New York Giants Football: Ranking the five worst head coaches in franchise history
By Matt Clark
5.) John McVay 1976-1978
John McVay had made a name for himself in football circles, after leading the Memphis Southmen of the World Football League to a record of 24-7 from 1974-1975. However, he found himself unemployed when the league folded at the end of the 1975 season.
He would take over as the head coach of the New York Giants in the middle of the 1976 season. The team would go 3-4 to close out the year after beginning 0-7 under his predecessor. However, McVay would have troubles adapting to the NFL game, going 5-9 in 1977 and 6-10 in 1978.
McVay would be responsible for one of the worst head coaching miscues in NFL history, as he was the head coach of the infamous “Miracle in the Meadowlands” game, where the Giants would rescue defeat from the jaws of victory.
With the Giants up 17-12 with little time remaining and the rival Philadelphia Eagles having no timeouts remaining, the McVay opted to have quarterback Joe Pisarcik attempt a handoff to fullback Larry Csonka, instead of taking a knee to run the clock out. The play would result in a fumbled handoff that was scooped by Eagles cornerback Herman Edwards scooping up the fumble and returning it for a touchdown and a 19-17 Eagles victory.
The “Miracle in the Meadowlands” game would go down as one of the worst losses in NFL history. McVay would not live down the horrific loss and would be fired following the 1976 season, with a 14-23 record as the head coach of the Giants.