History of Bill Parcells in Timeline

Bill Parcells, nicknamed "the Big Tuna," is a highly successful former NFL head coach, known for his ability to turn struggling franchises into playoff contenders. He coached for 19 seasons, most notably leading the New York Giants to two Super Bowl victories (1983-1990). Parcells holds the distinction of being the only NFL coach to guide four different teams (Giants, Patriots, Jets, Cowboys) to the playoffs, and three to a conference championship game, solidifying his legacy as a transformative figure in professional football.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

August 22, 1941: Bill Parcells Born

On August 22, 1941, Duane Charles "Bill" Parcells was born. He would become a prominent football coach in the NFL.

Others born on this day/year

1961: Playoff Appearance

The Giants had their first back-to-back playoff appearances since 1961-1963.

1962: Marriage to Judith Goss

In 1962, Bill Parcells married Judith Goss.

1963: Playoff Appearance

The Giants had their first back-to-back playoff appearances since 1961-1963.

1964: Assistant Coach at Hastings

In 1964, Bill Parcells started his coaching career as an assistant coach at Hastings.

1965: Assistant Coach at Wichita State

In 1965, Bill Parcells moved on to become an assistant coach at Wichita State.

1966: Assistant Coach at Army

In 1966, Bill Parcells became an assistant coach at Army, continuing his coaching career.

1966: Part-time Assistant Basketball Coach

In 1966, while serving as the linebackers coach at Army, Bill Parcells was also a part-time assistant basketball coach for Bob Knight. This led to a longtime friendship between them.

1970: Assistant Coach at Florida State

In 1970, Bill Parcells served as an assistant coach at Florida State, furthering his coaching experience.

1973: Assistant Coach at Vanderbilt

In 1973, Bill Parcells became an assistant coach at Vanderbilt.

1975: Assistant Coach at Texas Tech

In 1975, Bill Parcells joined Texas Tech as an assistant coach.

1978: Head Coach at Air Force Academy

In 1978, Bill Parcells became the head coach at the Air Force Academy for one season.

1979: Defensive Coordinator of the Giants

In 1979, Bill Parcells accepted an offer to become the defensive coordinator of the New York Giants, but resigned when his family wanted to stay in Colorado. He then took a job with a land development company in Colorado and became a season ticket holder with the Denver Broncos, which he described as a miserable year.

1980: Linebackers Coach for Patriots

In 1980, Bill Parcells returned to football as the linebackers coach for the New England Patriots under Ron Erhardt.

1981: Simms injury

In 1981, Phil Simms missed the latter part of the season due to injury.

December 15, 1982: Named Head Coach of the Giants

On December 15, 1982, the Giants announced that Bill Parcells would succeed Ray Perkins as head coach after Perkins announced he was leaving to become head coach and athletic director at the University of Alabama.

1982: Simms misses season

Phil Simms missed the entire 1982 season due to injury.

1983: Head Coach of the New York Giants

In 1983, Bill Parcells became the head coach of the New York Giants, marking a significant milestone in his career.

1983: First Year as Giants Head Coach

In 1983, during his first year as head coach, Bill Parcells benched Phil Simms in favor of Scott Brunner, later switching back to Simms due to Brunner's struggles. The Giants surreptitiously offered Parcells' job to Howard Schnellenberger, but he declined, and the Giants had a disastrous 3–12–1 season.

1984: Simms Returns as Starter

In 1984, Bill Parcells made a finally healthy Phil Simms the starter again and replaced half the roster. The team's record improved to 9–7.

1984: Moved to New Jersey

The Jets moved to New Jersey in 1984.

1985: Home Playoff Game

The Jets home playoff game against the New England Patriots happened in 1985.

1986: Led Giants to Super Bowl XXI

In 1986, Bill Parcells led the Giants to a franchise-best 14–2 record and their first Super Bowl, Super Bowl XXI. Parcells is credited as the first coach to be doused with Gatorade at the end of a Super Bowl, which led to a Super Bowl tradition.

1986: Division Title

In 1986, Bill Parcells secured a division title with the Giants.

1987: Losing Season

In 1987, Bill Parcells and the Giants had a losing season, going 6-9 during the strike year.

1989: Division Title

In 1989, Bill Parcells secured a division title with the Giants.

