Jaguars' former coach Tom Coughlin deservedly a Hall of Fame semifinalist
The Jacksonville Jaguars enjoyed a start to their franchise that greatly surpassed expectations. Under the tutelage of head coach Tom Coughlin, the franchise had the best start of any expansion team in league history, making the playoffs four straight times and reaching two AFC championship games all within its first five seasons. In just their […]
The Jacksonville Jaguars enjoyed a start to their franchise that greatly surpassed expectations.
Under the tutelage of head coach Tom Coughlin, the franchise had the best start of any expansion team in league history, making the playoffs four straight times and reaching two AFC championship games all within its first five seasons. In just their second season in 1996, the team dug down and won thrilling game after thrilling game to make the playoffs and advance all the way to the AFC championship game. The team would go on to make the playoffs in 1997-1999, again advancing to the AFC championship game in 1999.
That stretch alone would be golden for some franchises' starving fan bases, but that was just the start for what would become a truly special career for Coughlin.
After Coughlin was fired by former owner Wayne Weaver after a sub-par stretch of three seasons, he took over in January 2004 as the head coach of the New York Giants. After overseeing the drafting of Eli Manning, Coughlin directed the team to two Super Bowl championships, including one of the biggest upsets in Super Bowl history when the Giants toppled the then-undefeated Patriots 17-14 in Super Bowl XLII.
The same teams would meet again four years later in Super Bowl XLVI, with Manning leading another game-winning touchdown drive with seconds remaining to win 21-17 and give Coughlin his second ring. Coughlin finished his career with a 182-157 record in 20 seasons as a head coach.
In 2017, Coughlin returned to Jacksonville as the executive vice president of football operations, when the Jaguars returned to the AFC championship game for the first time since 1999. As such, Coughlin was a key part of the franchise's three AFC title game appearances.
Coughlin's successes have finally begun to be recognized, as he was recently named a Pro Football Hall of Fame semifinalist in the coach/contributor category. He was one of 29 semifinalists in the category. The pool will be cut to 12 finalists at the end of July, and on August 15, one individual will be named for final consideration into the 2024 hall of fame class.
The list includes a lot of individuals who've done a lot of great things for the NFL, but few have the range of accomplishments that Coughlin does. From giving life to a new franchise in a small market to completing thrilling runs to multiple championships for a team in the league's biggest market, Coughlin's story is unique in its path.
We'll see soon enough if Canton, Ohio is at the end of it.
Former Jaguar needs to be in the Hall of Fame
One former Jaguar continues to get snubbed.
Featured image via Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports
