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Giants keeping Coughlin

New York Giants co-owner John Mara says Tom Coughlin will return to coach the team next season.

Mara spoke after the Giants failed for the second straight year to make the playoffs. He said there was “never any doubt” that Coughlin would be back.

New York finished the season Sunday with a 17-14 win over the Washington Redskins, but the Giants didn’t get the help they needed to claim the NFC’s remaining wild-card berth.

The Giants went 10-6, making New York and Tampa Bay the first NFC teams since 1991 to miss the playoffs despite having a double-digit number in the win column.

Coughlin has been the Giants’ coach since 2004.

Five NFL coaches have already lost their jobs, and it appears a whole lot more are going to be looking for new positions in the next few days.

Start with the state of Ohio, where Cincinnati’s Marvin Lewis and Cleveland’s Eric Mangini are scheduled to meet with club executives today to decide their future.

Other coaches who could be in trouble include Miami’s Tony Sparano, Houston’s Gary Kubiak, Tennessee’s Jeff Fisher and Oakland’s Tom Cable.

Also, interim coaches Jason Garrett of Dallas and Leslie Frazier of Minnesota could soon get the job permanently.

Broncos, Elway close to reuniting

Hall of Famer John Elway is expected to rejoin the Denver Broncos as their chief football executive by midweek, a person with knowledge of the negotiations said.

The person spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal to bring Elway back to the franchise hasn’t been completed.

Team spokesman Patrick Smyth said reports that the team had already reached an agreement with Elway were premature.

Around the league

Tom Brady has led the New England Patriots through a record-breaking season as they finished an NFL-best 14-2. Brady has won 28 consecutive regular-season games at home as a starter. He has thrown 335 straight passes without an interception. … Peyton Manning, the only four-time MVP in league history, made his 208th consecutive start to open a career against Tennessee. Manning had tied Gene Upshaw ’s previous mark, 207, last weekend at Oakland. Manning has never missed a start in 13 NFL seasons.