Bill Parcells Head Coaching Era

Lore & Background

Parcells took over a Giants franchise that had qualified for the playoffs only once in the past decade and had only one winning record in their last 10 seasons. Within four years, he guided them to their first Super Bowl title and won a second championship in Super Bowl XXV four years later. Parcells retired following the second Super Bowl.

Reader's Guide

When Parcells took over in 1983, the team 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. After this, Parcells made Simms the starter again for 1984 and replaced half the roster. The team's record improved to 9–7 and 10–6 over the next two years, earning their first back-to-back playoff appearances since 1961–1963. In 1986, he led the Giants to a franchise-best 14–2 record and Super Bowl XXI victory. Parcells led the Giants to a second Super Bowl in 1990, finishing 13–3 and winning Super Bowl XXV.

Did You Know?

• Parcells inherited a Giants team that had finished with 4 wins in the strike-shortened 1982 season.
• Parcells is credited as the first coach to be doused with Gatorade at the end of a Super Bowl.
• Parcells was nicknamed "the Big Tuna" during his stint as linebackers coach of the New England Patriots in 1980.