Tom Coughlin stepped down as New York Giants coach Monday afternoon, ending his 12-year run with the NFL team, a tenure that included two Super Bowl victories and five playoff appearances.

The Giants issued a statement from Coughlin shortly after he met with co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch for roughly an hour.

“I met with John Mara and Steve Tisch this afternoon and I informed them that it is in the best interest of the organization that I step down as head coach,” Coughlin, whose job was in jeopardy after three successive losing seasons, said in the statement.

“I strongly believe the time is right for me and my family, and as I said, the Giants organization. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as head coach of the New York Football Giants. This is not a sad occasion for me.”

Coughlin continued: “Obviously, the past three years have not been what any of us expect, and as head coach, I accept the responsibility for those seasons.”

The team has begun a coaching search for Coughlin’s replacement. Though one of the Giants’ most successful coaches, especially in the modern era, Coughlin’s last four teams did not qualify for the playoffs. His last three seasons with the Giants each ended in losing records, including consecutive 6-10 records.

Coughlin’s career NFL coaching record is 170-150 with a 12-7 record in playoff games. He was 102-90 with the Giants in the regular season and 8-3 as the Giants coach in the postseason.

Coughlin, 69, came to the Giants in 2004. He had spent nine seasons as the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, an expansion NFL team that Coughlin twice led to the AFC championship game.

With the Giants, Coughlin had the Giants in the playoffs in his second and third seasons. But when the Giants lost in the first round both times, he was on the hot seat heading into his fourth season.

The Giants qualified for the postseason with a victory in their penultimate game of the 2007 regular season, then won three consecutive road playoff games to advance to Super Bowl XLII. Coughlin’s Giants upset the previously unbeaten New England Patriots, 17-14.

The Giants were 30-18 in their next three seasons but did not win a playoff game. They sneaked into the playoffs with a 9-7 record at the end of the 2011 season and once again were pitted against the Patriots in the Super Bowl. The Giants won in another upset, 21-17.

In his statement, Coughlin also said: “I think it has been evident these last 12 years here how much pride I take in representing this franchise. I am gratified and proud that we were able to deliver two more Lombardi trophies to the display case in our lobby during that time. That is a tribute to our players and staff, and it was truly fulfilling to be the leader of those teams.”

Earlier Monday, Giants players gathered in the locker room to clean out their lockers. Coughlin had talked to his players although he did not address his uncertain job situation. Quarterback Eli Manning, who came into the NFL the same season that Coughlin began coaching the Giants, choked back tears when he talked about meeting with Coughlin for the last time.

“He definitely has not failed these players,” Manning said of Coughlin. “We failed him. I learned so much from him. He’s a great example of how you should do your job. He’s a great coach.”

Manning continued: “We’ve had a great run. It could have been better, but I appreciate everything he’s done for this team and for me personally.”

Manning said he had expressed his support of Coughlin to Mara and Tisch.

One likely candidate to replace Coughlin will be Ben McAdoo, who has been the offensive coordinator for the last two seasons. Manning praised McAdoo, whose offensive system and play calling made the Giants offense productive this season.

The Giants ranked sixth in the NFL in points scored and eighth in yards gained. Their defense was among the league’s worst.

“I feel very comfortable in the offense,” Manning said. “We scored a lot of points, we were competitive in most of the games, and I thought we had a great game plan. I think with the guys we have and add a few guys, we can be a strong offense.”

But Manning was cognizant that McAdoo might not be the new head coach and that a new one is likely to bring in a new offensive system and a new offensive coordinator. That would mean that Manning could be in his third offensive system in four years.

Of that situation, Manning said: “Obviously would not be ideal. But we didn’t get the job done. So whatever occurs, I’ll handle it.”

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