What are the odds?
What are the odds two high school teammates back in Philadelphia would end up moving quickly through the ranks and, the same year, become young head coaches in the NFL?
It happened to Joe Judge and Kevin Stefanski, both 38, and Sunday, their teams face each other when the Giants go against the Browns at MetLife Stadium.
They were together as freshmen at St. Joseph’s Prep, both quarterbacks. The Judge family’s financial situation changed after Judge’s father was injured and Joe transferred to Lansdale Catholic High School in the Philly suburbs.
“It is very cool,’’ Stefanski said Wednesday. “I have followed Joe and his career. To see what he was able to do in college and in New England — won three Super Bowls up there — it is just outstanding. He is a good man. I know his family, a solid, solid family. I know his dad passed away a few years back. Just solid people so not surprised with where Joe is today.”
Stefanski is the son of Ed Stefanski, the former 76ers general manager who was also a member of the Nets front office in the early 2000s. He nearly came to the Giants in 2018, as newly hired head coach Pat Shurmur wanted to take Stefanski away from the Vikings and make him the Giants’ offensive coordinator. The Vikings blocked the move.
Stefanski at St. Joseph’s was teammates on the varsity team with Jimmy Judge, Joe’s older brother.
“As you know, Joe is a big man,’’ Stefanski said. “His dad was a big man. His brother was a big tight end for us. Just a very physical, strong player. I know he had a great career there at Lansdale Catholic. He not surprisingly was a tough player, and I think you see how he coaches and that is who Joe is.”
Freddie Kitchens, the Giants’ tight ends coach, lasted one season as Browns head coach. He went 6-10 in 2019, with Odell Beckham Jr. playing all 16 games. When the two teams got together for a mega-trade, the Giants insisted on safety Jabrill Peppers — a Browns 2017 first-round draft pick. Kitchens was the offensive coordinator in 2018 when Peppers was in Cleveland.
Asked about his take on the trade, Kitchens said, “My opinions are just my opinions. But I’m glad we have Pep here.’’
LB Blake Martinez missed practice time last week with a back issue and was able to play 74 of the 79 defensive snaps in the loss to the Cardinals. That heavy workload was not debilitating to Martinez, as he was a full participant in Wednesday’s full-pad practice.
“I think like everyone, he’s got little bumps and bruises,’’ Judge said. “Coming out of the game, I think it’s all positive.’’
G Kevin Zeitler (shoulder) was limited in practice. Rookie CB Darnay Holmes (knee) did not practice; he worked on the side with trainers. Holmes missed last week’s game.
DB Adrian Colbert was designated to return to practice off injured reserve. If he can get back into games, Colbert will fill a role on special teams. He could take the roster spot opened Monday when DB Brandon Williams was waived.
