Tom Coughlin - Pro Football Rumors

Jaguars Interviewing Tom Coughlin Today

December 28th, 2016 at 3:01pm CST by Zachary Links

The Jaguars aren’t wasting any time in their coaching search. The team is interviewing Tom Coughlin today, sources tell Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter).

Coughlin, 70, has little interest in playing golf all day. After he parted ways with the Giants, he interviewed for head coaching vacancies with the Eagles and 49ers. He didn’t wind up taking either job, but he stayed involved this year with a job in the league office. This fall, he made it clear that he still wants to be a head coach in the NFL.

After canning Gus Bradley, GM Dave Caldwell told reporters that Coughlin would be a candidate for the job. If he isn’t hired as coach, the Jaguars would reportedly like to have Coughlin as a member of their front office. While Coughlin doesn’t have any formal NFL experience as an executive, he essentially acted as the Jaguars’ general manager during his head coaching run with the team from 1995-2002. One way or another, Jacksonville seems keen on a reunion.

Fallout From Rex Ryan’s Firing

December 27th, 2016 at 8:30pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

The Bills are on the hunt for a new head coach after firing Rex Ryan on Tuesday, but the presence of general manager Doug Whaley is likely to limit their options, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. With Whaley entrenched atop the Bills’ front office, head coaching candidates who want significant say in roster construction might be less inclined to take the job.

That could include longtime NFL head coach Tom Coughlin, with whom the Bills spoke last offseason about a front office role before he took a position with the league. Coughlin is now a possibility to end up back in Jacksonville – where he coached from 1995-2002 – but Bills owner Terry Pegula is interested in tabbing the two-time Super Bowl winner to succeed Ryan, per Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (Twitter link). Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin is also high on the Bills’ list, reports Cole, who adds that the team would want to retain interim head coach Anthony Lynn as its offensive coordinator under either Coughlin or Austin.

Lynn entered the season as the Bills’ running backs coach, but they elevated him to O-coordinator after firing Greg Roman on the heels of an 0-2 start. Buffalo’s Lynn-led attack ranks first in the league in rushing, seventh in scoring, eighth in DVOA and 12th in total offense. Now, given his impressive work this season, it’s possible Lynn is actually the favorite to take over for Ryan on a permanent basis. Whaley “pushed” ownership to place the interim tag on Lynn, tweets the Buffalo News’ Vic Carucci, who wrote last week that Lynn could be primed to grab the reins going forward. Lynn garnered attention from head coach-needy franchises last winter and will again be on teams’ radars this offseason (the Rams are reportedly eyeing him), so the Bills could lose the 47-year-old if they don’t select him as Ryan’s replacement.

As for Ryan, his downfall in Buffalo was his inability to live up to his reputation as a defensive guru. The Bills had a top-tier defense in place when they hired him in advance of the 2015 campaign, but it was a below-average unit in each of his two years with the club. Ryan’s move last January to hire his twin brother, the now-fired Rob Ryan, to team with him and defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman didn’t produce positive results. In fact, Bills players told ESPN’s Jeff Darlington that the Ryans lost the defensive portion of the locker room because there were “too many cooks in the kitchen” (Twitter link). Defensive end Leger Douzable took to Twitter to bash Buffalo’s decision to ax Rex Ryan, whom he also played under as a Jet, but star D-tackle Marcell Dareus doesn’t seem too broken up about the coaching change.

While Dareus told ESPN’s Josina Anderson that he likes Ryan, the franchise’s highest-paid player explained that the defensive scheme “was just too much detail for a lot of guys, and I feel like for a lot of guys it was too much going on for them to check here and check there, if this happens and that happens. Then nine times out of 10, a team will throw something out there that we weren’t prepared for, and then the adjustment to it, we had to get use to and try to make it happen and make plays.”

The 26-year-old Dareus will be among a few marquee talents the Bills’ next coach inherits (running back LeSean McCoy and wide receiver Sammy Watkins are the others), though the environment “from top to bottom” is “toxic,” relays Carucci (Twitter link). Considering the Bills have gone a league-worst 17 years since their latest playoff trip, that’s not overly surprising.

