From the moment he stepped down from the podium inside the Quest Diagnostics Center following his farewell speech, Tom Coughlin wanted to coach again.
The former Giants coach told MMQB.com his “motor is starting to run again,” but the 69-going-on70-year-old realizes his advanced age will make it difficult for him to land another opportunity as a head coach.
“It’ll take two to tango,” Coughlin said. “The 70-year-old-man stuff will be a factor, and I’m sure they’ll know this would be a three- or four-year thing.
“If I have an opportunity to speak to anyone [about a coaching job], they’ll see what I’d be able to do for them.”
Coughlin has found it difficult adjusting to life without coaching after 47 years in the business, but his former players believe he will get another chance on another sideline.
“I wouldn’t bet against him.” former Giants defensive tackle Chris Canty said at his Chris Canty Foundation Champions Golf Classic to support youth initiatives at the Alpine Country Club. “He’s a great coach, but he’s probably even a better person. A man of that kind of character, I know he’s very active, he can certainly coach. He’s got the energy to do it, he’s sharp, he’s got the capacity. And at this stage in life, he wants to do what he loves, which is leading men, guiding men, developing character of young men, and certainly, I think that there’s a place for that in the National Football League.”
Former Giants punter Steve Weatherford is bullish on a Coughlin return to coaching, noting his age includes experiences — two Super Bowl titles — that so few current coaches have ever had.
“I don’t [just] believe that he can still coach in the NFL, I believe that he can win Super Bowls in the NFL,” Weatherford said. “He has the formula to do it. You don’t get lucky twice in 10 years. It’s great to be the Cincinnati Bengals and be in the playoffs every year — they don’t win [postseason] games. When it’s on the line, and you punch your ticket to the playoffs, Tom knows how to get it done.”
Though Coughlin did not want to leave the Giants after 12 seasons, he still plans to support them this year.
“I’m disappointed how it ended, but I had a lot of great times there,” Coughlin said. “I’ll be rooting for them every time they play.”