Report: Eagles To Interview Tom Coughlin Monday

A new name has been added into the mix, and it’s a big one.

The Eagles have made a request to interview Tom Coughlin, per a league source, backing up a report by Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports.

The Eagles’ request has been granted, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, and the team will speak to Coughlin Monday night. Rapoport added that it’s “more of a feeling-out for both [sides] than an interview,” and that it’s “unlikely [the] Giants would stand in the way of the Eagles” because New York “would simply avoid paying the final year” of Coughlin’s contract.

Here’s an excerpt from Garafolo’s story:

The sources said the Eagles are interested in Coughlin’s services, which jibes with a report from FOX 5 in New York on Friday night that stated the Eagles requested permission from the Giants to speak with Coughlin.

A Giants spokesman would neither confirm nor deny the Eagles’ request when asked about it by FOX Sports Friday night. Coughlin resigned as Giants coach with one year left on his contract, which means the Giants still hold his rights.

A source told FOX Sports shortly after Coughlin resigned on Monday the 69-year-old coach would entertain the idea of coaching again in the right situation. He has four children and 11 grandchildren who all live on the East Coast.

The 69-year-old Coughlin recently stepped down as Giants head coach after 12 season in New York, a run that included two Super Bowl Championships. He was asked at his farewell press conference whether he would consider returning to the sidelines this year if the right opportunity came along.

“I didn’t say that,” responded Coughlin when asked whether he would consider returning to the sidelines if the right opportunity to coach in 2016 came along. “I said I’m not necessarily done with coaching. Thank you very much for asking.”

It’s to be seen whether Coughlin finds the Eagles job one worth taking — should the Eagles even get to the point where they offer it to him. But it’s an interesting development nonetheless.

The news comes as momentum builds towards an Adam Gase/Dolphins pairing.

The Eagles have an interview scheduled with Doug Pederson Sunday, and are also expected to sit down with Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin and Bengals DC Paul Guenther. Besides Gase, they have met with Giants coordinator Ben McAdoo and in-house candidates Pat Shurmur and Duce Staley.