Bill Parcells facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Bill Parcells

Parcells as the head coach of Air Force in 1978
Personal information
Born:	(1941-08-22) August 22, 1941 (age 83) Englewood, New Jersey, U.S.
Career information
High school:	River Dell (Oradell, New Jersey)
College:	Wichita State (1960–1963)
NFL Draft:	1964 / Round: 7 / Pick: 89
Career history
As player:
Detroit Lions (1964)*
As coach:
Hastings (1964) Linebackers coach Wichita State (1965) Linebackers coach Army (1966–1967) Linebackers coach Army (1968–1969) Defensive coordinator Florida State (1970–1972) Linebackers coach Vanderbilt (1973–1974) Linebackers coach Texas Tech (1975–1977) Defensive coordinator & linebackers coach Air Force (1978) Head coach New York Giants (1979) Defensive coordinator Resigned in the offseason after six weeks New England Patriots (1980) Linebackers coach New York Giants (1981–1982) Defensive coordinator & linebackers coach New York Giants (1983–1990) Head coach New England Patriots (1993–1996) Head coach New York Jets (1997–1999) Head coach Dallas Cowboys (2003–2006) Head coach
As executive:
New England Patriots (1993–1996) General manager New York Jets (1997–2000) General manager Miami Dolphins (2008–2010) Executive VP of football operations
Career highlights and awards
2× Super Bowl champion (XXI, XXV) 2× AP NFL Coach of Year (1986, 1994) Sporting News NFL Coach of Year (1986) 2× Pro Football Weekly NFL Coach of Year (1986, 1994) Maxwell Football Club NFL Coach of Year (1994) NFL 1990s All-Decade Team New York Giants Ring of Honor New England Patriots All-1990s Team
Head coaching record
Regular season:	NFL: 172–130–1 (.569) NCAA: 3–8 (.273)
Postseason:	11–8 (.579)
Career:	183–138–1 (.570)
Coaching stats at PFR
Pro Football Hall of Fame

Duane Charles "Bill" Parcells (/pɑːrˈsɛlz/ PAR-selz; born August 22, 1941) is a famous American football coach. He was a head coach in the National Football League (NFL) for 19 seasons. He is best known for leading the New York Giants from 1983 to 1990, where he won two Super Bowl championships.

Parcells also coached the New England Patriots (1993–1996), the New York Jets (1997–2000), and the Dallas Cowboys (2003–2006). People called him "the Big Tuna". He is the only NFL coach to take four different teams to the playoffs. He also led three of those teams to a conference championship game.

When he coached the Giants, the team hadn't been very successful. But within four years, he led them to their first Super Bowl title. Four years later, they won a second championship in Super Bowl XXV. After this, Parcells retired, but he came back in 1993 to coach the Patriots, another team that was struggling.

He led the Patriots to Super Bowl XXXI in his fourth season, though they lost that game. He then coached the Jets, turning a team that won only one game into one that played in the AFC Championship Game in just two years. Parcells retired a second time in 1999.

He returned to coaching in 2003 with the Cowboys. They made the playoffs twice under him. He retired for the third and final time in 2007. From 2008 to 2010, Parcells worked as an executive for the Miami Dolphins. He was honored by being put into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013.

Early Life and Nickname

Bill Parcells was born in Englewood, New Jersey, on August 22, 1941. He grew up in a nearby town called Hasbrouck Heights. His father played football at Georgetown University and later worked for the FBI.

Before high school, his family moved to Oradell. At River Dell Regional High School, people often confused him with another boy named Bill. Since he didn't like his first name, Duane, he decided to use Bill as his nickname.

Parcells was a great athlete when he was young. He was tall for his age, which helped him become a star in football, baseball, and basketball. His high school football coach, Tom Cahill, later became a college coach. His basketball coach, Mickey Corcoran, was a very important person in his life.

The "Big Tuna" Nickname

Parcells' famous nickname, "Big Tuna," actually came from "Tuner." When he played college football at Wichita State University, he would often arrive early to practice. He would try to find a good spot for a radio to get a signal for music. His careful preparation earned him the nickname "Tuner." Over time, especially with the accents of New York reporters, "Tuner" became "Tuna."

Playing Career

After high school, Parcells went to Colgate University. The Philadelphia Phillies even offered him a contract to play baseball. But his father wanted him to study law, so Bill turned down the offer. He then transferred to Wichita State University, where he played as a linebacker. He earned a degree in physical education.

The Detroit Lions drafted him in 1964 as an offensive lineman. However, he left the team before playing any NFL games.

