EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — New York Giants defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan has been fired.

Coach Tom Coughlin dismissed the rookie coordinator late Monday afternoon, just hours after saying that Sheridan's future with the team was going to be evaluated in the wake of an 8-8 season that ended with losses in eight of the final 11 games.

The defense struggled this season, giving up 427 points, ranking it third from the bottom in the NFL. Only the Detroit Lions and St. Louis Rams gave up more points.

Sheridan was elevated from linebackers coach to defensive coordinator after Steve Spagnuolo became the Rams' coach. Spagnuolo was the architect of the defense that led the Giants to a Super Bowl win over the previously unbeaten New England Patriots in February 2008.