Bill Parcells
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Bill Parcells | |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | August 22, 1941 (age 65) |
| Place of birth |  Englewood, NJ |
| Position(s) | Head Coach |
| College | Wichita State University |
| Career Highlights | |
| Awards | 1994 AP NFL Coach of Year 1986 AP NFL Coach of Year 1986 Sporting News NFL Coach of Year 1996 Pro Football Weekly NFL Coach of Year 1994 Pro Football Weekly NFL Coach of Year 1994 Maxwell Football Club NFL Coach of Year 1994 UPI NFL Coach of Year 1986 UPI NFL Coach of Year |
| Honors | NFL 1990s All-Decade Team |
| Career Record | 172-130-1 (Regular Season) 11-8 (Postseason) 183-138-1 (Overall) |
| Super Bowl Wins |
1990 Super Bowl XXV 1986 Super Bowl XXI |
| Championships Won |
1996 AFC Championship 1990 NFC Championship 1986 NFC Championship |
| Stats | |
| Coaching Stats | Pro Football Reference |
| Coaching Stats | DatabaseFootball |
| Team(s) as a coach/administrator | |
| 1978 1983-1990 1993-1996 1997-1999 2003-2006 |
Air Force Falcons New York Giants New England Patriots New York Jets Dallas Cowboys |
Duane Charles "Bill" Parcells (born August 22, 1941 in Englewood, New Jersey), nicknamed "The Big Tuna", is a retired American football head coach, last coaching the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. Parcells owns two Super Bowl rings with wins in Super Bowl XXI and Super Bowl XXV. He announced his fourth retirement from football on January 22, 2007 [1]
Contents |
[edit] Early career
He was a fierce linebacker at the University of Wichita (now Wichita State). His assistant coaching jobs at the collegiate level were Hastings (1964), Wichita State (1965), Army (1966-69), Florida State (1970-72), Vanderbilt (1973-74), and Texas Tech (1975-77). He was the head coach at Air Force (1978).
[edit] New York Giants
In 1979, Parcells joined the New York Giants as the defensive coordinator under Ray Perkins. In 1980, he left to join the New England Patriots as the linebackers coach under Ron Erhardt for one year before returning to the Giants as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. When Perkins announced on December 15, 1982 that he was leaving the Giants at the end of the season to become head coach at the University of Alabama, the Giants announced that Parcells would succeed him as head coach.
When Parcells took over in 1983, the New York Giants were a team that had posted just one winning season in the previous ten years. In his first year, he made a controversial decision to bench Phil Simms in favor of Scott Brunner. The result was a disastrous 3-12-1 season during which the Giants seriously considered bringing in University of Miami head coach Howard Schnellenberger to replace Parcells [2]
After this dismal first season, Parcells made Simms the starter again. The team's record improved to 9-7 and 10-6 over the next two years, and earned them their first back-to-back play-off appearances since 1961-1963. In 1986, he led the Giants to the first of two Super Bowls. In the 1986 season, the Giants compiled a franchise best 14-2 record and the first of three division titles. Parcells, whose stifling 3-4 defense (known as Big Blue) led by Lawrence Taylor, Carl Banks, Harry Carson, and Leonard Marshall, and an offense under the direction of Phil Simms, knocked off the San Francisco 49ers 49-3, and the Washington Redskins 17-0, in the playoffs before routing the Denver Broncos, 39-20, in Super Bowl XXI.
Parcells led the Giants to a second Super Bowl in 1990. The Giants began the 1990 season 10-0, and finished 13-3, but lost Simms to injury late in the season. Playing with a back-up quarterback in Jeff Hostetler and a 33-year-old veteran running back in Ottis Anderson, the Giants overcame the Chicago Bears in the divisional playoff, 31-3, and won in dramatic, come-from-behind fashion over San Francisco, 15-13, in the NFC Championship on a last-second 41-yard field goal by Matt Bahr which was set-up by a turnover caused by the formidable Big Blue defense. Super Bowl XXV proved equally exciting as the Giants used tough defense, and a ball-control and power-running Erhardt - Perkins style offense to stop the Buffalo Bills, 20-19, whose own last-second 47-yard field goal attempt by Scott Norwood missed wide right. This was considered to be Parcells' greatest victory, since the Giants were overcoming injuries and the Bills were considered to be nearly unstoppable that year. Parcells retired from football after Super Bowl XXV due to health problems. During his tenure, the Giants had secured three division titles (1986, 1989, 1990), had only two losing seasons (the Giants went 6-9 during the strike year of 1987) and tallied an 8-3 playoff record.
