Jim Herrmann is in his fourth season as the Giants linebackers coach and seventh year in the NFL. Herrmann joined the Giants coaching staff on Jan. 22, 2009 following three seasons as the linebackers coach for the Jets. Prior to entering the NFL, Herrmann was on the coaching staff at the University of Michigan, his alma mater, for 20 years, including a nine-year stint as defensive coordinator.
Jim Herrmann is in his fourth season as the Giants linebackers coach and seventh year in the NFL. Herrmann joined the Giants coaching staff on Jan. 22, 2009 following three seasons as the linebackers coach for the Jets. Prior to entering the NFL, Herrmann was on the coaching staff at the University of Michigan, his alma mater, for 20 years, including a nine-year stint as defensive coordinator.
In 2011, Herrmann overcame the early season-ending loss of a starter and produced with a blend of veterans and rookies. Jonathan Goff, who started every game at middle linebacker in 2010, suffered a season-ending knee injury in a Labor Day practice. He was replaced by a committee that included rookie Greg Jones and – after he rejoined the team on Nov. 30 – veteran Chase Blackburn. Weakside linebacker Michael Boley missed 2½ games with a hamstring injury, but was second on the team with 91 tackles (72 solo). Mathias Kiwanuka was a stalwart on the strong side, where he had 81 tackles, including 3.5 sacks. Blackburn had 19 postseason tackles and a key interception in Super Bowl XLVI. Rookies Jacquian Williams, Mark Herzlich, Spencer Paysinger and Jones all progressed rapidly under Herrmann.
Herrmann has become accustomed to change among the linebackers. In 2010, Kiwanuka was limited to three games because of a herniated disk in his neck. Goff, a reserve for most of his first two seasons, became the starter in the middle. Keith Bulluck joined the Giants after 10 seasons with the Tennessee Titans and started eight of the 12 games in which he played. On the weak side, Boley started every game but the season opener and finished fifth on the team with 74 tackles. Steady play from the linebackers helped the Giants finish seventh in the NFL in total defense (310.8 yards a game) and eighth against the run (101.3).
In 2009, injuries forced Herrmann to juggle his linebackers throughout the season. Four different players – Antonio Pierce, Goff, Blackburn and Bryan Kehl – started at middle linebacker. Boley and Blackburn were starters on the weak side.
The previous season, Herrmann helped coach a Jets defense that finished seventh in the NFL against the run (94.9 yards a game) and 16th overall (329.4). Two of the linebackers Herrmann coached, Eric Barton and Calvin Pace, were the team’s top two tacklers.
In 2007, one of Herrmann’s former Michigan players, David Harris, joined the Jets. As a rookie, Harris led the team with 117 tackles and tied for the team lead with five sacks.
Prior to joining the Jets, Herrmann was on the Michigan coaching staff for two decades. In 1997, Herrmann’s first year as defensive coordinator, the Wolverines won the national championship while leading the country in three important defensive statistical categories: total, scoring and pass efficiency. Herrmann was the recipient of the Broyles Award as the National Assistant Coach of the Year.
During Herrmann’s nine years as coordinator, Michigan won five Big Ten championships and the defense held 47 opponents to less than 100 rushing yards. His defense led the Big Ten in sacks in 1997, 2001 and 2002, including a school-record 50 sacks in 2001. Herrmann coached six All-Americas at Michigan, including Marlin Jackson, Ernest Shazor, Leon Hall, LaMarr Woodley, Larry Foote and Charles Woodson, who won the 1997 Heisman Trophy and was named the national Defensive Player of the Year as a senior.
Herrmann was a three-year letter-winner at linebacker for Michigan and was a member of Bo Schembechler’s first Rose Bowl-winning team in 1980. A Michigan native, Herrmann was a three-sport athlete and standout linebacker at Dearborn Divine High School.
Herrmann has three children, Jessica, Cory and Timothy.