1990: Second Super Bowl Victory

In 1990, Bill Parcells led the Giants to their second Super Bowl victory, Super Bowl XXV, defeating the Buffalo Bills 20-19. He retired from football after this Super Bowl due to health problems.

1990: Division Title

In 1990, Bill Parcells secured a division title with the Giants.

1991: Football Analyst for NBC Sports

In 1991, Bill Parcells became a football analyst for NBC Sports, beginning his career as a commentator.

1992: Football Analyst for NBC Sports

In 1992, Bill Parcells continued his work as a football analyst for NBC Sports and co-hosted "Around the NFL" with Mike Francesa.

1992: Declined Packers Head Coach Job

In 1992, Bill Parcells declined an offer to become the head coach of the Green Bay Packers due to needing open heart surgery. Mike Holmgren got the job instead.

1992: Opted Not to Coach Buccaneers

In 1992, Bill Parcells initially agreed to become the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but ultimately decided against it, leading to disappointment from the team's owner.

1992: Patriots Record

The New England Patriots had a 2-14 record in 1992.

1993: Head Coach of the New England Patriots

In 1993, Bill Parcells became the head coach of the New England Patriots, adding another team to his NFL coaching career.

1994: Playoff Game

In 1994, Bill Parcells coached the Patriots to a 10-6 record and their first playoff game in eight years.

1994: Kraft Buys the Team

Robert Kraft bought the New England Patriots in early 1994, after Bill Parcells' first year as head coach. This led to disagreements regarding player personnel decisions.

1996: Draft Disagreement

During the 1996 draft, Bill Parcells wanted to draft Tony Brackens but was vetoed by Robert Kraft, leading to the selection of Terry Glenn. This fueled disagreements regarding player personnel decisions.

1996: End of Tenure with Patriots

In 1996, Bill Parcells concluded his time as the head coach of the New England Patriots.

1996: Division Title

In 1996, Bill Parcells guided the Patriots to their first division title in 11 years and a trip to Super Bowl XXXI, where they lost to the Green Bay Packers.

1997: Head Coach of the New York Jets

In 1997, Bill Parcells took on the role of head coach for the New York Jets, continuing his NFL coaching journey.

1998: AFC Championship Game Loss

In 1998, Bill Parcells led the Jets to a franchise-best 12–4 record and the AFC Championship game, where they lost to the Denver Broncos. It was the only time Parcells lost a conference championship game.

1999: Second Retirement

In 1999, Bill Parcells retired for the second time from coaching.

1999: Second Retirement From Coaching

In 1999, Bill Parcells retired from football for the second time. He picked Bill Belichick to be head coach, who resigned in favor of Al Groh. Parcells remained with the Jets as general manager.

1999: Indianapolis Colts improvement

The 1999 Indianapolis Colts was one of two teams in NFL history to accomplish a 10-game turnaround

2000: End of Tenure with Jets

In 2000, Bill Parcells' tenure as the head coach of the New York Jets came to an end.

January 9, 2001: Resigned as Jets General Manager

On January 9, 2001, Bill Parcells announced his resignation as general manager of the New York Jets. He is the only Jets coach to leave the team with a winning record after coaching at least two seasons.

2001: Dolphins make playoffs

In 2001, the Dolphins made the playoffs for the first time since 2001

2002: Divorce from Judith Goss

In 2002, Bill Parcells divorced Judith Goss.

2003: Head Coach of the Dallas Cowboys

In 2003, Bill Parcells became the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, marking his return to coaching after a hiatus.

2003: Return as Cowboys Head Coach

In 2003, Bill Parcells returned from retirement to become the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys.

2003: Signing Tony Romo

In 2003, Bill Parcells signed Tony Romo and helped him develop into a Pro Bowl quarterback.

2003: First season with the Cowboys

In 2003, Bill Parcells' first season with the Cowboys, he led them to the playoffs with a 10–6 record, making him the first head coach in NFL history to guide four teams to the playoffs. They lost to the Carolina Panthers in the Wild Card round.

2003: Cowboys Helmet Star

In 2003, upon arriving with the Cowboys, Bill Parcells mandated that rookies must "earn the star" on the Cowboys helmet, making it a privilege, not a right. This was supported by owner Jerry Jones, who had the stars removed from the helmets of rookie players.

