From tiny college to NFL peak: Tracing Coughlin’s football life

1970: After a season as a graduate assistant at Syracuse, his alma mater, gets his first head-coaching job at Rochester Institute of Technology, where he spent four seasons, going 16-15-2.

1974: Returns to Syracuse as the quarterbacks coach, before being promoted to offensive coordinator in 1976.

1986: Heads to the NFL as a wide receivers coach, spending two seasons in the position with the Eagles and two with the Packers.

1988: Accepts Bill Parcells’ offer to join Giants coaching staff in the same position.

1990: Coughlin is an assistant on the Giants Super Bowl champion coaching staff, along with fellow future head coaches Bill Belichick, Romeo Crennel and Al Groh. The Giants defeated the Bills 20-19 to win Super Bowl XXV.

1991: Named head coach at Boston College, where he compiled a 21-13 record and won two bowl games in three seasons. His tenure included a 41-39 victory over then No.1 ranked Notre Dame in 1993.

1994: Named the head coach of the expansion Jacksonville Jaguars, 559 days before they would play their first game.

1996: In just the second season in franchise history, Coughlin guides the Jags to a 9-7 regular season and a spot in the AFC Championship game, losing 20-6 to the Patriots.

1999: He leads the Jags to an AFC-best 14-2 record and a fourth straight playoff appearance. However, Jacksonville falls to the Titans in the AFC title game, 33-14.

2002: Fired in Jacksonville as head coach after 6-10 season. He finishes his eight years there 68-60 and 4-4 in the playoffs.

Coughlin and Manning after the draft-day trade.AP

Jan. 2004: Named head coach of the Giants, succeeding Jim Fassel after a 4-12 record in 2003.

April 2004: The Giants make a draft day trade with the Chargers for the No. 1 overall pick, quarterback Eli Manning.

Nov. 21, 2004: With the Giants at 5-4, Coughlin names Manning the starter, replacing Kurt Warner. Though Manning loses his first seven starts, the Coughlin-Manning relationship is set.

2005: The Giants win NFC East for first time since 2000, but lose 23-0 to Carolina at Giants Stadium in a wild-card game.

2006: The Giants sneak into the playoffs of the last day of the season, but lose their wild-card game at the Eagles, 23-20.

Feb. 2007: Tiki Barber announces his retirement, citing complaints about Manning’s leadership and Coughlin’s practice style.

Sept.-Oct. 2007: The Giants reel off six straight wins to get back in the playoff hunt after an 0-2 start.

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Tom Coughlin is introduced as the 16th head coach of the Giants on Jan. 6, 2004.David Rentas

With owners Wellington Mara and Bob TischDavid Rentas

Coughlin got his franchise quarterback when GM Ernie Accorsi (right) pulled off a draft-day trade for Eli Manning in April 2004.AP

Coughlin with his first Giants starting QB, Kurt WarnerCharles Wenzelberg

Coughlin shakes hands with Bill Parcells after winning his first meeting with the Cowboys.AP

Coughlin gets a hug from running back and sometime antagonist Tiki BarberWireImage

Coughlin takes a Gatorade bath from Michael Strahan on the final day of the 2005 regular season.AP

Coughlin was irate during a wild-card loss to the Carolina Panthers on Jan. 8, 2006. Getty Images

Coughlin watches Tim Carter drop a pass during a first-round playoff ouster to the Eagles following the 2006 season.EPA

Coughlin is united with a new general manager, Jerry Reese, in January 2007.Charles Wenzelberg

Coughlin was known for paying tribute to New York's first responders.AP

Coughlin acknowledges Bill Belichick after losing the 2007 season finale to the Patriots ... a surprise rematch was weeks away.UPI

Coughlin's face turned a memorable shade of red during a freezing cold NFC Championship win at Lambeau Field following the 2007 season.AP

Coughlin congratulates kicker Lawrence Tynes, who sealed the win over the Packers.AP

At Super Bowl Media Day in Glendale, Ariz.AP

Coughlin gets doused by Madison Hedgecock after the Giants prevailed over the Patriots, 17-14, in Super Bowl XLII on Feb. 3, 2008.AP

Holding his first Lombardi TrophyReuters

Riding down the Canyon of HeroesCharles Wenzelberg

The 2008 season was off to a fast start before he had to deal with Plaxico Burress' shooting incident.Charles Wenzelberg

Andy Reid consoles Coughlin after the Eagles bounced the Giants from the playoffs in January 2009.Getty Images

