Bill Parcells

Bill Parcells is a former NFL coach and executive who led the New York Giants to two Super Bowl victories (XXI & XXV). With a comprehensive understanding of the game, Parcells transitioned to a role as an NFL analyst for ESPN after his coaching career. His coaching achievements, beyond his Super Bowl victories, include two NFC Championships ('86, ’90), an AFC Championship ('96), and two AP NFL Coach of the Year awards ('86, ’94). Parcells' influence had a transformative effect on every team he coached, notably leading the New England Patriots to their first playoff berth in eight years in 1993 and subsequently to Super Bowl XXXI in 1996.

After a respectable tenure as a collegiate athlete at Wichita State and a brief stint in the NFL, Parcells turned his focus to coaching. Starting as the linebackers coach for Hastings, Parcells gained experience in several universities ('64-’78) before joining the New York Giants as the defensive coordinator in ’79. This role was a stepping stone to his successful tenure as Head Coach starting in 1983. Following his Super Bowl triumphs with the Giants, Parcells furthered his illustrious career in the New England Patriots (’93-’96), the New York Jets (’97-’99), and the Dallas Cowboys (’03-’06), where he wrapped up his coaching career. Perhaps most notably, Parcells is the only NFL coach to lead four different franchises to the playoffs and three to a conference championship game.

Parcells’ influence extended beyond his own teams, as his coaching assistants often went on to become successful head coaches themselves. This list includes names such as Bill Belichick, Tom Coughlin, Sean Payton, Charlie Weis, and Romeo Crennel. After retiring from coaching, Parcells continued to contribute to the NFL by taking on an executive role as the Executive Vice President of Football Operations for the Miami Dolphins. He played a key role in the Dolphins' transformation to AFC East Champions in 2008, marking one of only two instances in NFL history where a team improved by ten games from the previous season.

Off the field, Parcells is credited with starting the iconic tradition of the post Super Bowl Gatorade dunking of the winning coach by his team. This lighthearted tradition is a testament to the camaraderie Parcells encouraged among his players. His contributions to the sport were recognized when he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013.