What seemed to be inevitable following another disappointing 6-10 season for the New York Giants became official yesterday, as Tom Coughlin stepped down as head coach of the team. Outsiders have mixed emotions about Coughlin. Some think he is a Hall of Fame worthy coach, while others think he was only along for the ride during two magical runs to Super Bowl titles. While I am still not truly a firm believer that Coughlin will ever be inducted in Canton, I am certainly closer to that than the people who say he was just a mediocre and extremely lucky head coach. Call me biased, and I am, but Coughlin will go down as one of the best coaches in the history of the Giants franchise, and the reactions of dozens of his former players and colleagues in the past 48 hours is a testament as to why that is.
Coughlin's tenure began in New York in 2004, as he replaced Jim Fassel. Fassel was a tough-minded coach, and he finished his Giants career with a 58-53-1 record. He did lead the team on a run to the Super Bowl in 2000 after what was probably what he is most remembered for as Giants' coach, his playoff guarantee press conference. The run featured a memorable victory over the Eagles that began with Ron Dixon running the opening kickoff back for a touchdown, and what is still one of the best postseason games I have ever seen, a 41-0 shellacking of the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship game.
However, Fassel's team followed that up in the Super Bowl by being on the other end of a shellacking, when they were dominated by Ray Lewis and the Ravens. Fassel was also at the helm for another of the worst losses in the history of the team, when the Giants blew a 24 point lead in the playoffs and lost 39-38 to the San Francisco 49ers. So, while Fassel's tenure did feature some highlights, the lowlights really outshined them, especially since they occurred in the postseason.
So after Fassel was dismissed, Tom Coughlin entered. If Giants players thought Fassel was tough-minded, they had no idea for what they were in store for next. Coughlin did experience some relative success as head coach of the expansion Jacksonville Jaguars, but he was more know for his domineering methods of coaching. Initially, Giants players were turned off. His rules and methods seemed not only outdated, but outrageous as well. The players did not like how he ran his program, and Michael Strahan was the leading member of the tempestuous pack. Coughlin's job status seemed to be in jeopardy until 2007 happened and the Giants won Super Bowl XLII. A magical run that ended with David Tyree's helmet catch and Plaxico Burress catching the game winning touchdown pass from Eli Manning seemed like it had solved everything. And at the time, it had done just that. Coughlin had somewhat loosened his grip on the leash of the players, and as is the case in any sport, winning had solved all of the problems.
After 2007, the Giants were unable to reach the Super Bowl level and again, people were clamoring for Coughlin to be fired. However, again Coughlin led the Giants back to another Super Bowl, and the Giants won again, making him one of only 12 coaches to win multiple Super Bowls. All was once again well, and Coughlin was being mentioned as a future Hall of Famer. While Fassel had preceded Coughlin by failing in the postseason, Coughlin had succeeded in the postseason. It gave him leniency that few other coaches had ever experienced, and it was truly earned. He wasn't just some guy who got lucky and won multiple Super Bowls as a head coach. If you think that, then you are out of your mind. There is no such thing as "lucking" your way to a Super Bowl title, let alone two of them.
However, the leash that he had rightfully earned eventually became too tight, and yesterday the leash ran out. Missing the postseason in six of seven seasons is undeniable, even when that one season that didn't end without the playoffs resulted in a Super Bowl title. Coughlin was at the helm in not only some of the greatest games in the history of the team, but some of the greatest games in the history of the sport, and twice, those games ended with him lifting the Lombardi Trophy. Any man who has ever coached a single game in the NFL would love to be able to lift that trophy once, let alone twice. Eventually though, all good things must come to an end, and I think as we watched the Giants during the final games of this season, it was inevitable that the end was near for Coughlin. When Odell Beckham, Jr. was making a fool out of himself, as well as the entire New York Giants organization on the field against the Carolina Panthers, and Coughlin did nothing to stop it, I felt like it was time for a change at head coach. After following that up with an embarrassing loss to the Minnesota Vikings and another loss to end the season against the Philadelphia Eagles, I had no question that Coughlin would be gone.
What I did not realize though, was just how hard his departure was going to be on most of his current and former players. Now I am sure if Twitter and Instagram and Facebook existed decades ago, guys like Vince Lombardi and Chuck Noll would have been sent off into the sun with an unprecedented amount of support and love by their former players. Those outlets did not exist though, and while I know players that were coached by those men loved playing for them, with Coughlin, I have the proof to show it. Current and former Giants players took to the social media airwaves to voice their love and support for Coughlin.
I saw dozens of messages that showed support for Coughlin, but there were two that really got to me. Justin Tuck posted a picture of himself, his son and Coughlin on Instagram, accompanied by a long note that showed the respect and love for the man. It demonstrated the bond that players can form with their teammates and coaches that the everyday fan will never see. The personal conversations that are carried on behind closed doors. As fans, we watch the games each and every week, and we see how players and coaches interact with one another for those four quarters, but then we don't see much of those interactions again until the following Sunday. Sure, we can read the Daily News or Newsday and watch ESPN or MSG and see the interviews, but I feel like the things that the public cannot see is what really makes a coach. Tuck's message was profound because he was an integral part of both of Coughlin's Super Bowl wins. I actually also found out today that Tuck is the only player in the history of the NFL to record multiple sacks in multiple Super Bowls, and that is a very unique and obviously fascinating stat. That aside, I was really touched by what Tuck said about Coughlin.
