Has a coach ever had such a turn of fates? (1 Viewer)

[Jason Wood]

I haven't really looked back yet to come up with an answer, but off the top of my head, has any NFL coach had a larger turn of fate than Tom Coughlin this season? He entered this year with tons of bad press, his former GM bashed him, his new GM seemed ready to replace him after this season, Tiki was badmouthing him, the NY media had him out the door for sure. Then, not only does he shake all that off, but on the way to the Giants 3rd straight postseason, the team sets an NFL record with 10 consecutive road wins and is now in the Super Bowl. Wow...obviously Coughlin is going to get a huge extension (deservedly so) but can anyone think of another coach who changed his fortunes around so much in a year?

 

[Ghost Rider]

What about Jim Fassel when he coached the Giants in '00. Wasn't he in essence fighting for his job when the Giants were 6-5, only to see them reel off 7 wins in a row and make it to the Super Bowl?

 

[Jason Wood]

What about Jim Fassel when he coached the Giants in '00. Wasn't he in essence fighting for his job when the Giants were 6-5, only to see them reel off 7 wins in a row and make it to the Super Bowl?

Fassel didn't have nearly the death sentence attached to him entering the year; nor did he have the circumstances within the organization (change of primary ownership control and change of GM) that made a firing all that more likely.

 

[Statorama]

You'd have to think Norv Turner this year was pretty close. Read some of those early season threads. I thought they were going to lynch the guy after 3 games.

 

[gianmarco]

JDR comes to mind, but not nearly as close as Coughlin.

 

[Jason Wood]

You'd have to think Norv Turner this year was pretty close. Read some of those early season threads. I thought they were going to lynch the guy after 3 games.

Nah..again, this was Norv's first year. With that slow start there were some rumblings nationally; but nothing compared to Coughlin. He was perceived as Dead Man Walking by the majority of preseason pundits.

 

[JaxBill]

JDR comes to mind, but not nearly as close as Coughlin.

Yeah, I was going to say Del Rio. Not only has he gone from the hot seat to a healthy extension, but he also appears to be winning the power struggle over Shack harris.

 

[Statorama]

You'd have to think Norv Turner this year was pretty close. Read some of those early season threads. I thought they were going to lynch the guy after 3 games.

Nah..again, this was Norv's first year. With that slow start there were some rumblings nationally; but nothing compared to Coughlin. He was perceived as Dead Man Walking by the majority of preseason pundits.

I didn't mean he might get fired. I was afraid some lunatic would actually go too far and show up at his house.

 

[NY/NJMFDIVER]

What about Jim Fassel when he coached the Giants in '00. Wasn't he in essence fighting for his job when the Giants were 6-5, only to see them reel off 7 wins in a row and make it to the Super Bowl?

Fassel didn't have nearly the death sentence attached to him entering the year; nor did he have the circumstances within the organization (change of primary ownership control and change of GM) that made a firing all that more likely.

Fassel really had the public against him, and then he came out with the guarantee that was rather famous.

But I'll agree, to have a coach under the gun, you need an unprecendented cinderella run, but I can't think of any.

Boeheim wasn't in trouble, but remember Syracuse had a bad year, but got into the NCAA torney because of winning the Big East Torney, then went to at least the sweet 16. It would have to be a run like that, I can't think of anything in football.

 

[Statorama]

What about Jim Fassel when he coached the Giants in '00. Wasn't he in essence fighting for his job when the Giants were 6-5, only to see them reel off 7 wins in a row and make it to the Super Bowl?

Fassel didn't have nearly the death sentence attached to him entering the year; nor did he have the circumstances within the organization (change of primary ownership control and change of GM) that made a firing all that more likely.

Fassel really had the public against him, and then he came out with the guarantee that was rather famous. But I'll agree, to have a coach under the gun, you need an unprecendented cinderella run, but I can't think of any. Boeheim wasn't in trouble, but remember Syracuse had a bad year, but got into the NCAA torney because of winning the Big East Torney, then went to at least the sweet 16. It would have to be a run like that, I can't think of anything in football.

I'm stumped too. I know Wayne Fontes saved his job a couple of times with Playoff berths, but he obviously didn't make it to the Superbowl. **** Jauron had one foot in the unemployment line before his Bears team had that magical 13-3 season, but they got (rightfully) bounced in the playoffs...still, it earned Jauron another season at the wheel.

 

[Mungo Burrows]

Vermiel was not doing well in StL before stumbled into Warner and Faulk. I don't think he was as bad off as coughlin, but I think the general question was whether he would retire before they had a chance to fire him coming off of 5-11 then 4-12.

