NFL Roundtable: Pagano, Coughlin or McCoy Likeliest To Find New Job?
By Erik Lambert
Dec 20, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin coaches against the Carolina Panthers during the fourth quarter at MetLife Stadium. The Panthers defeated the Giants 38-35. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Two weeks separate a lot of head coaches around the league and the security of their jobs. Several surprising names could be among those who get axed. The question then becomes will any of them have hope to landing another job elsewhere. This NFL roundtable is set to answer that question with head coaches Chuck Pagano, Tom Coughlin and Mike McCoy as the likeliest candidates.
Eric Robinson:
Has to be Pagano. The fact this team reached every level of the playoffs short of the SB with not a whole lot of elite talent is amazing. His firing would be because of tension between him and GM Ryan Grigson. Not a lack of on-field production.
Sayre Bedinger:
I would say Coughlin if he wants it. He’s obviously an old guy at this point (69) but a Super Bowl champion who knows how to get the best out of his guys. If it were the right situation, I’d say he has the best shot at another job in the NFL were the Giants to fire him.
George Stockburger:
I’d think Chuck Pagano is the guy. Coughlin is on the verge of retirement and I’m not sure a rebuilding team is willing to take in an older coach for a lengthy rebuild process. Pagano has shown with the right players it can work, but the front office didn’t help him this year by signing a lot of older players (Trent Cole, Frank Gore, Todd Herremans).
Erik Lambert:
People keep saying that Tom Coughlin is on the cusp of retiring but there still hasn’t been any indication, at least from his camp that this is true. He’s still as active and animated as he’s always been on the sidelines. If the New York Giants decide to fire him, that puts a coach with two Super Bowl rings on the market. It’s hard to imagine teams not having interest in him. His experience alone with be of benefit. Sure the age is a subject of discussion but there are cases out there of older coaches still being able to win.
Bobby Bowden won a national title at Florida State at 69. George Halas was 68 when he got an NFL championship. Jack McKeon claimed a World Series at 72. It’s all a question of finding the right situation.