Coughlin always got along with boisterous Jets counterpart Rex Ryan.Charles Wenzelberg

Coughlin faced former defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo as Rams head coach early in the 2011 season.Getty Images

Coughlin gestures for a field-goal block during a crucial Week 14 win over the Cowboys in 2011.Charles Wenzelberg

Coughlin smiles through the showers after clinching the playoffs on the last day of the 2011 season.Getty Images

Coughlin gets a fist bump from Justin Tuck while routing the Packers in the playoffs in January 2012.Charles Wenzelberg

Coughlin leads the Giants contingent off the plane for the Super Bowl in Indianapolis.AP

Back in front of the Super Bowl microphonesEPA

Coughlin hoists the hardware after knocking off the Patriots again.Charles Wenzelberg

Coughlin finds his wife, Judy, on the field after the game.EPA

The Giants were honored by President Obama at the White House in June 2012.Getty Images

Coughlin throws out the first pitch before a Yankees game.Charles Wenzelberg

Coughlin takes issue with Bucs coach Greg Schiano after some Victory formation shenanigans during a game in September 2012.AP

The 2013 season got off to a disastrous start at 0-6.Paul J. Bereswill

Offensive lineman Chris Snee, who is Coughlin's son-in-law, joins him for his charitable efforts with the Jay Fund, which fights childhood cancer.Charles Wenzelberg

A classic Coughlin pose got a workout in recent seasons.Anthony J. Causi

A Coughlin slogan told the story following the 2013 season.Anthony J. Causi

Coughlin embraces David Wilson after the young running back announced his retirement due to injury in 2014.Charles Wenzelberg

Coughlin was paired with a breathtaking new talent in Odell Beckham Jr. in 2014.Getty Images

Coughlin, now 69 years old, turned more reflective at times during a bumpy 2015 season.Ray Stubblebine

Another challenge in 2015 was managing Jason Pierre-Paul's return from a fireworks injury to his right hand. Charles Wenzelberg

Coughlin strides off the field following a devastating midseason loss to the Jets.AP

Coughlin in the thick of a tumultuous Week 15 loss to the Panthers.Anthony J. Causi

Heading into the tunnel for the final time after Sunday's loss to the Eagles.Getty Images

Dec. 2007: With a playoff spot secure, Coughlin doesn’t back down to rest any players against the unbeaten Patriots, going toe-to-toe with New England in a 38-35 loss.

Feb. 2008: After road wins over the Bucs, Cowboys, and Packers — the last coming on Lawrence Tynes’ overtime field goal at frigid Lambeau Field — the Giants face the 18-0 Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. A huge underdog, the Giants pull off a 17-14 upset thanks to David Tyree’s miracle helmet catch.

Nov. 2008: With the Giants looking to make a run at back-to-back titles, getting off to a 9-1 start, Plaxico Burress accidently shoots himself in the leg while concealing a gun in a Manhattan nightclub. The Giants lose three of their last four and fall 23-11 to the Eagles in the divisional round of the playoffs.

Osi Umenyiora and Coughlin after Super Bowl XLVI.Getty Images

2011: With the hot seat getting warmer, the Giants win three of their last four games, including a Christmas Eve battle with Jets, to make playoffs as a 9-7 wild card. They defeat the Falcons, Packers and Niners in overtime to advance to their second Super Bowl in five years.

Feb. 2012: The Giants defeat the Patriots 21-17 at Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis, giving Coughlin his third Super Bowl ring with the franchise and he becomes one of 13 coaches to win multiple Super Bowls.

Nov.-Dec. 2012: The Giants lose five of seven after a 6-2 start and miss the playoffs.

Sept.-Oct. 2013: The Giants lose their first six games of the season. Though they turn things around, they finish 7-9 and are bystanders as MetLife Stadium plays host to the Super Bowl.

Oct.-Nov. 2014: After a 3-2 start, the Giants lose seven straight games, falling to 3-9 and ensuring a third-straight season out of the playoffs.

Jan. 2015: “We need to be a playoff team in 2015,” team president and CEO John Mara says before extending Coughlin’s contract through the 2016 season.

Jan. 3, 2016: The Giants lose 35-30 to Eagles to close out another 6-10 season, which included losses in six of the final seven games to miss the playoffs for a fourth straight season. “I’m going to give myself a little time,” Coughlin says addressing his job status. “I’m sure we’ll talk with ownership and then we’ll go from there.”