Tom Coughlin stepped down after 12 seasons and two Super Bowls as the head coach of the New York Giants, and the move was not a mutual decision. The Giants head coach has now admitted that he was forced out in New York after posting a 6-10 record for two consecutive seasons.
The team hasn't made the playoffs since its 2011 Super Bowl run, and while many felt that Coughlin deserved another chance, changes were expected to come after another disappointing season. The Giants have since named offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo as their next head coach, but their former head coach is clearly not over the move and voiced his opinions on the decision in an interview with Fox Sports Radio on Tuesday.
"Hey do I agree with the move? Of course not. I don't. It hurts, it hurts," Coughlin said. "'Former' is not a good word. I don't like the word. But nevertheless, that's the way it is." The Eagles were interested in the 69-year-old head coach this offseason, but he decided to pull his name from the opportunity, even though the Eagles reportedly had him high on their list.
Despite a painful separation this offseason, Coughlin still hangs around the Giants facility several days a week and could still stay on with the team as an advisor or in some capacity next season. The Giants have moved on from Coughlin as a coach, which only puts the focus on general manager Jerry Reese and their new head coach, McAdoo.
The Giant struggled to stop any opposing offense during the 2015 season and had one of the worst defenses in the entire league. With Coughlin now out as head coach, many will turn their attention to Reese and what moves the Giants front office will make both in free agency and the upcoming 2016 NFL Draft. The Giants have the 10th pick in the draft, and many expect the team to target a pass rusher, as they struggled to create any pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
The team has decided to move on from Coughlin, and only time will tell if New York's front office made the right decision. The Giants haven't posted a 10-win regular season since 2010, and expect high expectations for Reese next season, as their front office chose to force out a two-time Super Bowl winning head coach.
