Pro Football Historian (PFH) is a blog page written by Flint Given. Pro Football Historian or PFH is a page to inform people on prior NFL events that people might not know about. Learning about teams from the 1920s or even the first few NFL World Championships in the 1930s fascinates me. It's these kinds of events that I want to discuss in this blog. Hopefully you are interested and will continue to check up on my blogs.
Richard David Robinson is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League. He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions and professionally for the Green Bay Packers and the Washington Redskins. Robinson was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1997 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013.
Robinson was selected by the Packers in the first round of the 1963 NFL draft and by the San Diego Chargers in the third round of the AFL draft. He was also drafted by the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL). Originally, he did not think he would end up playing in Green Bay. The Chargers had a financial package of $38,000 for Robinson but ran out of money and were going to trade his AFL rights to the Buffalo Bills. Robinson's fiancée (and future wife) Elaine had been to Buffalo and knew how cold it was there, but had never been to Green Bay. Robinson would later recall that she didn't join him there until his second year in the NFL.
Robinson made his NFL debut on September 15, 1963, against the Chicago Bears. The Packers decided to move Robinson from defensive end to linebacker. After backing up incumbent Dan Currie during his rookie season, Robinson became the starting left side linebacker for the Packers and remained in that role through 1972. Alongside the immortal MLB Ray Nitschke and Pro Bowler Lee Roy Caffey, the three formed one of the best starting units of linebackers in NFL history. Robinson was not only adept at defending the run but also against the pass. He intercepted 21 passes as a Packer, including five in 1966, which tied cornerback Bob Jeter for the team lead. Robinson played on two Super Bowl Championship teams, and won a total of three NFL titles with the Packers (1965, 1966, 1967). During that time, he developed a reputation as a big-game player. Perhaps the most notable example came in the 1966 NFL Championship game against the Dallas Cowboys. On a fourth down play from the Packers' two-yard-line, Robinson pressured Cowboys quarterback Don Meredith into a desperation pass that was intercepted by safety Tom Brown in the end zone, preserving a 34–27 victory by the Packers. Despite this, Vince Lombardi, the future Hall of Fame head coach of the Packers, was not pleased that Robinson had freelanced on the play and gave him the coach's lowest grade possible, a minus two. However, Lombardi would later privately praise Robinson for making the game-winning play.
After Lombardi's retirement as Packers' head coach following Super Bowl II, the aging team went into a period of decline under new coach (and former defensive coordinator) Phil Bengtson. Individually, Robinson continued to shine. He was named 1st Team All-Pro by the NEA and UPI in 1968. In 1969, he was again named 1st Team All-Pro by the NEA and UPI and was also chosen for the 1st Teams of the New York Daily News, PFW and The Sporting News. Robinson suffered a setback during the 1970 season when he tore his Achilles tendon, but was ready for the start of the 1971 season. By then, Bengtson had been replaced as Packers' head coach by Dan Devine. Robinson did not get along with Devine and would later state that, while he felt that Vince Lombardi was the best coach he ever played for, Devine was his worst coach at any level: high school, college, or pros. Although the team rebounded from a 4–8–2 record in Devine's first season to finish 10–4 and win the NFC Central Divisional title, the 1972 season would be Robinson's last in a Packers uniform.
Robinson concluded his career with the Washington Redskins in 1973 and 1974, playing under another future Hall of Fame head coach in George Allen. He later stated that he was fine with the trade to the Redskins because there was no way that he would play for Devine anymore. Robinson continued his high level of play in D.C., intercepting four passes during his first season with the Redskins. On October 14, 1973, Robinson returned one of those four interceptions 28 yards for the only touchdown of his career during a 21–3 Redskins win over the New York Giants. Robinson retired from the NFL in August 1975 after a career of twelve professional seasons. He finished his career with 27 interceptions for return yardage totaling 449 and the one aforementioned touchdown. He also recovered 12 fumbles. Robinson was named to three Pro Bowls in 1966, 1967, and 1969 and was selected for one of the linebacker spots on the NFL's all-decade team for the 1960s. In 1982, he was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame. In 2004, he was named to the Professional Football Researchers Association Hall of Very Good in the association's second HOVG class.
Robinson has pursued many different endeavors since retiring as an NFL player. During his career, he had worked in the off-season as an engineer at Campbell's Soup in Camden, New Jersey through 1967 and then for Schlitz Brewery in Milwaukee. He then worked full-time with Schlitz upon his retirement from pro football. In April 1984, he started his own beer distributorship in Akron, Ohio until semi-retiring in 2001. He then worked in sales for an artificial turf company before officially retiring in 2006. Robinson was also a member of the board of directors for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Robinson was the sixth Nittany Lion in history of the program to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Robinson and Royce Boyles co-authored The Lombardi Legacy: Thirty People Who Were Touched By Greatness. In 2009, the second edition of the book was published by Goose Creek Publishers.
In addition to being a member of the College Football and Gator Bowl Halls of Fame, Robinson was also inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame in February 1982.
Robinson was elected as part of the 2013 class for the Pro Football Hall of Fame on February 2, 2013.
With his election, Robinson became the 12th member of Vince Lombardi's championship Green Bay Packers, including Lombardi himself, to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was also the sixth Penn State Nittany Lion to be honored in the Professional Football Hall of Fame in Canton, joining Jack Ham, Franco Harris, Mike Michalske, Lenny Moore and Mike Munchak.
