Kevin Gilbride doesn't think Tom Coughlin will get in Jaguars coach's way

Jacksonville Jaguars VP of football operations, Tom Coughlin, gets most of the headlines and talking points between the media and fans. There is some news that may shock you however, in that Coughlin is not the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, that's actually Doug Marrone. We've talked before about how Coughlin is going to have to pull back on his instincts to meddle and inject himself as the coach, which could ultimately undermine Marrone's authority.

It's a big concern and a joke among some people, still referring to Coughlin as "Coach Coughlin", but a former coach who served under Coughlin doesn't think it's going to be a big issue.

"The man has remarkable, incredible, almost unsurpassable self-discipline," former New York Giants and Jaguars offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride told ProFootballTalk Live!. "And with me, I was the offensive coordinator, he knew the way I liked to do things and I could not function well with interference, and he had the ability, despite the fact that it went contrary to his nature, to stay out of it and let me do what I had to do. Right or wrong, successful or unsuccessful, when he wanted to say something he waited until Monday before he said it."

Gilbride was the Jaguars offensive coordinator for their first two seasons under Coughlin, but also served as the offensive coordinator for the Giants under Coughlin from 2007 through 2013.

"I know he believes that the head coach is the head coach, and he's not the head coach anymore,: Gilbride added. "I know it's a challenge for him, but if anybody can do it, it'll be him."

As we covered before, Coughlin can be a massive asset for head coach Doug Marrone, if he offers up his services in the proper manner. Coughlin will undoubtedly have influence with how the team is run and some of the things they do, but the major coaching decisions and philosophies should come from Marrone.

The good thing is, it sounds like Marrone and Coughlin are pretty like minded, so it shouldn't be much of an issue.