Does Tom Coughlin belong in the Hall of Fame?
After 12 seasons with the New York Giants and eight with the Jacksonville Jaguars, does Tom Coughlin belong in the Hall of Fame?
On Monday, Tom Coughlin stepped down as the head coach of the New York Giants after spending 12 seasons with the organization. While many see it as the end of the line for Coughlin, there still exists a possibility that he may not be done yet.
While that may or may not be the case, the career that Coughlin had in the NFL, has been nothing short of extraordinary. He spent 20 seasons as a head coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars and the New York Giants, while his teams competed in numerous playoff games and even won a couple of Super Bowls in his latter stop.
With all of his accomplishments, does he deserve to be in the Hall of Fame?
The answer to that question is an easy resounding yes. He took an expansion franchise in Jacksonville and won 49 games in his first five years as a head coach, while the team went to two AFC Championship Games. The Jaguars played in many memorable games, including upsetting John Elway and the Denver Broncos in the playoffs on the road.
His teams always had a knack for stepping up as the underdogs and pulling away with the big win. In New York, Coughlin’s teams upset the New England Patriots twice in two of the most incredible Super Bowls ever. One of those games even including knocking off New England, when they were on the verge of a perfect record.
Being in the Hall of Fame is just as much about leaving an impact on the game, as it is the accomplishments that come with being in the game. Coughlin’s teams always left something memorable out on the field and were moments that no one will ever forget.
Not many coaches in the league are ever provided the fortune of being able to say that they were a head coach for 20 seasons, but Coughlin can say that and it further speaks to the greatness of his career. He had 102 wins in his 12 seasons with the Giants and 68 in his eight with the Jaguars.
With two Super Bowls as a head coach, one as an assistant coach and 170 total wins as a head coach, Coughlin should be wearing a gold jacket in the Hall of Fame in the future.