[edit] First retirement
Following retirement, Parcells spent time as a football analyst for NBC Sports from 1991-1992, working as a studio commentator. He also hosted a local sports show in New York with Mike Francesa entitled Around the NFL.
In 1992, Parcells made a handshake agreement to become head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. At the last minute, Parcells opted not to take the job. Parcells did not feel the situation was right for him at that time. Tampa Bay owner Hugh Culverhouse said, "I feel like I've been jilted at the altar."[1]
[edit] New England Patriots
After a two-year hiatus, Parcells returned to the NFL in 1993 as the head coach for the New England Patriots. Within two years, Parcells coached the team to a 10-6 record and its first playoff game in eight years. In 1996, he guided the Patriots to Super Bowl XXXI but lost to the Green Bay Packers, 35-21, in New Orleans.
Parcells left the Patriots after disagreements with owner Robert Kraft; Parcells felt he did not have enough input into player personnel decisions. Upon his departure, Parcells stated: "If they want you to cook the dinner, at least they ought to let you shop for some of the groceries." This was mainly in reference to an incident in the Patriots' war room during the 1996 Draft where Parcells, who wanted to draft a defensive player with their first-round choice, was vetoed by Kraft, and the Patriots selected Ohio State WR Terry Glenn.
[edit] New York Jets
Although Parcells had decided to leave New England, his contract did not allow him to coach anywhere else. The New York Jets sought Parcells to take over their football operation after a 4-28 record under Rich Kotite. To circumvent Parcells' contractual obligations, the Jets hired Bill Belichick (then the #1 assistant to Parcells) as the Jets coach, and Bill Parcells was hired by the Jets in an "advisory" role. New England threatened legal action against Parcells and the Jets, but NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue brokered a deal between the two sides, with New England releasing Parcells from his contract and the Jets giving New England a first round draft choice.
Parcells instrumented a remarkable turnaround in his first year with the Jets. In his first season with the Jets, the team barely missed the playoffs with a record of 9-7. In 1998, the Jets went to the playoffs with a 12-4 record but lost to the eventual Super Bowl-champion Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game.
In 1999, expectations were high for the Jets to go to the Super Bowl. However, quarterback Vinny Testaverde would rupture his achilles tendon in the Jets home opener and the season would go downhill. After starting the season 1-6, the Jets won 3 straight and faced the Indianapolis Colts. Parcells emphasized the importance of not obtaining a "7th loss" but they did lose to the Colts and then to the New York Giants the following week. At 4-8, the Jets were in danger of finishing below .500. Remarkably, the Jets would finish 8-8, but out of the playoffs. In 1999, Bill Parcells retired from football for the second time, vowing that he would not coach again. He would remain with the Jets one more year as general manager.
[edit] Dallas Cowboys
Following three straight 5-11 seasons, Dallas Cowboys' owner Jerry Jones lured Bill Parcells out of retirement and made him the head coach in 2003. In his first season with the Cowboys, he led them to the playoffs with a 10-6 record (losing to the eventual NFC Champion Carolina Panthers in the opening round), thus making him the first head coach in NFL history to guide four different teams to the playoffs. Pacells would finish his Dallas stint with a mediocre 34-32 record and zero playoff wins.
The 2004 season was one of turmoil. Starting quarterback Quincy Carter was terminated for alleged drug use in favor of aging 40-year-old veteran Vinny Testaverde, who had been brought to the Cowboys from the New York Jets by his former coach in the off-season. While a favorite of Coach Parcells, Testaverde proved ineffective as a starter. The Cowboys started strong, with victories against the Cleveland Browns and Washington Redskins, but injuries, older personnel, spotty play calling, and persistent penalties hobbled the Cowboys, and they quickly fell off to a 3-5 record by midseason, finishing the season a dismal 6-10.
