Charlie Bullen lands promotion after spurning other teams to stay on John Harbaugh’s Giants staff

Brian Burns, Abdul Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux can breathe a sigh of relief.

Giants outside linebackers coach Charlie Bullen withdrew from remaining defensive coordinator searches around the NFL and agreed to stay put with an extension and a new title of defensive run game coordinator, NFL Network reported.

Bullen was a candidate for the vacancies with the Cardinals — where he was a position coach from 2019-22 — and the Browns.  

He took over the outside linebacker group in 2024 and has been universally credited by Burns, Carter and Thibodeaux.

Burns is coming off a career-high 16.5 sacks, Carter was a finalist for Defensive Rookie of the Year who played his best ball after Bullen took over as interim defensive coordinator for the final five games of last season and Thibodeaux recently joked about not letting Bullen out the door.

“I got to sabotage that,” Thibodeaux said. “Keep him with the Giants.’’ 

Bullen, who also interviewed for the Cowboys defensive coordinator vacancy, is one of three holdover position coaches on new head coach John Harbaugh’s staff.

He rejoins tight ends coach Tim Kelly (who was elevated to interim offensive coordinator last season) and receivers coach Chad Hall (who was the assistant quarterbacks coach last season).

The Vance Joseph-trained Bullen is expected to be pursued for defensive coordinator vacancies again next season despite the contract extension.

The Giants upped their aggressiveness during his five-game audition, which was his first time ever calling defensive plays at any level.

Harbaugh hired Dennard Wilson – the former Titans defensive coordinator – to call plays over Bowen. Wilson is a former defensive backs coach on Harbaugh’s Ravens staff.

“Just work hard, compete, do your best to win and improve and that stuff takes care of itself,” Bullen said at the end of the season when asked about his uncertain job status.

It took care of itself.