Tom Coughlin, the Head Coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019?
- Jaguars have taken a step back this season after reaching the AFC Championship game last season
- Coughlin is reportedly appalled with the lack of discipline demonstrated by this year’s squad
- Current head coach Doug Marrone possibly the best candidate to guide the Jaguars into 2019
The Jacksonville Jaguars have emerged as possibly the biggest disappointment of the 2018 NFL season.
The Jaguars marched to the AFC South divisional title with 10 wins last season before falling to the New England Patriots with a heartbreaking 24-20 loss in the AFC championship game.
But with the team entering the final three weeks of the season with a 4-9 record and well out of playoff contention, head coach Doug Marrone has emerged as a favorite to lose his job, while former Jaguars coach and current Executive Vice President Tom Coughlin has emerged as an intriguing bet to return to bench boss duties, sporting +200 odds.
Odds Tom Coughlin is Head Coach of Jaguars Week 1 of 2019
| Will Tom Coughlin be Head Coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars for Game 1 of the 2019 NFL Season? | Odds |
|---|---|
| Yes | +200 |
| No | -300 |
Coughlin Owns Extensive Head Coaching Experience
Coughlin possesses extensive experience as a head coach.
In addition to a brief head coaching stint at Boston College, the 72-year-old served as bench boss for the Jaguars from 1995 to 2002. He then took over the coaching reigns with the New York Giants, guiding them to a pair of Super Bowl titles during a 12-season run in the Big Apple.
Signed to a contract extension through 2021 following the Jaguars’ march to the AFC championship game, Coughlin is reportedly appalled by the lack of discipline that has plagued the team during Marrone’s second season as bench boss.
Coughlin is reportedly appalled by the lack of discipline that has plagued the team during Marrone’s second season as Jaguars bench boss.
However, after being intimately involved in assembling the coaching staff that has apparently lost the room, it is unclear what difference Coughlin could make by taking over on the sideline.
Is Tom Coughlin the man to coach the Jags in 2019? https://t.co/rXFtzkT8Kq
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) December 9, 2018
Coughlin has been away from coaching since being forced out of his post with the Giants following a dismal 6-10 campaign in 2015.
In addition, he enjoyed little success in his final four years as head coach in New York, leading the Giants to an uninspired 28-36 overall record, while failing to make a return trip to the playoffs after guiding the team to victory at Super Bowl XLVI.
As a result, he is pegged as a -300 favorite to not return to coaching in Jacksonville next season.
No Shortage of Younger Candidates to Coach Jaguars
There is also no shortage of younger candidates, who possess more recent coaching experience, should the decision be made to part ways with Marrone.
NFL News: Who Are This Year's Top NFL Head Coaching Candidates? https://t.co/lmJZ6dKlCM
— SportNewsBuzz (@Sportnewsbuzz) November 30, 2018
In addition to Mike McCarthy, who was recently relieved of his duties as head coach in Green Bay, several other candidates could receive consideration to take over the helm.
New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is regularly mentioned as a head coach in waiting, as is John DeFilippo, who was recently fired as Minnesota’s OC.
Several college football head coaches are regularly mentioned as potential NFL bench bosses, including Washington head coach Chris Petersen and Oklahoma Sooners head coach Lincoln Riley.
Marrone Likely the Best Candidate to Coach Jaguars in 2019
But the strongest candidate to lead the Jaguars next season may be the man currently occupying the head coaching position.
While it has been a tough season for Marrone, both his lot and that of the team should get a lift if Coughlin can go out and find a quality replacement for castoff quarterback Blake Bortles.
Two regimes later, Syracuse still has some of Doug Marrone’s fingerprints on it https://t.co/FWsuCnxTIg
— John Cassillo (@JohnCassillo) December 12, 2018
Marrone also owns a proven track record as a head coach, particularly from his time with the Syracuse Orange, which he led from a perennial Big East doormat to a share of the conference championship over the course of four rocky seasons.
Daniel has been writing about sports and sports betting for over 23 years. The seasoned pro has contributed to the likes of Sports Illustrated, Sportsnet, NESN, Bleacher Report, OddsShark, the Globe and Mail, and The Nation magazine.