2004: Top 2004 draft pick

In 2004, the Cowboys felt the need to upgrade their passing game to complement their top 2004 draft pick, running back Julius Jones

2004: Turbulent 2004 Season

The 2004 season was tumultuous, beginning with starting quarterback Quincy Carter being terminated for alleged drug use. Veteran Vinny Testaverde was brought in but proved ineffective. The Cowboys started strong but finished the 2004 season with a 6–10 record due to injuries and other issues.

2005: Cowboys improve defense

In 2005, the Cowboys improved their defense with draft picks DeMarcus Ware and Marcus Spears. They also acquired veteran players and quarterback Drew Bledsoe. The Cowboys went 9–7 in 2005, missing the playoffs.

2006: Development of Tony Romo

By 2006, Parcells' greatest accomplishment as Cowboys head coach was the development of quarterback Tony Romo into a Pro Bowl quarterback.

2006: End of Tenure with Cowboys

In 2006, Bill Parcells concluded his time as the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys.

2006: 2006 Season with the Cowboys

In 2006, the Cowboys signed Terrell Owens and released Keyshawn Johnson. Drew Bledsoe was replaced with Tony Romo as quarterback. The Cowboys finished the 2006 season 9–7, losing to the Eagles and Lions, and then losing to the Seahawks in the playoffs due to a botched field goal.

January 22, 2007: Retirement as Cowboys Head Coach

On January 22, 2007, Bill Parcells announced his retirement as head coach of the Cowboys after four years.

December 19, 2007: Agreed to Become Executive VP of Football Operations of the Miami Dolphins

On December 19, 2007, Bill Parcells agreed to become the new executive vice president of football operations of the Miami Dolphins.

2007: Final Retirement

In 2007, Bill Parcells retired from coaching for the third and final time.

2007: Rumors About Parcells' Future

In 2007, Parcells faced questions about his return to the Cowboys. Following a loss to the Seattle Seahawks, rumors about Parcells' future escalated.

2007: Changes at the Miami Dolphins

In 2007, as executive vice president of football operations for the Miami Dolphins, Bill Parcells fired head coach Cam Cameron and general manager Randy Mueller. He brought in Jeff Ireland as general manager and Tony Sparano as head coach.

2008: VP of Football Operations for Dolphins

In 2008, following his final retirement from coaching, Bill Parcells became the vice president of football operations for the Miami Dolphins.

2008: Dolphins draft

In the 2008 draft, the Dolphins drafted offensive tackle Jake Long with the No. 1 overall pick, along with Phillip Merling, Kendall Langford, Chad Henne, Lex Hilliard, and Donald Thomas. They also signed undrafted free agents Dan Carpenter and Davone Bess.

2008: Dolphins Finish as AFC East Champions

The Dolphins finished the 2008 season 11–5 and became AFC East champions. They had a 10-game improvement from the previous season. However, they were defeated in the first round by the Baltimore Ravens.

2009: Dolphins release Zach Thomas

In 2009, the Dolphins released Zach Thomas, who signed with the Dallas Cowboys, and traded Jason Taylor to the Washington Redskins.

2010: Parcells Leaves the Dolphins

In 2010, Bill Parcells left the Miami Dolphins.

2010: End of Tenure with Dolphins

In 2010, Bill Parcells' tenure as the vice president of football operations for the Miami Dolphins came to an end.

2013: Advisory Relationship with Haslam

In 2013, Bill Parcells began an advisory relationship with Jimmy Haslam, giving suggestions for the Browns' head coaching search.

2013: Inducted into Pro Football Hall of Fame

In 2013, Bill Parcells was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, marking a significant honor in his career.

February 12, 2014: Interview by Cleveland Browns

On February 12, 2014, Bill Parcells was reportedly interviewed by the Cleveland Browns in an executive capacity, but the two sides could not come to a deal.

March 6, 2014: Meeting with Jimmy Haslam

On March 6, 2014, Gil Brandt reported Bill Parcells had met with Browns owner Jimmy Haslam as a consultant. Parcells also met with Teddy Bridgewater, leading to speculation about his role in the 2014 NFL draft.