 

[Raider Nation]

I haven't really looked back yet to come up with an answer, but off the top of my head, has any NFL coach had a larger turn of fate than Tom Coughlin this season?

Brian Billick, in reverse.

 

[RC94]

I am very happy for Coughlin. He has seriously adjusted his style to fit the team and they have been responded well. It's tough for most people (especially for those with an ego, which is most people) to look at themselves critically, face some hard truths and make major adjustments to improve. I have gained a lot of respect for Coughlin because of this.

 

[Jason Wood]

I haven't really looked back yet to come up with an answer, but off the top of my head, has any NFL coach had a larger turn of fate than Tom Coughlin this season?

Brian Billick, in reverse.

I see what you're getting at, but Billick was plenty unloved by a good constituency in Baltimore. Just a year ago having a 14-2 Marty Schottenheimer fired was far more shocking, all things considered.

 

[Raider Nation]

I haven't really looked back yet to come up with an answer, but off the top of my head, has any NFL coach had a larger turn of fate than Tom Coughlin this season?

Brian Billick, in reverse.

I see what you're getting at, but Billick was plenty unloved by a good constituency in Baltimore. Just a year ago having a 14-2 Marty Schottenheimer fired was far more shocking, all things considered.

Billick was coming off a 13-3 season and got a 4-year contract extension before getting whacked.

 

[Jason Wood]

I haven't really looked back yet to come up with an answer, but off the top of my head, has any NFL coach had a larger turn of fate than Tom Coughlin this season?

Brian Billick, in reverse.

I see what you're getting at, but Billick was plenty unloved by a good constituency in Baltimore. Just a year ago having a 14-2 Marty Schottenheimer fired was far more shocking, all things considered.

Billick was coming off a 13-3 season and got a 4-year contract extension before getting whacked.

Again...his ouster was somewhat surprising. But compared to Mary? That was baffling...no coach coming off that kind of season had ever been fired before. Getting back to Billick for a second, one of my partners is a Ravens season ticket holder and he thought Billick was on the hot seat all season long. I, like you, looked at his 13-3 record in 2006 and the SB ring he's wearing and thought my buddy was nuts, but apparently he was just plugged in.

 

[redman]

Wayne Fontes. German cockroaches could learn a thing or two from him about surviving.

 

[dutch]

Again...his ouster was somewhat surprising. But compared to Mary? That was baffling...no coach coming off that kind of season had ever been fired before. Getting back to Billick for a second, one of my partners is a Ravens season ticket holder and he thought Billick was on the hot seat all season long. I, like you, looked at his 13-3 record in 2006 and the SB ring he's wearing and thought my buddy was nuts, but apparently he was just plugged in.

You didn't have to be plugged in to know that Billick was walking on thin ice this season. Billick basically handed his balls to Biscotti after '05 and got fortunate with a smoke and mirrors campaign in '06 to give himself a reprieve. His reliance on McNair after flaming out with Boller as the future, and after many other failed qb experiments, guaranteed his firing barring a strong run this season. When this year fizzled so went his chances to stay with the Ravens.

 

[Raider Nation]

Just thought of another doozy -- I'll bet many of you don't know this story.

After Bill Parcells went 3-12-1 in his first year as Giants head coach, Tim Mara wanted to fire him and replace him with Howard Schnellenberger, who had just won a national championship with the Miami Hurricanes. Tim's uncle Wellington talked him out of it, telling him to be patient with the Tuna.

The rest is history.

 

[Liquid Tension]

I haven't really looked back yet to come up with an answer, but off the top of my head, has any NFL coach had a larger turn of fate than Tom Coughlin this season? He entered this year with tons of bad press, his former GM bashed him, his new GM seemed ready to replace him after this season, Tiki was badmouthing him, the NY media had him out the door for sure. Then, not only does he shake all that off, but on the way to the Giants 3rd straight postseason, the team sets an NFL record with 10 consecutive road wins and is now in the Super Bowl. Wow...obviously Coughlin is going to get a huge extension (deservedly so) but can anyone think of another coach who changed his fortunes around so much in a year?