The Cowboys improved their defense before the 2005 season with the additions of first round draft picks Demarcus Ware and Marcus Spears. Parcells drafted these players in hopes of jumpstarting the team's transition from the traditional 4-3 defense to a 3-4 defense, which Parcells had run in all of his previous stops. Jerry Jones also added a number of high-priced older veteran players, acquiring nose tackle Jason Ferguson and cornerback Anthony Henry via free agency, and linebacker Scott Fujita via the Kansas City Chiefs. On offense, the Cowboys felt the need to upgrade their passing game to complement their top 2004 draft pick, running back Julius Jones, and acquiring quarterback Drew Bledsoe via free agency. During his tenure, Parcells has made a point of signing players that have played for him in the past, including Bledsoe and Terry Glenn (with the Patriots), cornerback Aaron Glenn, wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson and as fullback Richie Anderson. In 2005, the Cowboys went 9-7, missing the playoffs by one game.
In 2006 the Cowboys signed controversial former Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Terrell Owens. Keyshawn Johnson was released and signed with the Carolina Panthers. While Owens has had his on and off-field issues, such as a murky drug overdose incident, the team has been fairly successful with Owens on the field. In week 7 of the 2006 season, Parcells decided to replace veteran quarterback Drew Bledsoe with fourth year quarterback Tony Romo. The Cowboys were 6-4 with Romo as the starter. They finished the season with a 9-7 overall record but failed to win the NFC East Division after a 23-9 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Christmas Day in week 16 followed by a loss to the last-place team in the NFC North, the Detroit Lions in week 17. They were able to clinch a playoff berth as the 5th seed in the NFC, eventually losing 21-20 against the Seahawks in Seattle on January 6th, on a botched hold by Tony Romo during a field goal attempt.
[edit] Third retirement
Parcells would have entered the final year of his contract with the Cowboys in 2007, and had been facing questions all year as to whether or not he won't return to the Cowboys to coach his final season. With an 0-2 playoff record over four years as coach of Dallas, many have begun to wonder if the game has simply "passed him by". Immediately following the Cowboys' loss to the Seattle Seahawks, Parcells said that he was unsure if he would return in 2007, and the rumors about Parcells' future escalated.
On January 9, the Newark Star Ledger reported through anonymous sources that Parcells had contacted the New York Giants about their available General Manager position, but the Giants are reportedly not interested in Parcells' services.[2] Parcells, the next day, quickly refuted any interest in the Giants GM position stating, "There is absolutely nothing to it. Whoever said it is a liar." [3]
On January 22, 2007 he announced his retirement as head coach of the Cowboys after 4 years.
Since retiring from football, Parcells has accepted a position as a studio analyst for ESPN. This will be his second stint with the network, having worked there before accepting the job in Dallas. It was rumored that ESPN offered him position on Monday Night Football, but Parcells declined the opportunity.
[edit] The Bill Parcells Coaching Tree
Here is a sample of the current NFL Head Coaches that are in the Bill Parcells Coaching tree:
Parcells has had extraordinary success in grooming his assistant coaches for eventual head coaching positions of their own. As of 2006, former Parcells assistants who are currently head coaches in either the NFL or the college ranks include:
- Bill Belichick, New England Patriots
- Tom Coughlin, New York Giants
- Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints
- Romeo Crennel, Cleveland Browns
- Eric Mangini, New York Jets
- Al Groh, University of Virginia
- Charlie Weis, University of Notre Dame
In addition, Parcells disciple Ray Handley served as head coach for the New York Giants from 1991 through 1992, and Al Groh and Chris Palmer served as head coaches of the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns, respectively, at one time.
Parcells, Belichick, Coughlin, Payton, and Mangini all were able to guide their respective teams into the 2006 playoffs, accounting for nearly half of the post-season field.
[edit] Miscellaneous
- Parcells is very superstitious. He never picks up a penny with the tail side up because he believes picking it up would bring bad luck. When he had Harry Carson as a player with the Giants, he would have him at his side during the singing of the national anthem for good luck.
- Parcells mother, Ida, was Italian. He states this on his ESPN Sportscentury biography.
- Parcells has coached in a Super Bowl in the last two decades (Super Bowl XXI, Super Bowl XXV, & Super Bowl XXXI).
