Jim Fassel James Edward " Jim " Fassel ( born August 31 , 1949 ) is the head coach , general manager , and president of the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League . He is most widely known as the former head coach of the NFL ' s New York Giants . Biography . Playing career . Early life and education . Fassel played high school football for the legendary coach Clare Van Hoorebeke at Anaheim High School , where his father was the equipment manager . College / professional career . Fassel played quarterback at California State University , Long Beach after playing at USC in 1969 . He was drafted in the 7th round by the Chicago Bears in the 1972 NFL Draft . He played briefly with The Hawaiians of the WFL in 1974 , and became an assistant coach during the 1974 WFL season when the team brought New York Giants quarterback Randy Johnson in from the NFL . He left the WFL after the ' 74 season , and was working in air conditioning in Utah when the Hawaiians needed a quarterback late in the 1975 season . He played in the final game of the WFL for the Hawaiians , throwing the last pass in the league ' s history as the WFL folded three days later on October 22 , 1975 . Jim Fassel ' s total passing stats with the Hawaiians for 1974 and 1975 were 16 completions out of 39 attempts for 205 yards . He did not throw any touchdowns and was intercepted four times . Coaching career . Before 1998 . Fassel began his career with assistant coaching stints at the University of Utah and Stanford University , working with John Elway at Stanford . He also served as head coach of Utah . Prior to becoming New York Giants head coach , Fassel served as an assistant coach with the Arizona Cardinals , Denver Broncos , New York Giants , and Oakland Raiders . Jim Fassel ' s first pro coaching job was with The Hawaiians of the World Football League in 1974 . He played QB and then moved to the sidelines . Fassel was an offensive assistant coach under Mike Giddings . New York Giants . During Fassel ' s time as Giants head coach , his teams were known for numerous post - season runs in December and for winning big games , such as against the previously undefeated Denver Broncos in 1998 . In 1997 , he was named NFL coach of the year . He resurrected the career of quarterback Kerry Collins and received acclaim for his " playoff guarantee " in the 2000 season , during which he led the Giants to an improbable Super Bowl appearance . However , his legacy as head coach for the Giants is mixed . Fassel ' s Giants were known for their disappointments against inferior teams in the regular season , as well as in the playoffs . The most notable loss was a shocking 39 - 38 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the 2002 postseason , in which they blew a 38 - 14 third quarter lead . During the 2003 season , injuries decimated the Giants and he was fired amidst some controversy . While coaching for the Giants , Fassel resided in Ho - Ho - Kus , New Jersey . Baltimore Ravens . Critics of Fassel have pointed to his lack of success as offensive coordinator after two seasons with the Ravens , in 2004 and 2005 . During that time , the Ravens ranked near the bottom of the league in offense . On October 17 , 2006 , Fassel was fired as offensive coordinator for the Ravens . Coaching prospects . It is believed that Fassel had been in contention for the Washington Redskins head coaching position in 2004 , but when former Redskins coach Joe Gibbs agreed to come out of retirement , team owner Dan Snyder hired the Hall of Fame three - time Super Bowl winner . On January 23 , 2008 , it was reported in Newsday . com that Jim Fassel was again the leading candidate for the Redskins ' head - coaching position , which opened up as a result of Joe Gibbs ' retirement for the second time in that position . However , on February 9 , 2008 , Jim Zorn was hired as the new Redskins ' head coach . In November 2008 , Fassel reportedly sent a letter to Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis expressing interest in becoming the next head coach of the Raiders . In January 2009 , Fassel was interviewed by Billy Devaney for the head coaching position for the St . Louis Rams , but the position instead went to Steve Spagnuolo . Las Vegas Locomotives . In January 2009 , Fassel was named coach of the Las Vegas entrant into the United Football League . The Locos finished the regular season 4 - 2 and defeated the 6 - 0 Florida Tuskers in the first UFL Championship Game . Fassel returned to the Locos in 2010 and repeated as champions , again defeating the Tuskers in the 2010 UFL Championship Game . The Locos tried to three - peat in 2011 , but this time fell to the Tuskers , who have since then been relocated and renamed the Virginia Destroyers in the 2011 UFL Championship Game . Fassel is the only current UFL head coach who has been active in the league since its inauguration . Broadcasting career . Fassel entered broadcasting following his firing as offensive coordinator for the Ravens , joining Westwood One radio as a color commentator for its Sunday NFL action . He stayed with the network for two seasons , calling Sunday afternoon games with Harry Kalas in 2007 and " Sunday Night Football " with Dave Sims . Fassel was also part of Westwood One ' s playoff coverage those two years , calling various games , and worked the 2007 and 2008 NFC Championship Game s with Bill Rosinski ( 2007 ) and Marv Albert ( 2008 ) . Personal life . Before the 2003 NFL season , Fassel was reunited with a son , John Mathieson , whom he and his wife Kitty gave up for adoption in 1969 . The couple was unmarried when he was born . In 2004 and 2005 , Jim and Kitty Fassel owned a Quiznos restaurant in Denville , New Jersey . Their son Brian was in charge of day to day operations . The store was sold in April 2005 but has since closed . Jim and Kitty divorced in 2006 after years of counselling . Jim Fassel is also the father of John Fassel , currently the special teams coach for the St . Louis Rams . See also . 4