Giants HC Joe Judge sees 'growth' despite losing record

A report surfaced Monday the New York Giants are set to keep Joe Judge as head coach even though they're 4-9 on the season and 10-19 overall under Judge since the start of the 2020 campaign. 

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero echoed that claim on Monday, per Nick Shook of the league's website, and Judge told reporters he sees signs the Giants are headed in the right direction even though their record doesn't show it. 

"We talk about the intangible things, about how the guys put the team first and treat the people in the building and make sure that they're doing everything the right way to represent the organization and put the team first," Judge explained. "There are a lot of things internally I see growth in on a daily basis. There are a lot of things that show up in how we practice, a lot of things I see with developing players.

"There are a lot of traits and things that when you look at depth charts that you're secured with contracts going into the future, and you look and say, 'Are these pieces we can build with? Are these guys at these positions we think can make an impact?' When the answer is yes at a key number of spots, then that's a positive note. You have to get these young players developing, you have to make sure the older players continue to make an impact, you have to make sure you put each of your players in positions to have success, but getting the right kind of guys in the building -- that's physically as players to fit your system, that's the right kind of character and culture that you have to have going forward -- those are key things that you have to do."

Judge admitted he realizes he works in "a production business" but stressed the Giants are building a strong foundation for a roster that, hopefully, will produce wins regularly sooner than later. 

"I've said this from the beginning, I'm not interested in coming and having some kind of quick flash, I'm not interested in shortcuts, I'm not interested in quick fixes," he added during his comments. "I want to do this the right way and when I took this job, I made it very, very clear that I was only going to do this if we were all committed to doing this the right way and that's been something that's been very clear from ownership on down. I'm very happy with the support the ownership gives."

Ralph Vacchiano of SNY reported earlier in the day that Giants co-owner John Mara "loves" Judge and believes the coach has brought positive "cultural and structural" changes to the organization. Big Blue is likely to move on from general manager Dave Gettleman shortly after the season concludes on Jan. 9, either via his retirement or termination.