New York Jets moment of the day: Bill Parcells is hired in 1997

The New York Jets moment of the day recounts the 1997 offseason when Leon Hess caught a Big Tuna, head coach Bill Parcells. “And with that, Bill Parcells, please take over.” Those were the words Leon Hess used when introducing Bill Parcells as the head coach of the New York Jets during the 1997 offseason. Bill Belichick stepped down as temporary head coach and Parcells—a man who had just helped save the Patriots’ New England existence—took charge. In classic Parcells fashion, he immediately paid dividends. The Big Tuna led the Jets to a surprising 9-7 record in his first year after the organization finished a combined 4-28 over the previous two seasons with Rich Kotite at the helm. Every Jets fan knows how close Parcells’ Jets came in 1998, but in the end, it was not to be. Craziness ensued after the Curtis Martin touchdown that made it 10-0 in Denver (courtesy of a Blake Spence punt block) and Vinny Testaverde‘s Achilles’ did not cooperate in 1999. Even more painful is how Parcells stepped down for Belichic