What really got me to understand how significant Coughlin was in terms of the Giants organization was Eli Manning's comments yesterday just prior to the announcement that Coughlin was stepping down. Eli Manning's rookie year was also Tom Coughlin's first year as head coach of the Giants. Kurt Warner was a temporary spot holder, but you might as well say that the fate of both Coughlin and Eli will be forever linked. Once Manning was named the starting quarterback by Coughlin, he remained so. For 12 years. Throughout those 12 years, I have seen each and every snap of Manning's career, and the emotion that he showed yesterday was unlike anything I have ever seen from him, including the moments following his two Super Bowl MVP performances. Manning was on the verge of tears yesterday speaking about what would inevitably be his last meeting with Coughlin as head coach of the Giants, and he was just as emotional today at Coughlin's press conference.
Eli Manning is well known for his monotone moods and emotions. Some people hate it, and some people love it. What I saw yesterday was a mood that was anything but monotonous. You could see in the way he spoke about Coughlin that he was losing more than a head coach. Eli Manning has had only one head coach during his entire NFL career, and for a career that has lasted so long, that is an incredibly unusual thing, especially in the world of the NFL today, in which head coaches are sometimes hired and fired seemingly with zero thought at all. What Eli showed yesterday was the real bond that a player can share with a coach that we as fans will never be able to understand. There are not many things that Eli Manning has accomplished in his career that most other quarterbacks have. Two Super Bowls. 11th all-time in career passing yards, with a surefire chance to crack the top ten next season. 8th all-time in career touchdown passes, with again a surefire shot to pass Hall of Famer John Elway next season and move up to seventh on the list. One of only five players to ever win multiple Super Bowl MVP's. The list goes on and on. All of those are surely unfathomable acclaims for any NFL player. However, yesterday we saw that Eli Manning's biggest weakness is his love for what is now his former head coach. Seeing it was stunning, touching, disappointing, and satisfying all at once.
I could argue that Coughlin is a Hall of Fame worthy coach, but I could also argue that he is not. And while I do not think he is the greatest head coach in the history of the franchise, I could argue that he is maybe in the discussion for number two, and certainly in the discussion for number three. He has been at the helm and led the team I love to the greatest of heights, as well as leading some of the greatest players to ever wear a New York Giants jersey. Thanks to the outpouring of love I saw yesterday, he has also affected people far more important than me in ways that I could never imagine. All good things must come to an end, and one of the best things that the Giants have ever had came to an end yesterday. However, during Coughlin's time as leader of the Giants, I had the privilege of watching some of the best football I have ever seen, and for that I will always be grateful that he was able to walk the sidelines as head coach of my favorite team in all of sports.
Daily Giants Update: Obviously, the search for a new head coach has already begun. Coughlin leaves enormous shoes to fill, and whoever the next head coach is will probably have to transition from the Eli Manning era to the post-Eli Manning era. That will not be an easy task. The offense is still in good shape, and I hope that Ben McAdoo remains as the offensive coordinator (although he is being interviewed for the head coaching position as well). The defense is full of holes, and after a new head coach is hired, he will have to work with Jerry Reese to shore up the defense. The team has some salary cap flexibility and the tenth overall pick in the draft. Defense needs to be a priority this offseason. Whether it be through free agency or the draft (and hopefully both) with a better defense, the Giants could go into next season with a surefire chance to win a mediocre NFC East.
Daily Diamondbacks Update: With the team supposedly still willing to spend on free agents, the next name in line seems to be Howie Kendrick. Chris Owings played second base last season, and I would be fine with him moving forward. I honestly think it would be nicer if the team could find someone to take on Aaron Hill's contract, because he has become nothing more than an overpaid bench player at this point. However, Kendrick can play all over the field, and he can hit as well. So if the team were to sign him, it would just be another positive in an offseason that has been extremely exciting for Diamondbacks fans.
Daily Rangers Update: The Rangers are in the midst of a terrible slump that has seen them drop a ton in the Eastern Conference standings. They are giving up far too many goals, and it no longer seems like a bump in the road. It seems like a real problem. With the All Star break approaching, the Rangers really need to find a way to get better. I don't know if that means something as simple as line changes, or other more drastic measures, but December was a really bad month for a team that should be competing for the Stanley Cup.
Daily NBA Update: The Warriors now sit at 32-2, and they will play the below average (to be kind) Lakers tonight. We are nearing the halfway point of the season, and the Warriors and Spurs seem to be the class of the Western Conference, with the Warriors still having a legitimate chance to catch the 72-10 Chicago Bulls. The race in the Eastern Conference is much closer, as only five and a half games separate the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers and the ninth-seeded Detroit Pistons. Superstars still rule the NBA, but if you don't know about Draymond Green and Andre Drummond, you really should look them up, because they are both in the midst of stretches of unbelievable basketball.
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