Giants' Coughlin To Return In 2015; Perry Fewell's Status Up In Air

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- It's official. Head coach Tom Coughlin will be back with the Giants in 2015.

Co-owner John Mara confirmed that the two-time Super Bowl champion will return during a news conference on Tuesday, though he did say that he might not extend the 68-year-old's contract. The longtime coach's deal expires after the 2015 season.

"Tom Coughlin gives us the best chance going forward," Mara said. "How long that's going to last? I don't know."

Mara also confirmed that general manager Jerry Reese will be back.

"I never considered not being back," a confident Coughlin told reporters. "...I'm as sick and disappointed as anyone in the last few years."

As for defensive coordinator Perry Fewell, his status appears to be up in the air.

According to Newsday, there's a "50-50" chance that Fewell will be retained for next season.

When asked if Fewell will be back, Coughlin calmly said, "I'm evaluating everything." He also said that the coach had his hands full in 2014 and the players responded well to him.

It was a rough season for Fewell's defense. New York finished ranked 29th in yards allowed and gave up 400 points for just the fifth time in franchise history.

Fewell, 52, has been the Giants' defensive coordinator since 2010. He helped the G-Men win Super Bowl XLVI over the Patriots in 2012. Prior to joining the Giants, he served as the Bills' defensive coordinator.

Mara didn't rule out the possibility that some changes could be on the way after his team finished 6-10 and missed the playoffs for the third straight season.

But Mara said that any staff changes will be decided by Coughlin.

"You don't tell a head coach like Tom Coughlin that he has to make certain changes," Mara said. "He knows better than we do."

If Fewell is fired, the Giants might turn to an old friend to lend a hand.

Newsday reports that the organization would be interested in Steve Spagnuolo as a replacement for Fewell. Spagnuolo, of course, was the Giants' defensive coordinator in 2007 and 2008. He was the architect of the defense that stopped Tom Brady and the Patriots' dream of a 19-0 season in Super Bowl XLII.

Spagnuolo is currently the Ravens' secondary coach, so the Giants wouldn't be able to speak with him for a week or so, at the earliest. And that's, of course, if the Ravens grant Spagnuolo permission to speak with his former employer.

The Ravens will play the Steelers in the first round of the playoffs on Saturday.

Spagnuolo is still close with Coughlin and the front office, the newspaper reports.

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