Tom Coughlin wanted his players to feel his pain, but also understand his commitment.
So during a team meeting Wednesday morning, Coughlin shared the news his 63-year-old brother John Coughlin had passed away on Monday at Hackensack University (N.J.) Medical Center after tripping and hitting his head on a curb getting out of a cab at his New Jersey home, family members said.
He had been taking the blood thinner Coumadin for a heart condition, and the medication and head injury caused his brain to swell, according to the Star-Ledger. of Newark
Tom Coughlin told his team Wednesday “time on this earth is precious and don’t allow yourself to think otherwise.” Then he went right into the plan for Sunday’s must-win game in Charlotte, N.C., against the Panthers.
You probably wouldn’t expect anything different from Coughlin. Still, his players marveled how their 67-year-old head coach could focus on an upcoming game while dealing with the sudden loss of his only brother.
“I didn’t see any changes in his personality,” said defensive end Justin Tuck. “He mentioned it and he moved on. I don’t think he wants to burden us with it. He’s kind of like me; he’s not looking for sympathy. It’s something that happened and he’s going deal with it the way he deals with it. I doubt you’re going to hear him talk about it again.”
It is a critical week for Coughlin and his Giants. After losses to the Cowboys and Broncos, they’ll seek their first win of the season against the 0-2 Panthers.
The Giants won Super Bowl XLII after a 0-2 start. But 0-3 would be a huge hole to escape even in what looks to be a mediocre NFC East.
It’s Coughlin’s job to fix the problems that have plagued the Giants: too many turnovers, a lack of a running game, a spotty pass rush and a struggling Eli Manning.
On Wednesday, Coughlin seemed to welcome that challenge as if it was a needed distraction from his real-life crisis.
Before his press conference, he quietly thanked those who offered their condolences. But he was all football at the podium.
“We’ve got to get our football right,” he said. “We’ve got to stop hurting ourselves. We have to play as one; we’ve got to finish the fourth quarter; play four solid quarters.”
His attention to detail throughout the day amid such a devastating personal loss did not go unnoticed.
“He showed a lot of passion to us,” said receiver Victor Cruz. “This team is an extended family to him and he felt he could talk to us as candidly as he wanted to. We didn’t even know coach was going through some things. It was definitely emotional hearing him talk and I’m personally going to respond for him and I think the team will as well.”
Adversity can bring a team closer together. The Giants are facing plenty of adversity on the field and off this week. Their leadership, character and love for their coach will be tested in Carolina.
“We’re all family here,” said safety Antrel Rolle. “If coach has a loss, we all deal with it. We’re here for him. Our condolences go out to coach and the rest of his family. There’s no better time than now to go get a win and lift his spirits up as well as ours.”
Most of the players never met John Coughlin, a horse trainer who had lived in New Jersey for 20 years. But they know their coach and see how he is reacting to a greater setback than being 0-2. They want to be Giants Strong for him.
“When he talks to us as candidly as he did this morning, it makes us feel closer to him,” Cruz said. “For him to share the things he shared and that fact he can do that gave me more love for my coach than I already had. It says a lot about his character and says a lot about the type of love he has for his team. We’re all on coach’s side.”
Players are often told they must overcome their pain to be a professional. Coughlin is showing coaches have to do it, too.