Former Jaguars coach Tom Coughlin 'humbled' by induction into Florida Sports Hall of Fame

The Pro Football Hall of Fame may come knocking at former Jacksonville Jaguars coach Tom Coughlin’s door at some point. 

A spot in the Pride of the Jaguars is also just a matter of time. 

For now, Coughlin has his Wednesday induction into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame at the Florida Theater and expressed gratitude to be included with a stout Class of 2023 in his adopted home state. 

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“You’re humbled … you appreciate it very much that the great state of Florida chose to honor us,” Coughlin said on Tuesday during a reception at EverBank Stadium’s West Club, within sight of the field on which he led the Jaguars to a 68-60 record from 1995 to 2002 and became the first coach to lead an expansion team to four playoff berths in the first five years of its existence. “And look at that class. It’s an outstanding class and we’re all excited to be here and participate in this. It means a lot.” 

Butler, Coleman also enter Florida Hall 

Going into the Florida Hall of Fame with Coughlin are three others with First Coast ties: Riverside High graduate LeRoy Butler, a Pro Football Hall of Fame safety with the Green Bay Packers, Raines graduate Greg Coleman, who had a 12-year career as the first African-American to be a full-time punter in the NFL and gymnast Shannon Miller, who won two Gold Medals in the 1996 Olympics as part of America’s “Magnificent Seven” and is now a Jacksonville resident. 

Also inducted will be 22-year NBA veteran Vince Carter of Daytona Beach, two-time world champion jet drag racer Elaine Larsen and veteran Chipola College baseball coach Jeff Johnson. 

Coughlin maintained his ties to First Coast 

Coughlin is a native New Yorker, played college football at Syracuse (and played in the 1966 Gator Bowl), coached Boston College and after leaving the Jaguars, guided the New York Giants to two Super Bowl victories (both against the New England Patriots and their combination of coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady] and a 102-90 record in 12 seasons. 

But Coughlin has always kept a residence on the First Coast where he works tirelessly with his Jay Fund charity and lends his time to other charitable causes.  

The Jay Fund, launched 25 years ago in honor of former Boston College player Jay McGillis raised more than $924,000 from its golf fundraiser in May and to date has helped more than 5,600 families dealing with childhood cancer, and donated more than $20 million in Northeast Florida and the New York area. 

Coughlin: ‘The joy was in the journey’

Nearing the 30^th anniversary of the NFL awarding Jacksonville an NFL franchise, Coughlin said his honor should be shared by everyone involved in those early days of the team, from the struggles of a 4-12 opening season in 1995 to coming 30 minutes away from the Super Bowl in 1999. 

“To have come here and started the Jaguars, to have four of the first five years in the playoffs and have that recognized is a wonderful thing,” he said. “To me, I accept on behalf of all those who worked to get there. The joy was in the journey.” 

Among those coming to pay their respects to Coughlin were current Jaguars coach Doug Pederson, who was on the Philadelphia Eagles staff under Andy Reid when they played against Coughlin’s Giants in 2011 and 2012, then faced Coughlin again in 2013 when he went to Kansas City with Reid. 

The teams Pederson coached with against Coughlin went 3-2 but Pederson said it was always going to be a long, hard day. 

“His teams are always going to be well-disciplined, and they were going to be tough,” Pederson said. “They were very physical. They were never an easy out.” 

Similar roads with Jaguars 

Pederson said Coughlin has been a mentor to him since he came to Jacksonville, and both have a shared experience in starting from the ground up -- Coughlin being part of an expansion team and Pederson taking over after the Jags went 4-29 in the previous two seasons. 

“Obviously the success he had with two Super Bowls, but how he started this organization, this franchise,” Pederson said. “In year two they’re winning games and in the AFC championship. For me, as the next [Jaguars] head coach, I look up to coach ... I’ve been in his shoes; he’s been in mine.” 

Pederson said Coughlin’s work with the Jay Fund is proof that it’s never been just about football with Coughlin. 

“His stamp and his mark on this city, and what’s done through the Jay Fund … he’s just beloved,” Pederson said. 

The next honor in store for Coughlin could be pro football’s ultimate: being enshrined in Canton. Coughlin made the list of 12 finalists in the Coach/Contributor category in August but former Detroit Lions coach Buddy Parker was selected for nomination. 

Coughlin, George Seifert and Mike Shanahan remain the only retired coaches with multiple Super Bowl victories who are not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 

When the inductees were introduced at the reception on Tuesday and Coughlin’s record was cited, Butler had a reminder of why he thinks Coughlin should be in the Hall of Fame: “he beat [Patriots coach and six-time Super Bowl winner] Belichick twice.” 

No other coach has done that to the Patriots in the Super Bowl. And with Brady retired and Belichick struggling, it’s unlikely no one will again.