Jaguars To Interview Tom Coughlin

December 24th, 2016 at 12:29pm CST by Ben Levine

We’ve been hearing whispers of a Tom Coughlin/Jaguars reunion even before the team fired head coach Gus Bradley earlier this week. Well, it’s sounding like those whispers could soon be a reality. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports that the Jaguars will be interviewing the former head coach this week (via NFL.com’s Conor Orr). It’s uncertain whether Coughlin will be interviewing for the head coaching gig or “some type of “football czar” position overseeing operations.”

Coughlin would be a natural fit for Jacksonville, especially since it was the organization that gave him his first NFL head coaching gig. The 70-year-old also has a house and family in the area, two factors that would reportedly be a “big draw” to the long-time coach. If the organization is indeed pursuing Coughlin as their next head coach, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise. General manager Dave Caldwell previously acknowledged that the veteran coach would be a candidate for the opening.

In eight seasons with the Jaguars, Coughlin led the squad to a 68-60 record and four playoff appearances. The long-time coach had a bit more success when he joined the Giants, compiling a 102-90 record. Of course, Coughlin also led New York to five playoff appearances and two Super Bowl championships. Coughlin resigned as head coach of the Giants following the 2015 season, although he did admit in October that he still has interest in coaching.

Coughlin would seemingly be less of a fit for the front office, although our own Dallas Robinson noted that the coach was essentially building his team’s roster during his previous tenure with the organization. Of course, if the team does add Coughlin in a non-coaching role, it could mean the end of Caldwell’s tenure in Jacksonville.

Rapoport notes that other potential candidates for the Jaguars head coach opening are interim head coach Doug Marrone, Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and Dolphins defensive coordinator Vance Joseph.

Jaguars Interested In Tom Coughlin As Exec

December 20th, 2016 at 7:13pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Jaguars general manager Dave Caldwell told reporters yesterday that his club would consider veteran NFL coach Tom Coughlin for its head coaching vacancy, but even if Coughlin isn’t selected to lead the team on the field, he could still join the franchise in another capacity. Jacksonville is interested in adding Coughlin to its front office if he doesn’t become the club’s head coach, according to Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports (Twitter link), who adds that Coughlin could take the title of VP of football operations.

While Coughlin doesn’t have any formal NFL experience as an executive, he essentially acted as the Jaguars’ general manager during his head coaching run with the team from 1995-2002. Wayne Weaver, Jacksonville’s owner at the time, never officially hired a GM, meaning that Coughlin was the club’s de facto personnel chief, so he’s exerted control over a roster in the past.

Of course, if Coughlin was hired to the Jaguars’ front office, he could pose a threat to Caldwell’s status, and though there haven’t been any rumors that would indicate that Caldwell could follow departed head coach Gus Bradley out the door, it’s fair to wonder if he and Coughlin could co-exist. Owner Shad Kahn, in fact, indicated that Caldwell would be an integral part of Jacksonville’s search for its next head coach.

Jaguars GM: Tom Coughlin Is HC Candidate

December 19th, 2016 at 1:51pm CST by Zachary Links

Will Tom Coughlin return to the sidelines as the Jaguars’ head coach? Today, GM Dave Caldwell told reporters that the former Giants head coach will be on the team’s candidate list as they look into candidates this offseason.

Back in October, the 70-year-old strongly hinted that he wanted to coach again in the NFL. His 12-year run with the Giants didn’t end as he had hoped, but he did help guide the team to two Super Bowl victories as head coach. There aren’t many coaches left in the league with Coughlin’s hard-nosed disciplinary style, but the Jags may feel that their young team is in need of some tough love. Of course, before coming to New York, Coughlin had the distinction of being the Jaguars’ first ever head coach and held that position from 1995 all the way through the 2002 season.

The Jaguars, of course, canned coach Gus Bradley after Sunday’s loss, but Caldwell claims that Bradley would have been fired regardless of the game’s outcome. And, despite Blake Bortles‘ struggles, Caldwell says he still believes in him “very much,” though the next coach will have a lot of input as to who the quarterback will be. Doug Marrone, who has been appointed as the team’s interim head coach, will also be considered for the job.

