Is This the Year Bill Cowher Replaces Tom Coughlin as Giants Head Coach?

He’s been out of football for so long, I almost forgot that Bill Cowher was still available as potential head coaching candidate in the NFL. Two years ago Boomer Esiason predicted Cowher would join Scott Pioli in Kansas City. That didn’t happen and Todd Haley seems to have led a turnaround. Back in January, Jerome Bettis predicted Cowher would replace Tom Coughlin in New York. The Giants hung onto Coughlin despite an 8-8 season, allowing him a 7th season on the job. But with a 1-2 start this year, might 2010 be Coughlin’s last season in New York?

If the wheels completely fall off this year, the Giants could part ways with Coughlin. The Mara family is patient and Coughlin certainly bought himself the benefit of the doubt by winning the Super Bowl. However, the Giants got throttled by the Colts, have committed a league-worst 10 turnovers, and appeared undisciplined when they committed 11 penalties in a loss to Tennessee.

Tom Coughlin is Mr. Discipline when it comes to coaching so I believe he’ll get the Giants back on track. I believe he’s a very good coach and that the Giants’ problems are correctable. Still, given the Giants schedule, I don’t see them winning more than nine games, if that. Another 8-8 season appears likely for this bunch, and I don’t think Coughlin would be fired with another .500 finish. He probably will be given another season to show what he can do.

Apparently this will have an impact on Bill Cowher who may be on the sidelines for another season. Though the Carolina job could open up, Jerome Bettis repeated his thoughts that Cowher would want to coach the Giants. Bettis says Cowher would be intrigued by a rebuilding situation but that he would want a proven quarterback. I’d say Eli Manning fits that bill much better than Jimmy Clausen. The Bus still thinks Cowher is out for Coughlin’s job, but I don’t think it will happen this year. Looks like another year off for the Chin.