Oct 12, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; The helmet of New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) (not pictured) sits on the field as players stretch during warm ups before a game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. The Eagles defeated the Giants 27-0. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
1. He Has Something To Prove
Whether you’re a football coach or car salesman, being fired or told you didn’t reach expectations stings. It may hurt some more than others, but at the end of the day nobody wants to feel that way. This is especially true when you know you’re better than what you’re producing.
Spagnuolo has now been fired from two positions with both the Rams and Saints, and coached the 23rd ranked pass defense last year in Baltimore as the secondary coach. He has severely underperformed since he stepped away from New York following the 2008 season.
I personally think he has a big chip on his shoulder to return to being a relevant name in NFL circles. At one point in time, he was the most highly coveted defensive coordinator in football. That image has changed drastically, and Spagnuolo’s relevancy has died down dramatically. At the same time, Tom Coughlin’s run as head coach will come to end sooner rather than later. Spagnuolo could also prove with good performance that he deserves that title next as well. Not only is his future on the line, but his legacy and reputation will be put to the test as well. How will he respond? I guess we’ll just have to watch and see.