La Canfora’s Latest: Arians, Raiders, Coughlin

December 4th, 2016 at 11:16am CST by Rory Parks

Let’s take a look at the latest news and notes from Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports:

Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians has suffered through two health scares this season, and his health has been a concern in the past. As such, many coaches who know the 64-year-old believe that he will consider retiring at the end of the season. Arians is under contract through 2018, and although Arizona is struggling this season, Arians’ tenure in the desert has been a resounding success. For what it’s worth, a team official compared any rumors of Arians’ retiring after the season to an internet hoax.
Raiders owner Mark Davis wants to move his club to Las Vegas, and he may or may not have the requisite support from his fellow owners to do so, but the league office believes that Oakland is the stronger market. Per La Canfora, the league will set forth the relative merits of the Oakland market in an upcoming NFL meeting in Dallas, and it is expected to do what it can to slow the move to Vegas.
Despite another lost season for the Browns, team owner Jimmy Haslam is, uncharacteristically, preaching patience and stability. La Canfora writes that Haslam recently held a staff meeting for all team employees to make the case for not making coaching and management changes, a meeting that was intended to boost morale. Of course, that does not mean that everyone’s job is safe, but it does indicate that Haslam does not currently plan on the type of major overhaul for which he has become famous. If the Browns finish the season 0-16, however, that could change. Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal and Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer confirm La Canfora’s report (Twitter links).
The Jaguars will likely fire head coach Gus Bradley at the end of the season, and the team is expected to reach out to former head coach Tom Coughlin, who is reportedly interested in returning to Jacksonville. It is unclear if the Jags would want the 70-year-old Coughlin to take over as head coach, but he has appeal to the team in various capacities. Coughlin, who is working in the NFL office this season, was pursuing coaching openings a year ago.

Extra Points: Coughlin, Jets, Cards, Steelers

November 8th, 2016 at 9:51pm CST by Zachary Links

Former Giants coach Tom Coughlin said he would be lying if he claimed he didn’t miss the sidelines, as Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com tweets. When asked about what the future might hold, the two-time Super Bowl winner said, “Who knows.” Coughlin, 70, will be inducted into Giants Ring of Honor on Monday night.

AFC Notes: Jaguars, Talib, Browns, Bengals

November 4th, 2016 at 7:13pm CST by Zachary Links

Could the Jaguars hire Tom Coughlin as their next coach? No conversations have taken place between the two parties, but Adam Schefter of ESPN.com wonders if the Jags could be interested in Coughlin, who was their very first coach as an expansion franchise. Coughlin – who coached the Jags from 1995-2002 – still has a home in Jacksonville, his charity is based there, and he has made it clear that he wants to coach. One source close to the situation told Schefter that “it’s not the craziest idea in the world.” One obstacle, however, could be Coughlin’s age (71 next August), as well as the fact that he enjoys his current role with the league, tweets Tom Pelissero of USA Today.

More regarding Jacksonville and three other AFC teams:

Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib will not play on Sunday night against Oakland due to his back injury, James Palmer of NFL.com tweets.
The grievance for cornerback K’Waun Williams against the Browns is expected to be heard around February, his agent tells Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal (on Twitter). Williams just had ankle surgery on Monday and 12-week recovery period is expected.
The Bengals tried out kicker Travis Coons, according to Katherine Terrell of ESPN (Twitter link). The club also auditioned Zach Hocker, Kai Forbath, and Randy Bullock this week, but Mike Nugent remains in place as its lone option at kicker. The 34-year-old Nugent is on notice, though, having connected on just 14 of 19 field goals. In the Bengals’ 27-27 tie with the Redskins last week, Nugent missed a field goal and an extra point.
The Browns are considering switching second-year man Cameron Erving from center to right tackle, head coach Hue Jackson said Friday (via Nate Ulrich of Ohio.com). The 2015 first-round pick struggled at guard as a rookie, starting in just four of 16 appearances, and has performed poorly at center this season while battling injuries. Erving, who has appeared in five of the Browns’ eight games, is currently Pro Football Focus’ worst-ranked center.
The Jaguars worked out punter Brock Miller, as Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. Miller is the second punter to audition for Jacksonville this week, joining Cody Webster.