Even his decision to kick the FG at the end of the game was a VERY tough choice (and I was leaning towards going for it 63-35). I understood the reason to try the FG, but with no opposing kicker ever making one over 40 and the fact Tynes missed the other two close ones, I didn't have much confidence (20%).Now think about how he would have been unfairly crucified by everyone if Tynes missed it and GB took the ball and got a FG? He would have been torched saying "how can you try that KNOWING Tynes wouldn't make it...blah, blah blahI have always supported Coughlin because I think he knows the game extremely well. I defended him when everyone was on him because when I hear interviews with him he knows every plays and what happened and his reasoning and he sounds like he is more on top of things than any other coach I have heard. His issue was always his relationship with players, but this year he learned a little and the team was lucky Tiki retired (he was a cancer) and the rest of the team great up with him.

 

[Liquid Tension]

Maybe a question should be why would Coughlin be on such a hot seat when he had coached the team to the playoffs for 3 straight years?

 

[Slider]

Just shows how important a good coach is and how the average fan hasn't a clue. As an Eagles fan, you should have direct knowledge of that.

 

[Jason Wood]

Just shows how important a good coach is and how the average fan hasn't a clue. As an Eagles fan, you should have direct knowledge of that.

I fight what feels like a losing battle very season to convince my buddies how lucky we have it in terms of our coaches.

 

[Bankerguy]

Even though he is a hated divisional rival, you have to give Coughlin a ton of credit for the Giants turn around. He appears to have evolved his coaching style and his players repsonded. The irony of both Tiki and Shockey not being apart of this playoff run has not been lost on me.

 

[redman]

Even though he is a hated divisional rival, you have to give Coughlin a ton of credit for the Giants turn around. He appears to have evolved his coaching style and his players repsonded. The irony of both Tiki and Shockey not being apart of this playoff run has not been lost on me.

Well said.

 

[rabidfireweasel]

Bill Belichick.

Things did not end well in Cleveland/Baltimore, he was a brief head coach of the NYJ and seen as a traitor. Kraft was an idiot for giving up a first for him. The cap was a mess. The team was lambasted for not keeping Chad Eaton of all people. The team then went 5-11 and started off 0-2. The team was considered in an NFL sampling of GM's to be the furthest an NFL championship. from Then Drew Bledsoe sheared an artery. Things were anything but rosy in NE.

 

[chuckmorris]

Tom Landry.

In 1964 he had a losing record and fans were calling for his scalp. Clint Murchison responded by giving him a 10 year contract extension, and he went on to serve as head coach for another 25 years, taking the team to the Super Bowl 5 times and winning 2. Not too shabby.

 

[Pai Mei]

Bill Belichick.Things did not end well in Cleveland/Baltimore, he was a brief head coach of the NYJ and seen as a traitor. Kraft was an idiot for giving up a first for him. The cap was a mess. The team was lambasted for not keeping Chad Eaton of all people. The team then went 5-11 and started off 0-2. The team was considered in an NFL sampling of GM's to be the furthest an NFL championship. from Then Drew Bledsoe sheared an artery. Things were anything but rosy in NE.

Belichick never coached in Baltimore. The franchise fired him at the end of the season and moved to Baltimore. Ted Marchiboda was the first Ravens coach.

 

[VonRomig]

Coughlin is still an idiot. I'm just glad he made it to the Superbowl... as it means the Giants will be stuck with him for a few more seasons.

How stupid does a coach have to be to yell at a kicker for missing a field goal, when that same coach just might need him to kick a game winner later... thankfully for the Giants, Tynes had a second shot to win the game. If the Packers had won the game in overtime, the only thing they would be talking about is how Coughlin destroyed his own kicker's confidence.

Coughlin's a moron.

Von

 

[harryhood]

Coughlin is still an idiot. I'm just glad he made it to the Superbowl... as it means the Giants will be stuck with him for a few more seasons.How stupid does a coach have to be to yell at a kicker for missing a field goal, when that same coach just might need him to kick a game winner later... thankfully for the Giants, Tynes had a second shot to win the game. If the Packers had won the game in overtime, the only thing they would be talking about is how Coughlin destroyed his own kicker's confidence.Coughlin's a moron.Von

I think a lot of that had to do with constructive criticism on TC's part. I think he knew Tynes had it in him to put either one of those field goals in and had to give him that kick in the pants. Sometimes that is what makes a good coach, I remember just yesterday seeing the piece on the Pats and the way that BB was talking to his defense. "Just do your damn job, for once, today, just do your job one time" I dont think he is putting his boys down, but sometimes you need to be stern, and from the NY media, I think their biggest knock on TC was that he had no control, or his approach was too passive with his players. He was telling his field goal kicker that he was not impressed with his performance, in a not so subtle form.The one thing I am concerned about now is with the Coughlin extension, it is going to happen and I would think it is going to be a 3 year deal. Now with that, are the Giants going to get greedy and sign Coughlin and let Spags go? I think that would be a very big mistake and as a Giants fan I think you need to extend them both the same amount of years, having Spags be the successor in NY. The rumors that Coughlin would be replaced by Bill Cowher in a year now have no legs and he will be hired by another team come next year. This team needs to be handed over to Spags in about 3 to 4 years.

