Coughlin promised to bring to Rock Island a Notre Dame-style offense based upon tough line play and precise, short forward passes.

On October 16, 1921, down 7-0 to the Chicago Cardinals, Coughlin scored two touchdowns to help give the Independents a 14-7 lead in the second quarter.

Team manager Walter Flanigan ordered tackle Ed Healey to relieve Coughlin.

[5] Coughlin then spent the rest of the 1921 season playing for the Detroit Tigers and the Green Bay Packers.

From 1945–1949, he served as the assistant Attorney General of Indiana, under Governors Ralph Gates and Henry Schricker.