College Coaching Career

After his playing days, Parcells thought about becoming a lawyer or even owning a Pizza Hut restaurant. But he chose to coach football instead. He started as an assistant coach at Hastings in 1964.

He then coached at several other colleges:

• Wichita State (1965)
• Army (1966–1969)
• Florida State (1970–1972)
• Vanderbilt (1973–1974)
• Texas Tech (1975–1977)

In 1978, he became the head coach at the Air Force Academy for one season. While coaching at Army, Parcells also helped coach basketball for Bob Knight. This started their long friendship.

Professional Coaching Career

New York Giants (1981–1990)

In 1981, Parcells joined the New York Giants as an assistant coach. He was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. He changed the team's defense to a new system. In 1982, the head coach left, and Parcells was chosen to take his place.

When Parcells became head coach in 1983, the Giants hadn't had many winning seasons. His first year was tough, with a 3–12–1 record. But Parcells made big changes, including making Phil Simms the starting quarterback again.

The team quickly improved, making the playoffs in 1984 and 1985. In 1986, Parcells led the Giants to their first Super Bowl. They had an amazing 14–2 record. Their defense, called the "Big Blue Wrecking Crew," was very strong. They beat the Denver Broncos 39–20 in Super Bowl XXI. This is also where the tradition of dousing the coach with Gatorade after a Super Bowl win is said to have started.

Parcells led the Giants to another Super Bowl win in 1990. Even with their starting quarterback injured, the team finished 13–3. They won tough playoff games, including a close 15–13 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. In Super Bowl XXV, the Giants beat the Buffalo Bills 20–19 in a very exciting game. After this win, Parcells retired from coaching for a while.

During his time with the Giants, the team won three division titles. They had a great 8–3 record in the playoffs.

First Retirement and Return (1991–1996)

After retiring, Parcells worked as a football analyst for NBC Sports. He also hosted a local sports show. In 1992, he almost became the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but he decided it wasn't the right time.

After two years away, Parcells returned to the NFL in 1993. He became the head coach for the New England Patriots, who were struggling. He quickly turned the team around. Within two years, they had a 10–6 record and made the playoffs. In 1996, he led the Patriots to their first division title in 11 years. They reached Super Bowl XXXI, but lost to the Green Bay Packers.

Parcells left the Patriots after disagreements with the team owner, Robert Kraft. Parcells wanted more say in choosing players. He famously said, "They want you to cook the dinner; at least they ought to let you shop for some of the groceries."

New York Jets (1997–1999)

Even though Parcells left the Patriots, his contract meant he couldn't coach anywhere else right away. But the New York Jets really wanted him. They hired his assistant, Bill Belichick, as coach first, then brought Parcells in as an "advisor." The NFL Commissioner helped work out a deal so Parcells could become the Jets' head coach and general manager. The Jets owner gave Parcells full control over football decisions.

Parcells quickly improved the Jets. In his first season, they went from a 1–15 record to 9–7. In 1998, the Jets had their best record ever at 12–4. They made it to the AFC Championship Game but lost to the Denver Broncos.

In 1999, the Jets had high hopes for the Super Bowl. But their quarterback got injured early in the season. The team finished 8–8 and missed the playoffs. Parcells retired from coaching for the second time after this season. He stayed with the Jets for one more year as general manager.

Dallas Cowboys (2003–2006)

After the Dallas Cowboys had three losing seasons, owner Jerry Jones convinced Parcells to come out of retirement. He became their head coach in 2003.

"Earn the Star" Tradition

When Parcells arrived in Dallas, he started a new tradition. He told all rookie players that the famous Cowboy star on their helmet was a privilege, not a right. Rookies had to "earn the star" by proving themselves on the team. The team owner loved this idea. Now, all new players must officially make the team before they get the star logo on their helmets. This tradition continues today.

Cowboys Seasons

In his first year with the Cowboys (2003), Parcells led them to the playoffs with a 10–6 record. This made him the first coach in NFL history to lead four different teams to the playoffs.

The 2004 season was tough for the Cowboys, and they finished 6–10. In 2005, Parcells worked to improve the team's defense and offense. He brought in new players, including some he had coached before. The Cowboys finished 9–7, just missing the playoffs.

In 2006, the Cowboys signed wide receiver Terrell Owens. Parcells also made a big decision to replace the starting quarterback with Tony Romo. The team finished 9–7 and made the playoffs, but they lost in the first round. Parcells helped Tony Romo become a Pro Bowl quarterback during his time in Dallas.

Third Retirement (2007)

After the 2006 season, Parcells decided to retire as the Cowboys' head coach. This was his third and final retirement from coaching.

