Report: Giants after expected Notre Dame RB coach Deland McCullough

On3 imageby:Ashton Pollard02/04/22

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Deland McCullough has been all but announced as the new Notre Dame running backs coach. But it appears there is a new team in the mix looking to steal him away from South Bend.

According to John Brice of Football Scoop, the New York Giants are “making a run” at McCullough to join their staff. Brice said Notre Dame is currently trying to keep him on board, although the Irish have not formally announced his arrival to the program yet.

“Sources tell FootballScoop that Notre Dame officials are optimistic that McCullough will remain with the Irish, despite at least a second offer within the past month to return to the NFL,” Brice said.

The Giants are under new management in the form of new general manager Joe Schoen and new head coach Brian Daboll.

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Additionally, McCullough has a connection to expected new Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka. Kafka has been the Kansas City Chiefs quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator since 2020, and he has been within the Chiefs organization since 2017. McCullough was the Chiefs running backs coach from 2018-20.

Landing McCullough from Indiana was a huge win for Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman, as his resume is immensely impressive.

The 2021 season was McCullough’s second stint at Indiana; he was the running backs coach for the Hoosiers from 2011-16. In between the two coaching jobs in Bloomington, McCullough was the running backs coach at USC and for the Kansas City Chiefs. He won a Super Bowl with the Chiefs for the 2019 season.

In both 2018 and 2020, McCullough helped oversee a Chiefs’ offense that led the NFL in total yardage. While at USC in 2017, he coached running back Ronald Jones II to a rushing performance of 1,550 yards, which was second in the Pac-12 and eighth nationally. McCullough had an offer this coaching cycle to return to USC as well.

McCullough produced a collection of standout running backs during his first tenure at Indiana as well. Tevin Coleman rushed for 2,036 yards in 2014, which was second in the nation. In 2015, both Jordan Howard and Devine Redding rushed for at least 1,000 yards. Redding posted 1,122 yards the following year as well, McCullough’s last year at Indiana before the move to USC.

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