Judy Coughlin, wife of ex-Giants coach Tom Coughlin, dies at 77

Judy Coughlin, the wife of former New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin, has passed away at the age of 77.

The two-time Super Bowl-winning head coach revealed in 2021 that Judy had been diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy — a brain disorder that is incurable.

“Our hearts are broken. Judy has been everything to our family. For the past four years, we’ve helplessly watched her go from a gracious woman with a gift for conversation, hugging all the people she met and making them feel they were the most important person in the room, to losing almost all ability to speak and move,” Tom wrote in a New York Times article.

“She used to enjoy planning family get-togethers, going for morning walks and caring for her rosebushes; however, those activities are but distant memories. Her days are now filled with lying in bed, watching the Hallmark Channel, sitting in a wheelchair in the sun and receiving round-the-clock care. And what’s worse, she is trapped inside a body that will not allow her to be the person she was.”

During Super Bowl Sunday in February, Tom paid tribute to Judy with a special that aired on NBC.

Because of Judy’s progressive supranuclear palsy, Tom became a full-time caregiver. As a result of that experience, the Jay Fund Foundation added a caregiver program to their many charitable initiatives.

Judy was a rock for Tom throughout his life and career. She was a wonderful wife, daughter, mother and grandmother. She helped Tom become more personable during his time with the Giants, which facilitated a locker-room change that led the organization to two titles.

More than anything else, she was a remarkable philanthropist who never stopped helping those in need.

Those of us at Giants Wire offer our thoughts and prayers to Tom, his family and their many, many friends.

Story originally appeared on Giants Wire