After retiring from coaching, Parcells worked as a football analyst for ESPN.

Miami Dolphins (2008–2010)

In December 2007, Parcells agreed to become the new executive vice president of football operations for the Miami Dolphins. He had a big job to do because the Dolphins had only won one game in the previous season.

Parcells made many changes. He hired a new general manager and head coach. He also signed many new players and made trades. In the 2008 draft, they picked Jake Long as the No. 1 overall pick. They also signed quarterback Chad Pennington, who Parcells had coached with the Jets.

The Dolphins had an amazing turnaround in 2008. They finished the season 11–5 and won their division. This was a 10-game improvement from the year before, which is one of the biggest turnarounds in NFL history. They made the playoffs for the first time since 2001, but lost in the first round. Parcells left the Dolphins in 2010.

Advisory Role with the Cleveland Browns

From 2014 onwards, Bill Parcells has sometimes given advice to the Cleveland Browns. He has met with the Browns owner to share his knowledge about football. For example, he gave suggestions for hiring a new general manager in 2017. He also helped them think about new quarterbacks for the 2018 NFL draft.

Personal Life

Bill Parcells was married to Judith Goss from 1962 until 2002. They had three daughters named Suzy, Dallas, and Jill. His daughter Dallas is married to Scott Pioli, who is also a football executive.

Head Coaching Record

College

NFL

Coaching Tree

Bill Parcells worked under eight head coaches during his career:

• Dean Pryor: Hastings (1964)
• George Karras: Wichita State (1965)
• Tom Cahill: Army (1966–1969)
• Bill Peterson: Florida State (1970)
• Larry Jones: Florida State (1971–1972)
• Steve Sloan: Vanderbilt (1973–1974), Texas Tech (1975–1977)
• Ray Perkins: New York Giants (1979, 1981–1982)
• Ron Erhardt: New England Patriots (1980)

Many of Parcells' assistant coaches and players went on to become head coaches or general managers in the NFL or college football. Here are some of them:

Coaching Assistants Who Became Head Coaches

• Al Groh, Wake Forest University (1981–1986), New York Jets (2000), University of Virginia (2001–2009)
• Bill Belichick: Cleveland Browns (1991–1995), New England Patriots (2000–2023), University of North Carolina (2025-present)
• Ray Handley, New York Giants (1991–1992)
• Tom Coughlin, Jacksonville Jaguars (1995–2002), New York Giants (2004–2015)
• Walt Harris: Pittsburgh Panthers (1997–2004), Stanford University (2005–2006)
• Chris Palmer, Cleveland Browns (1999–2000)
• Romeo Crennel, Cleveland Browns (2005–2008), Kansas City Chiefs (2011, interim, 2012), Houston Texans (2020, interim)
• Eric Mangini, New York Jets (2006–2008), Cleveland Browns (2009–2010)
• Sean Payton: New Orleans Saints (2006–2021), Denver Broncos (2023–present)
• Tony Sparano, Miami Dolphins (2008–2011), Oakland Raiders (2014, interim)
• Charlie Weis, University of Notre Dame (2005–2009), University of Kansas (2012–2014)
• Todd Haley, Kansas City Chiefs (2009–2011)
• Mike MacIntyre, San Jose State University (2010–2012), University of Colorado (2013–2018), Florida International University (2022–present)
• Todd Bowles: Miami Dolphins (2011, interim), New York Jets (2015–2018), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2022–present)
• Mike Zimmer: Minnesota Vikings (2014–2021)
• Anthony Lynn: Los Angeles Chargers (2017–2020)
• Freddie Kitchens: Cleveland Browns (2019)

Players Who Became Head Coaches

• Dan Campbell: Miami Dolphins (2015, interim), Detroit Lions (2021–present)
• Eddie George: Tennessee State (2021–present)

Coaches/Executives Who Became General Managers

• Bill Belichick: New England Patriots (2000–2024)
• Charley Armey: St. Louis Rams (2000–2005)
• Jerry Angelo: Chicago Bears (2001–2011)
• Mike Tannenbaum: New York Jets (2006–2012)
• Jeff Ireland: Miami Dolphins (2008–2013)
• Scott Pioli: Kansas City Chiefs (2009–2012)
• Trent Baalke: San Francisco 49ers (2011–2016), Jacksonville Jaguars (2020, interim, 2021–present)
• Chris Grier: Miami Dolphins (2016–present)
• Brian Gaine: Houston Texans (2018–2019)
• Joe Schoen: New York Giants (2022–Present)

See also

In Spanish: Bill Parcells para niños

• History of the New York Giants (1979–1993)
• List of National Football League head coaches with 50 wins