By Mike Rosenstein, NJ Advance Media for NJ.com.
Judy Coughlin, wife of former New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin, died on Wednesday at the age of 77.
The two-time Super Bowl champion and his family issued a statement on the terrible news.
Judy Whitaker Coughlin, my dear wife, mother, and grandmother, died this morning at the age of 77. Judy was a
terrific woman in all respects. She lived a loving life, selflessly giving her heart and soul to others. Judy made you feel
like an old friend from the first hug till the last. She was a mother to everyone on and off the field. For everyone who
knew and loved Judy, the gravity of her loss is indescribable, but the great generosity she showed others will live on.
Our hearts are devastated, but we know she is now free of pain and at peace with our Lord.
Shortly after the news surfaced, Giants co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch issued a statement via the team:
“We were devastated to learn about Judy’s demise this morning. She was a shining light for all of us, and we were
grateful that she shared her energy, vigor, and love with our organization. As Tom has repeatedly stated, his duty as
head coach ended on the front porch. When he walked through the door, Judy was the boss. “Our thoughts are with
Tom and the entire Coughlin family.”
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Last year, in a personal essay for the New York Times titled “Nothing Could Prepare Me for Watching My Wife Slip
Away,” Coughlin revealed that Judy was diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy in 2020, “a brain disorder
which erodes an individual’s ability to walk, speak, think, and control body movements.” It removes memories and
the ability to communicate emotions, and, unfortunately, it is incurable.” According to the National Institutes of
Neurological Disease and Stroke, there is no effective treatment for progressive supranuclear palsy, and the
symptoms, which increase over time, seldom respond to medication.
