Tom Coughlin or Bill Parcells: Who Was the Better Giants Head Coach?
By Neal Lynch
Bill Parcells is proud to call Tom Coughlin a friend. The former Giants head coach known as The Big Tuna used to be Tom’s boss when Coughlin was wide receivers coach from 1988 to 1990, when Big Blue won their second Super Bowl championship. A quarter of a century later, “Colonel” Coughlin has equaled his former mentor in Vince Lombardi trophies. Now that Coughlin – nicknamed “Cheese” by former player and friend Justin Tuck after the second Lombardi – has “resigned”, the overall career comparisons between Bill and Tom have begun. So, let’s put their time as Giants head honcho under the microscope to see who’s better.
TOM COUGHLIN
Tiki Barber wasn’t as gushing with his memories of his former coach:
"“…And because of one little nuanced detail (Ed note – holding the ball high and tight to limit fumbles) that Tom Coughlin was trying to drill into my head, I became a Pro Bowler. I became one of the elite players in the National Football League because Tom Coughlin was a pain in the ass.”"
Even Jets guard Willie Colon chimed in to say that Coughlin lost control of his team and the Odell Beckham, Jr. meltdown against the Panthers was a prime example.
The Colonel was 102-90 in the regular season as Giants head coach and 8-3 in the playoffs with 2 Super Bowl wins.
Tom’s Giants teams:
Only won the division three times and made the the playoffs five times in 12 seasons.
Lead the league in passing yards once (2011)
Ranked top 3 in points scored twice (2005, 2008)
Ranked top 4 in…
- rushing yards gained twice (2007, 2008)
- rushing yards per attempt (2005, 2008)
Ranked in the top 5 in…
- turnover ratio four times (2012, 2008, 2005, 2015)
- offensive yards gained twice (2005, 2010)
- yards allowed and points allowed one season (2008)
- defensive takeaways four times (2005, 2010, 2011, 2012)
- defensive fumbles recovered five times (2005, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015)
- interceptions once (2012)
Had one of the top 10 greatest comebacks in franchise history against the Eagles in September 2006 when they came back from 17 down to win 30-24.
Had THREE of the top 10 biggest blown leads in franchise history: November 2014 against the Jaguars, November 2006 against the Titans, December 2010 against the Eagles.
Tom’s longest-tenured & most “valuable” players (career approximate value) under his tutelage:
- Eli Manning
- Chris Snee
- David Diehl
- Justin Tuck
- Osi Umenyiora
- Tiki Barber
- Shaun O’Hara
- Kareem McKenzie
- Jason Pierre-Paul
- Mathias Kiwanuka
- Hakeem Nicks
- Brandon Jacobs
- Ahmad Bradshaw
- Antrel Rolle
- Plaxico Burress
- Corey Webster
- Victor Cruz
- Rich Seubert
- Antonio Pierce
- Will Beatty
- Chase Blackburn
- Jeff Feagles
- Fred Robbins
Other Giants “Approximate Value Career Leaders” who played for Coughlin:
- Amani Toomer
- Luke Petitgout
- Jeremy Shockey
- Ike Hilliard (2004)
- Barry Cofield
- Shaun Williams (2004, 2005)