Coughlin gets contract extension from Giants

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) - The oldest coach to win a Super Bowl will get at least three more shots at adding to his total.

Tom Coughlin signed a two-year contract extension through the 2014 season on Wednesday with the New York Giants. The 65-year-old Coughlin, who led the team to its second Super Bowl under him in February, has coached the Giants since 2004. His contract was in its final year.

“It has always been my belief that it is an honor and a privilege to be the head coach of the New York Giants,” said Coughlin. “I’m thankful to (co-owners) John Mara and Steve Tisch and their families for their support and the recognition of what our players and coaches have accomplished. And I’m grateful for the working relationship Jerry Reese and I have. We’ve got a lot of work left to do.”

Coughlin became the oldest coach with a Super Bowl title this year, and also took the Giants to the 2007 title. New York beat New England in the Super Bowl both times.

Overall, Coughlin is 82-57 with the Giants. He also went 72-64 in eight seasons with Jacksonville, an expansion team he helped build from scratch.

Last season was one of the roughest for the Giants and Coughlin, who stood at 7-7 and needed to win their final two games to get into the playoffs. They beat the Jets and Cowboys to win the NFC East, then defeated Atlanta, Green Bay, San Francisco and the Patriots for the title.

“Tom is a winner and he’s a fighter,” Reese said. “And I enjoy and appreciate working with him. From where I sit, I couldn’t ask for more in a head coach.”

Coughlin’s 154 total victories tie him with Hall of Famer Marv Levy for 17th on the NFL’s career list. His 12 postseason victories tie him with former Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher for the sixth-highest total in NFL history.

“Tom is the right person in the right job at the right time,” Giants co-owner Steve Tisch said. “I just really appreciate how our players respond to his leadership, and obviously our organization has benefited tremendously because of the relationship Tom has with his players.”