Jaguars Legend Tom Coughlin Earns Rare Honor

"The Coach Blue-Ribbon Committee will meet virtually in mid-November and through a sequence of reduction votes will select one (1) Finalist for the Class of 2026. Comprising the committee are nine individuals – seven who also are members of the full Selection Committee and two others who hold voting rights for this subcommittee only. Bylaws stipulate that candidates in the Coach category be retired from professional football for one full season after a Hall of Fame election cycle has begun. Individuals who last coached in the 2024 season are eligible for the Class of 2026."

Coughlin's Run

Coughlin became the first-ever Jaguars head coach after the expansion franchise was awarded to the city, eventually coaching the team for eight years and leading them to four playoff appearances. From 1996-1999, the Jaguars went to the playoffs four times and went 45-19 in the regular season, the best run in franchise history. During that span, the Jaguars went 11-5 twice and a franchise-best 14-2.

Coughlin ended his Jaguars head coaching career with a 68-60 regular-season record and a 4-4 record in the playoffs. Coughlin is tied for the most wins in franchise history and has the best winning percentage of any head coach in franchise history.

Coughlin was hired as the Jaguars' top front office executive in 2017 and helped mold Jacksonville into a 10-6 football team that made it all the way to the AFC Championship game.

Coughlin was honored by the team in Week 5 of the 2024 season, being named into the Pride of the Jaguars, the team's Hall of Fame. He was present at training camp earlier this year as Jaguars Hall of Fame left tackle Tony Boselli took over in the Executive Vice President of Football Operations role.

"Coach Coughlin -- I grew up a Patriots fan, so he broke my heart a few times. And [former UMASS and New York Giants WR] Victor Cruz being my college roommate, obviously, very close with coach Coughlin, he's been such a support for me since I've had the opportunity to take this job and live here," Jaguars head coach Liam Coen said in August.