LANDOVER, Md. — Back in 1984, Eagles coach Marion Campbell was conducting interviews for his receivers-coach opening and met with two aspiring assistants with no NFL experience. Mike Shanahan, the offensive coordinator at Florida, wanted to break into the pro game, as did Tom Coughlin, the quarterbacks coach at Boston College.
Shanahan was first to be interviewed, and the way he remembers it, the job was his if he wanted it.
“Dan Reeves had offered me a job at Denver, and the only reason I went there over Philly at the time, I interviewed before Tom, was just because I had a chance to coach quarterbacks at Denver,’’ Shanahan said. “Tom took the job [in Philadelphia], so I’ve been following Tom’s career since ’84, and we’ve played a lot of games together.’’
Shanahan coached receivers for a year with the Broncos before becoming Reeves’ offensive coordinator. Coughlin started an NFL journey that took him to assistant roles with the Eagles, Packers and
Giants before returning to Boston College as a head coach then back into the NFL with the expansion Jaguars in 1994. On Sunday, the 67-year old Coughlin and Shanahan, 61, square off again when the Giants face the Redskins.
Both have won two Super Bowls as head coaches. They are 5-5 against each other in the NFL, yet both direct disappointing teams this year headed for losing records and no postseason.
“I think it is always tough because you’re used to winning,’’ Shanahan said. “Anytime I got used to winning and go through a so-so season, it’s tough enough. That’s why you’re in this game, to win, and you’ve got the drive and the passion, as Tom does, to be the best at what he does.
“This game is so competitive, but it is tough when you’re used to winning and go through a very average season. You enjoy the competition and you enjoy the game. That’s why you’re in it.”
With Jason Pierre-Paul out with a shoulder injury and Cullen Jenkins likely to get extensive time at defensive end, this could be the season debut for defensive tackle Markus Kuhn, who has been inactive in three games since he was activated off the physically-unable-to-perform list. … Getting the Redskins off the field is difficult — they are first in the NFC and second in the NFL in third-downs conversions with 70. … Danger could be ahead for Eli Manning. He has thrown three passes this season that were intercepted and returned for touchdowns. The Redskins lead the league with four pick-sixes — two by cornerback DeAngelo Hall. … With running back Brandon Jacobs (knee) out, Peyton Hillis will be in uniform after sitting the past two games.