Coughlin Deflects Questions About His Future As Giants Prepare For Finale
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Sunday could mark the end of an era for the New York Giants.
With another losing season and no chance of the playoffs, many speculate that coach Tom Coughlin will be fired after the season.
MORE: Who Would Be The Candidates To Replace Coughlin?
As CBS2's Steve Langford reported, Coughlin has been deflecting the questions for weeks, but now it begs another question: Has he held his last press conference after a Giants practice?
After three straight losing seasons and four years without a playoff appearance, Coughlin is not just on the hot seat, he's sitting on flames.
But you would never know by the way he's handled himself.
"This is the 16th game of the season, and that's where I'm focused on," he said. "I won't let myself go in those other directions because we have a job to do."
Coughlin has been in New York for 12 years and won two of the most memorable Super Bowls in history. If he wins Sunday against the Eagles, he'll move into 11th place all-time for coaching wins with 171, one behind the legendary Bill Parcells.
For quarterback Eli Manning, Coughlin is the only coach he's ever known in the NFL.
"He wants us to go out there and just worry about playing football, worry about having our mind on our assignments, our job, our practices," Manning said.
"Basically, I said (to the team), 'Don't worry about me or my situation. Let's prepare ourselves to play an outstanding football game,'" Coughlin said.
Giants ownership has not indicated at all what they plan to do, and Coughlin said he has not spoken to co-owner John Mara about it, either.
Big Blue fans Langford spoke with said they believe it's time for a change.
"It was great what he did," one fan said. "We've just got to move on."
"Get him out of here," said another. "Go home."