Could the Carolina Panthers Pursue Tom Coughlin?
By Erik Lambert
Sep 29, 2013; Kansas City, MO, USA; New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin watches play on the sidelines during the second half of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs won 31-7. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Finding the right head coach is attune to finding the right quarterback. It takes hard work and a little bit of luck. The Carolina Panthers may sit on that path after 2013. Could Tom Coughlin be their next target?
Ron Rivera knows NFL coaching future rests on 2013 season
For whatever reason the Panthers just can’t seem to figure out their problems. On paper they look like a playoff team with a strong defense and a quarterback in Cam Newton who can put points on the board when he’s in rhythm. It just hasn’t happened. At 1-4 their 2013 season is teetering and so is the future of head coach Ron Rivera. After two losing seasons most coaches know they better win in their third or ownership is liable to make some changes. Rivera drew the unlucky card early when NFL schedule makers handed his team the hardest in the league. Game after game the Panthers seem to keep it close before falling apart in the second half. That is usually an indictment on the coaching staff for not getting them prepared to play a full 60 minutes. Until that changes Rivera is in serious trouble.
New York Giants keeping Coughlin for time being despite slide
What’s even worse for him is there are a number of viable replacements the Carolina Panthers front office could look to if he doesn’t get it done. Recently dismissed Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith is off for the year but should return in 2014. Superb San Francisco coordinators Greg Roman and Vic Fangio are also primed for head jobs of their own. However, one name the Panthers can’t afford to ignore is Tom Coughlin. His New York Giants have fallen to an astounding 0-6. This after winning the Super Bowl in 2011 and posting a 9-7 record last year. Such a slide has left some to believe the Giants players have begun to tune Coughlin out after being with the team since 2004. Management isn’t ready to admit that. The 67-year old coach has won them two championships and has proven able in the past to bounce back from tough seasons. He still has Eli Manning at quarterback and the probability of high positioning in the 2014 draft could help their turnaround come much faster. That being said, more losing over the next month or so can tend to work all sorts pressure on the high-ups in the Giants organization. It could very well push them to a point where they may decide getting a fresh start with a new coach is their best course of action.
The Carolina Panthers seem like a team that lacks discipline at times. For whatever reason Ron Rivera hasn’t been able to elevate their play. Perhaps shifting to the more experienced and proven Tom Coughlin, provided he’s available is the next logical step.