Finding Tom Coughlin A New NFL Team If He Returns
By Erik Lambert
Following his departure from the New York Giants, head coach Tom Coughlin instantly became the most experienced and credible name on the open market. With six jobs up for grabs around the NFL, there is a definite chance he could snag one of them if he ends up deciding to return rather than retire.
Touching read from Bobby Papa, who pulls back the curtain on Tom Coughlin and shows a caring - and funny - guy. https://t.co/5kdANxWBVx
— Bob Glauber (@BobGlauber) January 6, 2016
So the question becomes where would he want to give if indeed he did come back? To answer that it’s important to assess the state of things. Coughlin doesn’t seem to lack any energy or commitment to his job, which is good but there is just no getting around the fact he will be 70-years old this year. That is approaching the ceiling for how long most coaches last in the NFL. Dick LeBeau, the long-time defensive coordinator is 78 and was 70 when he helped the Pittsburgh Steelers win the Super Bowl in 2008.
So that’s encouraging, provided one critical stipulation: Coughlin must find a team that is the closest to winning a Super Bowl. In other words a team that has a strong roster already in place but lacks the discipline and direction to get there. Based on a quick run-through of the six teams, it might surprise some people to know where his best spot is.
The Tennessee Titans
Really? Not Philadelphia or Miami, organizations with more history and notoriety? Yes, the Tennessee Titans. First of all, it’s a much less stressful media market than New York, so that will be a huge relief to Coughlin, allowing him to focus on the job. He’ll inherit a roster that is strong on defense and has a young quarterback in Marcus Mariota who features a mindset and personality quite similar to Eli Manning.
"“The Titans have a good-looking young quarterback in Marcus Mariota, a defense that finished 12th in yards allowed and the top pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, and they compete in a division (the AFC South) that’s rarely top-heavy. Also, the media environment is friendly and patient.”"
To top it off he would have the 1st overall pick in the NFL draft, giving him a prime opportunity to add to an already pretty solid depth chart. Throw in his trademark structured approach that has yielded big results with two other teams and it’s a match made in heaven.