The New York Giants have guaranteed they'll suffer a losing season for the second straight year, but one report states that head coach Tom Coughlin is almost certain to return for the 2015 NFL season.
How certain?
“[It's] 99.9 percent he’s back,” a source familiar with the club’s thinking told The New York Post Sunday night.
That's pretty certain. Still, the Post could not receive official immediate confirmation from either of the Giants' two owners.
“I have no comment,” co-owner John Mara said.
“No comment,” co-owner Steve Tisch said.
There had been waxing whispers that Coughlin, 68, might be headed towards Splitsville with the team he has coached to two Super Bowl titles and a 95-79 record over the past 11 seasons. But following Sunday's victory over the Washington Redskins, their second straight win, the Giants — at 5-9 — apparently have done enough to convince the team's brass to give Coughlin at least another year.
The NFL's oldest head coach has coaxed his injury-plagued team to play hard in recent weeks despite a seven-game midseason losing streak, during which Coughlin's status appeared far more murky. Eli Manning has improved in recent weeks, and star rookie receiver Odell Beckham Jr. has given the entire offense a shot in the arm and an identity.
The belief is that there is a young nucelus to build around offensively, and Manning remains in his peak years, too, showing he can adapt to the new offensive system of coordinator Ben McAdoo. A full season together with Beckham and Victor Cruz, assuming he rehabs well from Achilles, could provide a huge lift next season.
Coughlin is 13th on the all-time coaching wins list, one ahead of Jeff Fisher, and he's closing in on a few milestones — 100 regular-season victories with the Giants, and the mark of his former mentor, Bill Parcells, who won 172 NFL games. Coughlin sits nine games back, with 163 victories, and could surpass the former Giants head coach with a winning season next year.
Three straight seasons out of the playoffs hasn't sat well with the Giants, but Coughlin appears to have done enough to convince his bosses to try to end that streak next season.
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Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at edholm@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Eric_Edholm
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