Eli Manning knows head coach Tom Coughlin’s job is on the line, but the New York Giants quarterback put together a tremendously disappointing performance on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings.
He threw three interceptions, including a pick-six and another that led to an Adrian Peterson touchdown. The other interception ended a drive on the Minnesota side of the field.
“Obviously I have great respect for him, I wanted to do my job and do my job well and get into the playoffs and have a big season so that he could continue being the head coach because I have such respect for him,” Manning said, per Paul Schwartz of the New York Post.
Manning added that “Coughlin is the only coach I’ve had in the NFL and so in that sense I feel disappointed I wasn’t able to play at a better level for him.”
Coughlin, who’s been with the Giants since Manning’s rookie season in 2004, hasn’t guided the team to the playoffs since New York won Super Bowl XLVI.
Though the championship came in a nine-win year, the Giants have only reached 10 victories once since 2008. Coughlin had regularly done enough to save his job, but that probably will change soon.
New York blew six fourth-quarter leads this season. Although the players deserve plenty of blame, that’s certainly a reflection — and not a good one — on the leader of the coaching staff.
Manning will likely prepare for the 2016 campaign without Coughlin, the only head coach he’s ever known. What stings the most, though, is Manning knows a better season could’ve kept Coughlin there.