After 12 seasons, two Super Bowls and a dominant career on the sidelines, Tom Coughlin is officially stepping away from the New York Giants.
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New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin answers questions during a news conference after the Giants lost 35-30 to the Philadelphia Eagles in an NFL football game, in East Rutherford, N.J. Sunday.
“I will see you all next time”, was how he closed his remarks, and he also said: “I don’t know exactly what is next for me”.
One thing does seem clear: Co-owner John Mara intends to stick by the team’s general manager, Jerry Reese-even if he is partly responsible for where the Giants are. He was the Jaguars’ coach in the franchise’s first eight years of existence, leading them to the 1996 AFC championship game in the team’s second season.
After missing the playoffs in his sixth and seventh seasons, Coughlin again took the Giants to another Super Bowl victory in 2011.
“While the two Super Bowl trophies are incredible accomplishments, the unbreakable bond between coach and player is what defines me”, Coughlin said.
Coughlin said in a statement that it was “in the best interest of the organization” that he stepped down.
This season, the team failed to clinch the playoffs for the third time in a row, ending the season with a 6-10 record. In an interview with WFAN’s Mike Francesa on Monday afternoon, Manning raved about the coach he won two Super Bowls with. “And it is up to us now to turn that around and get back to where I think we should be”, he continued.
The Giants have not yet revealed who will replace Coughlin.
He then pointed to the crowd, where Eli Manning, who has only played under Coughlin on head coach, and other players sat Tuesday, and said that is what this team represents.
Watching the only head coach he’s ever had in the National Football League officially say goodbye was nearly too much for Eli Manning Tuesday.
That being said, the pressure is on Manning to lead the Giants into the future as he’s now the elder statesman on roster.
Coughlin was full of energy talking about his time with the Giants, the difficulties of the last few seasons and much more during the session, which naturally started five minutes ahead of the scheduled time.
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“It was truly fulfilling to be the leader of those teams”, Coughlin said.
