as the outside linebackers coach.

  • Player Success: Players like Brian Burns, who had a career-high number of sacks, credited Bullen's close work with them for their improved performance.

Bullen's Future and New Role

Despite interest from other teams, such as a reported interview request from the Dallas Cowboys in January 2026, Charlie Bullen has opted to stay with the Giants. His new role as run-game coordinator signifies the confidence the new coaching staff has in his abilities, particularly his understanding of stopping the run, an area where the Giants had previously struggled but saw improvement under Bullen's influence.

  • Bullen’s extended contract and new title suggest a significant belief in his coaching capabilities from the Giants’ new leadership.

  • His past work revitalizing the run defense under difficult circumstances appears to have been a key factor in his retention.

Expert Analysis

"Mike Kafka’s choice to serve as interim defensive coordinator is outside linebackers coach Charlie Bullen, an 18-year coaching veteran (12 in the NFL) who has never been a defensive coordinator before, a curious pick over defensive backs coach Marquand Manuel and defensive line coach Andre Patterson, both of whom have NFL defensive coordinator experience." - Source: Article 4

"The Dallas Cowboys recently requested an interview with Bullen, underscoring his rising stock." - Source: Article 3

"Despite the buzz, Bullen opts for stability in New York." - Source: Article 1

Conclusion

Charlie Bullen's continued employment with the New York Giants, now holding the title of run-game coordinator and an extended contract, highlights his growing value. His appointment as interim defensive coordinator in late 2025, despite a lack of prior experience in that specific role, and his subsequent success in improving the team's defensive performance against the run, have evidently earned him the trust of the new coaching regime led by John Harbaugh. While other teams expressed interest, Bullen's decision to remain with the Giants points to a stable opportunity and a belief in the direction of the franchise.

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  • Key Finding: Charlie Bullen has been retained by the New York Giants under new head coach John Harbaugh and has been given the additional title of run-game coordinator.

  • Implications: This move suggests Harbaugh values Bullen's defensive knowledge, especially his ability to improve run defense, and sees him as a key part of the team's future coaching staff.

  • Next Steps: The focus will now be on how Bullen applies his expertise to the run game coordination alongside his defensive responsibilities.

Sources

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will Charlie Bullen stay with the Giants?
Yes, Charlie Bullen will stay with the New York Giants. He has a new job as the run-game coordinator.
Q: Who is the new head coach?
The new head coach is John Harbaugh. He is making changes to the coaching team.
Q: Why did Bullen get a new role?
Bullen did well improving the team's defense against the run. The team wants him to use that skill to help the running game.