Bill Parcells

Lore & Background

Parcells took over a Giants franchise that had qualified for the playoffs only once in the past decade. Within four years, he guided them to their first Super Bowl title and won a second in Super Bowl XXV. He retired after the second Super Bowl, but returned in 1993 to coach the Patriots, leading them to Super Bowl XXXI (a loss). He then became head coach and general manager of the Jets, who went from a one-win season to the AFC Championship Game by his second year. He retired again in 1999, returned with the Cowboys in 2003, and retired for good in 2007. He later served as vice president of football operations for the Miami Dolphins (2008–2010) and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013.

In Their Own Story

The locker room was quiet after another tough loss. Parcells slammed his clipboard on the table, eyes blazing with intensity. "You think this is hard?" he barked. "This is nothing compared to what we're capable of!" The players looked up, fire reigniting in their hearts. That night, they didn't just practice; they forged a new identity.

Reader's Guide

Parcells was born in Englewood, New Jersey, and grew up in Hasbrouck Heights and later Oradell, where he attended River Dell Regional High School. He played linebacker at Wichita State University and was drafted by the Detroit Lions but never played an NFL game. His coaching career began as an assistant at Hastings, Wichita State, Army, Florida State, Vanderbilt, Texas Tech, and Air Force. He was defensive coordinator for the Giants in 1979 (briefly) and linebackers coach for the Patriots in 1980 before returning to the Giants as an assistant and later head coach. He is credited as the first coach to be doused with Gatorade at the end of a Super Bowl.

Did You Know?

• Parcells adopted the nickname "Bill" because he disliked his given name Duane and was often mistaken for another boy named Bill in high school.
• He earned the nickname "Big Tuna" while coaching the Patriots in 1980, after yelling at players about a StarKist tuna commercial.
• Parcells was a part-time assistant basketball coach for Bob Knight at Army during the 1966–67 season.
• He is the only NFL coach to lead four different franchises to the playoffs and three to a conference championship game.