LISTEN: O'Hara Defends Coughlin, Says Giants Were Dealt A Brutal Hand
NEW YORK (WFAN) -- Shaun O'Hara felt the NFC East was the Giants' to lose, but circumstances beyond their control were what ultimately did them in.
In other words, the powers that be shouldn't be so quick to blame Tom Coughlin.
Speaking to WFAN's Marc Malusis and Kim Jones on Tuesday morning, the former Giants great and current NFL Network analyst offered his thoughts on what led to Big Blue's problems during the 2015 season and what he thinks should be the game plan going forward.
"I have so much respect for coach Coughlin and I know the Mara and Tisch family does as well, so I know this won't be something they just do on a whim," O'Hara said, referring to the long-time head coach's job status going forward. "I think their mindset is 'we've got a great coach.' One thing I continue to tell everybody is coach Coughlin is one of the best coaches in the NFL, and you just don't throw somebody like that into the trash just because you are not happy with how things went one season."
MORE: Giants' Coughlin: Put The Blame On Me And Leave My Players Alone
O'Hara went on to point out all of the obstacles the Giants were forced to deal with, including a plethora of injuries in the secondary, Jason Pierre-Paul's fireworks accident and Victor Cruz's season-ending calf injury, and said it's a miracle in a sense that Coughlin's team was even in the running for the division title as long as it was.
"That fact that this team was relevant, to me, is a feather in Tom Coughlin's cap," O'Hara said. "I think you have to look at that as well when you are making this whole decision."
O'Hara went on to discuss many other topics in the wide-ranging interview. To hear all of it, please click on the audio link below.