 

[StuntRock]

Coughlin is still an idiot. I'm just glad he made it to the Superbowl... as it means the Giants will be stuck with him for a few more seasons.How stupid does a coach have to be to yell at a kicker for missing a field goal, when that same coach just might need him to kick a game winner later... thankfully for the Giants, Tynes had a second shot to win the game. If the Packers had won the game in overtime, the only thing they would be talking about is how Coughlin destroyed his own kicker's confidence.Coughlin's a moron.Von

That would be pretty horrible, having to be stuck with a coach whose taken them to 3 straight playoff appearances, and a superbowl. What idiots. Don't know know that was they REALLY need is some young whippersnapper offensive genius with a proven track record. They should dumb Coughlin for Petrino, or else New York is going to go winless next year. If they're smart, they'll get rid of that idiot coach who managed to guide them to a superbowl berth.Oh, better yet. They can hire famed football genius VonRomig, known for his keen insight into the game of football. Seriously, just take a look at his posts and tell me that this man doesn't know football? He'll show that Coughlin guy a thing or two about coaching a team in a conference championship.

 

[NeverEnough]

He has owned his critics. Good job TC!

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Just shows how important a good coach is and how the average fan hasn't a clue. As an Eagles fan, you should have direct knowledge of that.

I fight what feels like a losing battle very season to convince my buddies how lucky we have it in terms of our coaches.

The problem as far as Reid goes is that he is weakest as a game-day coach. Use of time outs, clock management, stuff like that. And that's what casual fans notice. In most of the other aspects of coaching -- e.g. devising game plans, developing schemes and picking the right players for them -- he's quite good (if a bit stubborn about McNabb's capabilities these days). But those things aren't as obvious to the average fan. Coughlin fixed his biggest weakness -- how he dealt with/related to his players. Most coaches have too big an ego to fix any of their shortcomings, much less a glaring one. He deserves much credit for that.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Wayne Fontes. German cockroaches could learn a thing or two from him about surviving.

That's not a Fontes thing, it's a Ford thing. William Clay Ford loved him, hence he stayed on long past his usefulness. We are seeing the same thing with Millen. Ford values personal relationships over accomplishment. It's how the car company is run, too.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

The one thing I am concerned about now is with the Coughlin extension, it is going to happen and I would think it is going to be a 3 year deal. Now with that, are the Giants going to get greedy and sign Coughlin and let Spags go? I think that would be a very big mistake and as a Giants fan I think you need to extend them both the same amount of years, having Spags be the successor in NY. The rumors that Coughlin would be replaced by Bill Cowher in a year now have no legs and he will be hired by another team come next year. This team needs to be handed over to Spags in about 3 to 4 years.

The Cowboys are being slammed by a lot of folks for doing the exact same thing. There's a lot of potential downside to it.

 

[Koya]

What about Jim Fassel when he coached the Giants in '00. Wasn't he in essence fighting for his job when the Giants were 6-5, only to see them reel off 7 wins in a row and make it to the Super Bowl?

Fassel didn't have nearly the death sentence attached to him entering the year; nor did he have the circumstances within the organization (change of primary ownership control and change of GM) that made a firing all that more likely.

Fassel was done if he didnt make the playoffs that season. His "chips to the center of the table" move was utter money, considering it worked and saved Fassel's job.

 

[rabidfireweasel]

Bill Belichick.Things did not end well in Cleveland/Baltimore, he was a brief head coach of the NYJ and seen as a traitor. Kraft was an idiot for giving up a first for him. The cap was a mess. The team was lambasted for not keeping Chad Eaton of all people. The team then went 5-11 and started off 0-2. The team was considered in an NFL sampling of GM's to be the furthest an NFL championship. from Then Drew Bledsoe sheared an artery. Things were anything but rosy in NE.

Belichick never coached in Baltimore. The franchise fired him at the end of the season and moved to Baltimore. Ted Marchiboda was the first Ravens coach.

I wasn't clear. I realize that he never coached in Baltimore. However, he was coaching when it was clear the Browns were moving. The team went into free fall and for a good while, common belief was that it was his fault.