Eric Mangini

Lore & Background

Mangini, 35, became the youngest head coach in the NFL when he was hired by the New York Jets on January 17, 2006. He led the Jets to a 10–6 record and a postseason berth in his first season, but the team went 4–12 in 2007 and missed the playoffs in 2008 after an 8–3 start, leading to his firing on December 29, 2008. He was nicknamed 'The Penguin' by receiver Laveranues Coles.

In Their Own Story

The fluorescent lights of the practice facility hummed late into the evening as Eric Mangini stood before a whiteboard covered in intricate diagrams. The air smelled of turf and determination. He pointed to a specific gap in the defensive line alignment, his voice calm but commanding. 'They think they can run it here,' he told the assembled linebackers, tapping the board with a marker. 'But tonight, we show them they can't.' In that quiet room, away from the roar of the crowd at Giants Stadium, the blueprint for a division championship was drawn.

Reader's Guide

Mangini's head coaching record with the Jets was 14–18 over three seasons. He never won an AFC East division title with the team.

Did You Know?

• Mangini was a linebacker at Bulkeley High School in Hartford, Connecticut, and played nose tackle at Division III Wesleyan University, where he holds the school's single-season (11.5) and career (36.5) sacks records.
• He won three Super Bowls as an assistant coach with the New England Patriots.
• Mangini had a cameo role in the penultimate episode of The Sopranos, where he was referred to by his nickname 'Mangenius'.