Thomas McGaughey
refer to caption
McGaughey in 2021
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Position:Special teams coordinator
Personal information
Born: (1973-05-08) May 8, 1973 (age 50)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Career information
College:Houston
Undrafted:1996
Career history
As a player:
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
As a coach:
Career highlights and awards

Thomas McGaughey (born May 8, 1973) is an American football coach and former player who is the special teams coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He has previously served the same role for the Carolina Panthers, San Francisco 49ers, New York Jets and New York Giants. He also served as assistant special teams coordinator for the New York Giants from 2007 to 2010.

Playing career

McGaughey played as a defensive back at the University of Houston from 1991 to 1995. He was the special teams captain as a senior. McGaughey spent time with the Cincinnati Bengals (1996) and Philadelphia Eagles (1997) of the National Football League (NFL).[1] In 1997 he won NFL Europe’s World Bowl with the Barcelona Dragons.[2] In 1999, he played for the Houston Outlaws in the short-lived Regional Football League.[3]

Coaching career

McGaughey started his coaching career with Houston in 1998 as a graduate assistant. In 2002, he became the assistant special teams coach for the Kansas City Chiefs after a year as a minority intern with them, before returning to Houston to be their special teams coordinator. McGaughey then spent the 2005 and 2006 seasons as assistant special teams coordinator for the Denver Broncos, and the same role for the New York Giants from 2007 to 2010. During his first season with the Giants, the team won Super Bowl XLII by defeating the New England Patriots, 17–14.[4]

McGaughey became special teams coordinator for LSU in 2011 and held the position until 2013. He spent the following seasons as special teams coordinator for the New York Jets in 2014, San Francisco 49ers in 2015, and Carolina Panthers from 2016 to 2017.

New York Giants (second stint) (2022–2023)

On February 11, 2022, McGaughey returned to the New York Giants as special teams coordinator.[5]

In his first season, the Giants' special teams finished 28th in the league.[6] The 2023 season saw the unit decimated by injuries: kicker Graham Gano was placed on injured reserve in November after missing 35% of his field goal attempts for the season,[7] Randy Bullock injured his hamstring on December 17,[8] and Cade York injured his quad in practice before appearing in a game, forcing the team to sign Mason Crosby.[9] McGaughey was fired on January 8, 2024.[10]

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2024-present)

On February 7, 2024, McGaughey was hired by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as their special teams coordinator for the 2024 season.[11]

Personal life

McGaughey married Erica and they have a son, Trent.[12][13]

In May 2020, he was diagnosed with periampullary cancer.[14]

References

  1. ^ "Thomas McGaughey". uhcougars.com. Archived from the original on January 27, 2018. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
  2. ^ "Thomas McGaughey Bio". LSUsports.net. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  3. ^ Goolsby, Henry (April 25, 1999). "Pride: Scores safety, field goal". The Clarion-Ledger. Jackson, Mississippi. p. 36. Retrieved January 28, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Giants Stun Patriots in Super Bowl XLII". The New York Times. February 4, 2008.
  5. ^ Eisen, Michael (February 14, 2022). "Mike Kafka, Don Martindale, Thomas McGaughey named Giants coordinators". giants.com. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  6. ^ Gosselin, Rick (January 20, 2023). "Rick Gosselin's 2022 NFL Special Teams Rankings". rickgosselin.com. Rick Gosselin. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  7. ^ Eisen, Michael. "Graham Gano placed on IR; Giants add Cade York, Randy Bullock". giants.com. New York Giants. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  8. ^ Williams, Charean (December 17, 2023). "Giants K Randy Bullock questionable to return with hamstring injury". nbcsports.com. NBC Universal. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  9. ^ Eisen, Michael. "Giants add veteran kicker Mason Crosby; Cade York (quad) injured". giants.com. New York Giants. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  10. ^ "Giants Fire ST Coordinator Thomas McGaughey; OC Mike Kafka, DC Don Martindale Likely To Be Retained". profootballrumors.com. January 8, 2024. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  11. ^ Simmons, Myles (February 8, 2024). "Buccaneers to hire Thomas McGaughey as special teams coordinator". nbcsports.com. NBC Universal. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  12. ^ Duggan, Dan. "'Life's not going to stop for anybody': Giants coordinator Thomas McGaughey reflects on his grueling battle with cancer". theathletic.com. The Athletic Media Company. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  13. ^ Raanan, Jordan (November 20, 2020). "Handful of Giants coaches spending season apart from family because of COVID-19". espn.com. ESPN, Inc. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  14. ^ Benton, Dan (August 11, 2020). "Giants' Thomas McGaughey, cancer survivor, never considered opting out". giantswire.usatoday.com. Giants Wire. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
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