Tom Coughlin Still Interested In Coaching?

October 15th, 2016 at 8:21am CST by Connor J. Byrne

A few months after his 11-year, two-time Super Bowl-winning tenure with the Giants concluded last winter, Tom Coughlin revealed in May that he was aiming to land a head coaching job in 2017. That could still be the case, as the current senior advisor to the NFL’s football department didn’t rule out a return to the sidelines Friday.

“Well, we’ll see about that,” said Coughlin (via Howie Kussoy of the New York Post). “One day at a time. I hope I can make an impact in the job that I’m in. That’s why I’m in that position.”

Coughlin was a head coach in 20 of 21 seasons between 1995 – his first year with the Jaguars – and 2015. Despite his age (70), a pair of head coach-needy teams showed interest in the potential Hall of Famer during the offseason. Coughlin interviewed with both the 49ers and Eagles regarding their vacancies, and he nearly ended up in Philadelphia. Late in the Eagles’ search, however, Coughlin withdrew his name from consideration, paving the way for the hiring of Doug Pederson. Coughlin reportedly could have landed the job had he not had a change of heart.

While Coughlin passed on the Eagles, one factor that led him to take his current position is that it’s somewhat similar to his past role, he explained Friday.

“I have really enjoyed the work that I’ve done, as far as going in the command room and being there throughout all the Sunday games. That part of it’s been exciting because it’s the closest thing for me to the sidelines, which is what I was looking for,” he said.

Before the league hired him in July, Coughlin met with Bills brass in March or April about joining the organization as a consultant. When details of that meeting leaked Oct. 1, Coughlin’s agent, Sandy Montag, told ESPN’s Chris Mortensen that Coughlin “is fully engaged in his job with the NFL.” Montag also said that there hadn’t been any early season calls from teams looking to gauge Coughlin’s interest in becoming a head coach again. If Coughlin doesn’t return to the sidelines, he’ll end up with 170 wins – tied with Mike Shanahan for 12th all-time – against 150 losses in the regular season, a 12-7 playoff record in nine appearances, and a pair of titles.

Tom Coughlin Met With Bills During Offseason

October 1st, 2016 at 9:26am CST by Ben Levine

There’s now more clarity on that mysterious meeting between the Bills and former Giants head coach Tom Coughlin. According to ESPN.com’s Chris Mortensen, the two sides did actually meet… although the meeting took place during the “early part of the offseason.” Furthermore, it’s unlikely that Coughlin was interviewing for a head coaching gig, as Bills head coach Rex Ryan was reportedly at the meeting. Previous reports, which has been denied by the NFL and Coughlin’s agent, were uncertain of the purpose of the gathering.

Mortensen writes that Ryan, Bills owners Terry and Kim Pegula, and team president Russ Brandon all met with Coughlin in South Florida “around March or early April.” The hour-long discussion was focused on Coughlin’s willingness to join the organization as an active consultant. A later phone conversation between Ryan and Coughlin convinced the Super Bowl winning coach to pursue other opportunities.

“I can confirm that the meeting you’re talking about did take place, but it was several months ago and there have been no calls from any team about Tom’s availability to coach,” agent Sandy Montag told Mortensen. “He is fully engaged in his job with the NFL.”

The timing of the initial report was notable, as the Bills had recently fired offensive coordinator Greg Roman. Furthermore, there have been lingering questions regarding the job security of both Ryan and general manager Doug Whaley.

Coughlin stepped down as the Giants head coach in early January following 12 seasons (and a pair of Super Bowl championships) with the team. The 70-year-old has indicated that he wants to coach again, and he took meetings with both the Eagles and 49ers this past offseason. Coughlin ultimately accepted a job working alongside Troy Vincent in the NFL’s football operations department.