Bill Parcells might have a rough-and-gruff persona from his days coaching in the NFL, but a new book reveals his kinder side. Author Gary Myers recently unveiled that the two-time Super Bowl-winning head coach has been more than willing to open up his checkbook for former players.
Myers made an appearance on WFAN’s Boomer & Gio to talk about his new book about the New York Giants’ 1986 team, Once a Giant: A Story of Victory, Tragedy, and Life After Football. In that interview, the author talked about Parcells’ willingness to help former players.
“People are going to find out how Bill Parcells has made this transition from a guy who had love-hate relationships with his players to the patriarch of that ’86 team, now that Wellington Mara has been gone for awhile and Bill has had his 82nd birthday recently,” Myers said, per the New York Post.
In the interview, Myers revealed that Parcells has donated $4 million to ex-players in need.
“It’s just incredibly generous what he’s done with these guys. Bill has loaned out $4 million to 20 players that played for him, who come to him in this financial crisis. Bill knows when they come to him it’s a last resort,” Myers said.
“I said to him, ‘Bill, you know, $4 million, you don’t expect anybody to pay you back. Why are you doing that?’ And he said, ‘These guys have sacrificed so much for me with their bodies and their commitment.’ “
As much as Parcells was considered a hard-nosed coach, he clearly appreciates all his players sacrificed.
Parcells led the Giants from 1983-90. His teams posted a 77-49-1 record, reaching the postseason five times in eight seasons. New York won a pair of Super Bowl rings and only posted two losing seasons.
Bill Parcells also coached Patriots, Jets and Cowboys
Most remember Parcells from his time as the head coach of the Giants. Rightfully so. He spent a majority of his NFL coaching days there and found most of his success in New York.
After his time with the Giants, Parcells then had stops with the Patriots, Jets and Cowboys. He led New England from 1993-96. He led New England to a Super Bowl appearance following the 1996 campaign.
Parcells then headed back to New York, this time to coach the Jets. He spent three seasons with the team, earning one playoff berth and posting a 29-19 record from 1997-99.
Parcells final stop was in Dallas. He served as the head man of the Cowboys from 2003-06 but couldn’t get the team past the Wild Card round of the playoffs.
In total, Parcells spent 19 seasons as an NFL head coach. He compiled a 172-130-1 record with an 11-8 mark in the postseason. His teams reached the playoffs 10 times.
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