Post by pelicanguy on Jan 22, 2007 14:06:11 GMT -5
Parcells steps down as Cowboys coach
By MAC ENGEL
(Fort Worth) Star-Telegram Staff Writer
IRVING – Bill Parcells has resigned as head coach of the Cowboys, saying: "I am retiring from coaching football."
"I want to thank Jerry Jones and Stephen Jones for their tremendous support over the last four years,” Parcells said in a statement. “Also, the players, my coaching staff and others in the support group who have done so much to help. Dallas is a great city and the Cowboys are an integral part of it. I am hopeful that they are able to go forward from here.
"I am in good health and feel lucky to have been able to coach in the NFL for an extended period of time. I leave the game and the NFL with nothing but good feelings and gratitude to all the players, coaches and other people that have assisted me in that regard."
Parcells led the Cowboys to the playoffs twice in his four seasons in Dallas. The Cowboys were eliminated in the wild card round this season by Seattle. In four seasons, Parcells posted a 34-30 regular-season record.
"I’m shocked. I’m really shocked,” said linebacker Bradie James. “We talked two Fridays ago and I asked Bill, ’Do you want my opinion?’ He said, ’Sure.’ I told him, ’Bill, you put all these guys together and I’m sure you’re not going to let another guy come in here and be so successful with your guys.’ He said, ’You’re right.’ Then he said, ’There are other things. I’m getting too old. I don’t want to be a guy that the game passed him by.’"
"I just felt, and I think a lot of us felt, that with the way the season went and with that playoff game he would return. We are all so hungry. We’re so close. I just felt he would come back."
Owner Jerry Jones wasn’t immediately available for comment.
The Cowboys hired Parcells in 2003. In his first season, he became the first head coach in NFL history to direct four teams (New York Giants, New England and New York Jets) to the playoffs when he led the Cowboys to a 10-6 record and a wild card playoff berth. It was his ninth trip to the postseason as an NFL head coach.
A two-time Super Bowl winner with the New York Giants (1986 and 1990), Parcells is one of five coaches (Dan Reeves, Don Shula, Dick Vermeil and Mike Holmgren) in NFL history to have led two teams to the Super Bowl. He retires with a career coaching record of 183-137-1. He has guided 13 of his teams to winning seasons, and nine of his clubs have won at least 10 regular-season games.
Citing health concerns, Parcells spent two years (1991-92) as a football analyst for NBC sports.
Parcells began his coaching career in 1964 as a defensive assistant at Hastings College (in Nebraska). He returned to Wichita State in 1965 as a defensive line coach before moving east to coach at Army.
After four years at West Point (1966-69), Parcells left for stints at Florida State, Vanderbilt and Texas Tech. His first head coaching position came at the Air Force Academy in 1978. He then moved on to the NFL, as an assistant on Ray Perkins’ staff with the Giants in 1979.
After one season, he joined the Patriots (1980) as the linebackers coach on Ron Erhardt’s staff for one year before returning to the Giants as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, the position he held until taking over as head coach in 1983.
By MAC ENGEL
(Fort Worth) Star-Telegram Staff Writer
IRVING – Bill Parcells has resigned as head coach of the Cowboys, saying: "I am retiring from coaching football."
"I want to thank Jerry Jones and Stephen Jones for their tremendous support over the last four years,” Parcells said in a statement. “Also, the players, my coaching staff and others in the support group who have done so much to help. Dallas is a great city and the Cowboys are an integral part of it. I am hopeful that they are able to go forward from here.
"I am in good health and feel lucky to have been able to coach in the NFL for an extended period of time. I leave the game and the NFL with nothing but good feelings and gratitude to all the players, coaches and other people that have assisted me in that regard."
Parcells led the Cowboys to the playoffs twice in his four seasons in Dallas. The Cowboys were eliminated in the wild card round this season by Seattle. In four seasons, Parcells posted a 34-30 regular-season record.
"I’m shocked. I’m really shocked,” said linebacker Bradie James. “We talked two Fridays ago and I asked Bill, ’Do you want my opinion?’ He said, ’Sure.’ I told him, ’Bill, you put all these guys together and I’m sure you’re not going to let another guy come in here and be so successful with your guys.’ He said, ’You’re right.’ Then he said, ’There are other things. I’m getting too old. I don’t want to be a guy that the game passed him by.’"
"I just felt, and I think a lot of us felt, that with the way the season went and with that playoff game he would return. We are all so hungry. We’re so close. I just felt he would come back."
Owner Jerry Jones wasn’t immediately available for comment.
The Cowboys hired Parcells in 2003. In his first season, he became the first head coach in NFL history to direct four teams (New York Giants, New England and New York Jets) to the playoffs when he led the Cowboys to a 10-6 record and a wild card playoff berth. It was his ninth trip to the postseason as an NFL head coach.
A two-time Super Bowl winner with the New York Giants (1986 and 1990), Parcells is one of five coaches (Dan Reeves, Don Shula, Dick Vermeil and Mike Holmgren) in NFL history to have led two teams to the Super Bowl. He retires with a career coaching record of 183-137-1. He has guided 13 of his teams to winning seasons, and nine of his clubs have won at least 10 regular-season games.
Citing health concerns, Parcells spent two years (1991-92) as a football analyst for NBC sports.
Parcells began his coaching career in 1964 as a defensive assistant at Hastings College (in Nebraska). He returned to Wichita State in 1965 as a defensive line coach before moving east to coach at Army.
After four years at West Point (1966-69), Parcells left for stints at Florida State, Vanderbilt and Texas Tech. His first head coaching position came at the Air Force Academy in 1978. He then moved on to the NFL, as an assistant on Ray Perkins’ staff with the Giants in 1979.
After one season, he joined the Patriots (1980) as the linebackers coach on Ron Erhardt’s staff for one year before returning to the Giants as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, the position he held until taking over as head coach in 1983.