- Parcells earned the nickname "The Big Tuna" when he responded to a statement from a player with the incredulous "Who do you think I am? Charlie the Tuna?" [3]
- Patriots Vice President of Player Personnel Scott Pioli is married to Parcells's daughter, making Pioli his son-in-law.
- Parcells is a Boston Red Sox fan. Growing up, the one thing Parcells' father was obnoxious about was being a fan of the New York Yankees. Parcells became a Red Sox fan because he thought that they were the only team that could beat the Yankees.
- In an emotional game against the Philadelphia Eagles in 2005, Roy Williams made a game-winning interception when he scored off a throw by Donovan McNabb. Ten hours before kickoff, Parcells attended the funeral of his younger brother Don, who once played football for the Army. It was said that Don wore the number 31 in his football days, the same number as Williams.[4]
- Parcells was originally approached by Electronic Arts in the late 1980s about starting a professional football video gaming franchise. Parcells showed no interest, paving the way for John Madden's football video games, which are now consistently among the highest selling video games on a yearly basis.
- Parcells is now the head coach for Backyard Drills Football Edition. Backyard Drills[4] is a youth-sports coaching DVD series that enables parents and mentors to coach their kids throughout the year in a way that enhances and does not conflict with team coaches. To Parcells' credit, this series appears to be an effort to counter the negative parental behaviour on sidelines and the equally disturbing off-field antics of many professional athletes. The rather extensive series focuses parents and kids on the most important elements of youth sports: fundamental skills, diet and physical conditioning, and character.
[edit] References
- ^ AP (2002-01-19). With Parcells, it's the same old song, different verse. Sports Illustrated. Retrieved on January 2, 2007.
- ^ Giants: Say no thanks to Parcells. Newark Star-Ledger (2007-01-09). Retrieved on January 9, 2007.
- ^ Parcells denies interest in Giants' GM job. MSNBC (2007-01-10). Retrieved on January 22, 2007.
- ^ http://www.coachem.org
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Dave Campo |
Dallas Cowboys Head Coach 2003–2007 |
Succeeded by Wade Phillips |
| Preceded by Richie Kotite |
New York Jets Head Coach 1997–1999 |
Succeeded by Al Groh |
| Preceded by Dick MacPherson |
New England Patriots Head Coach 1993–1996 |
Succeeded by Pete Carroll |
| Preceded by Ray Perkins |
New York Giants Head Coach 1983–1990 |
Succeeded by Ray Handley |
| Preceded by Ben Martin |
Air Force Falcons Head Coach 1978 |
Succeeded by Ken Hatfield |
| Preceded by Mike Ditka George Seifert |
Super Bowl winning Head Coaches Super Bowl XXI, 1987 Super Bowl XXV, 1991 |
Succeeded by Joe Gibbs Joe Gibbs |
| New York Giants Head Coaches |
|---|
| Folwell • Alexander • Potteiger • Andrews • Friedman • Owen • Howell • Sherman • Webster • Arnsparger • McVay • Perkins • Parcells • Handley • Reeves • Fassel • Coughlin |
| Boston/New England Patriots Head Coaches |
|---|
| Saban • Holovak • Rush • Mazur • Bengtson • Fairbanks • Erhardt • Meyer • Berry • Rust • MacPherson • Parcells • Carroll • Belichick |
| New York Titans/Jets Head Coaches |
|---|
| Baugh • Turner • Ewbank • Winner • Shipp • Holtz • Michaels • Walton • Coslet • Carroll • Kotite • Parcells • Groh • Edwards • Mangini |
| Dallas Cowboys Head Coaches |
|---|
| Landry • Johnson • Switzer • Gailey • Campo • Parcells • W. Phillips |
Categories: Articles lacking sources from October 2006 | All articles lacking sources | Air Force Falcons football coaches | 1941 births | American football linebackers | National Football League announcers | Army Black Knights football coaches | Dallas Cowboys coaches | Florida State Seminoles football coaches | Italian-American sportspeople | Living people | New England Patriots coaches | New York Giants coaches | New York Jets coaches | NFL 1990s All-Decade Team | People from Bergen County, New Jersey | People from Saratoga Springs | Sports Hall of Fame of New Jersey | Texas Tech Red Raiders football coaches | Vanderbilt Commodores football coaches | Wichita State Shockers football players