In 2011, Robinson was faced with a different struggle in his life. He was told that he may have pancreatic cancer which is 98% deadly. He said "I had a brother die of pancreatic cancer. I know the odds of pancreatic cancer. I went home and started making plans for my demise." After his doctors appointment, Robinson received the news that he did not have pancreatic cancer; however he did have colon cancer and 80% blockage of one of his major arteries. But, after two months spending a lot of time in the hospital, the doctors gave Robinson news that he was cancer free and did not have to receive chemotherapy. After going through this life altering time, Robinson told reporters, "I am here for a purpose."
In September 2013, Moorestown High School retired Robinson's old jersey, number 89. This made Robinson the only Moorestown player to ever receive such an honor.
Sources https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ https://www.profootballarchives.com/index.html https://americanfootballdatabase.fandom.com/wiki/Football_Wiki https://www.gridiron-uniforms.com/GUD/controller/controller.php?action=main https://www.profootballhof.com/hall-of-famers/ Dave Robinson's Pro Football Hall of Fame page Dave Robinson's Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement speech (Note- The transcription has two errors in the fifth paragraph: Moorestown is misspelled Morristown and Dick Loring is misspelled Dick Lauren.) Picken, Barbara and Gail Greenberg (1972) His high school football team went undefeated for the first time in the team's history in 1957. http://www.pennlive.com/sports/index.ssf/2013/08/dave_robinson_calls_penn_state.html "Dave Robinson at the Hula Bowl which honored him as a Penn State senior in the late 1950s. Robinson was an All-American at Penn State and became a defensive end for the Green Bay Packers. He is the son of Mrs. Mary Robinson." Carison, Chuck (2004). Game of my life: 25 stories of Packers football. Sports Publishing ISBN 1-58261-814-3, p.122: "Hometown: Mount Laurel, New Jersey" Offord, Jeff. "Last unbeaten Moorestown team looks back", Burlington County Times, December 2, 2007. Accessed September 21, 2011. "And when you play for a football team that finishes 9–0 and wins the South Jersey Group 3 championship, the memories are rich.... Robinson ended up getting a football scholarship from Penn State, where he played under Rip Engle and Joe Paterno. He later played for Vince Lombardi and the Green Bay Packers, being named to three Pro Bowls and starting on two Super Bowl championship teams." South Jersey Basketball Hall of Fame "DAVE ROBINSON One of the finest all-around athletes ever produced in South Jersey. The Moorestown High graduate was a standout in football, track and basketball in high school. He was a dominant inside player for Hall of Fame coach Pete Monska on teams that went unbeaten and won State Group 3 championships in 1958 and 1959. He was a steady scorer for the Quakers but his main contribution was his outstanding rebounding and defensive ability. In college, he opted for football where he was a two-way player at Penn State under fabled coach Rip Engle. He earned All-American honors at Penn State and in 1997 he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. He was a first round draft choice of the Green Bay Packers and became an integral member of Vince Lombardi's teams that captured the 1965 NFL championship and Super Bowls I and II. He was named All Pro three times from 1963 to 1972." Accessed September 21, 2011. White, Matt. "Ex-moorestown Lineman Selected By College Hall". The Inquirer. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. College Football Hall of Fame profile "Dave Robinson Profile – Penn State Official Athletic Site". Archived from the original on November 10, 2013. Retrieved November 6, 2013. "Dave Robinson set for Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement | Penn State University". "Dave Robinson (1997)". National Football Foundation. December 10, 2024. Retrieved July 6, 2025. "Dave Robinson set for Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement | Penn State University". Dave Robinson "An Unsung Hero". JSOnline.com – Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved August 16, 2010. "Dave Robinson Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Riddell Presents: The Gridiron's Greatest Linebackers "Hall of Famers". Christl, Cliff. "Dave Robinson". Packers.com. Archived from the original on May 24, 2023. Retrieved September 20, 2023. "Hall of Very Good". Archived from the original on October 5, 2016. Retrieved July 13, 2016. Hockensmith, Dustin (August 5, 2013). "Dave Robinson calls Penn State 'one of the biggest things of my life' in Hall of Fame speech: watch video". pennlive. Retrieved December 14, 2024. "Culp and Robinson named 2013 senior nominees". Pro Football Hall of Fame. August 22, 2011. Archived from the original on January 4, 2013. Retrieved August 22, 2012. "Penn State football: Nittany Lion great Dave Robinson enters Pro Football Hall of Fame". Associated Press. August 3, 2013. Archived from the original on September 3, 2013. Retrieved September 9, 2023. "Green Bay Packers Legend Dave Robinson Reflects on life, career". Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved November 10, 2013. Scott, Rob (September 13, 2013). "Moorestown, NFL Great Dave Robinson Honored at Home Opener". Retrieved November 11, 2013.
Duane Charles "Bill" Parcells is an American former football coach who served as a head coach in the National Football League for 19 seasons. He came to prominence as the head coach of the New York Giants from 1983 to 1990, winning two Super Bowl titles. Parcells was later the head coach of the New England Patriots from 1993 to 1996, the New York Jets from 1997 to 2000, and the Dallas Cowboys from 2003 to 2006. Nicknamed "the Big Tuna", he is the only NFL coach to lead four different franchises to the playoffs and three to a conference championship game.
As the head coach of the Giants, Parcells took over a franchise that had qualified for the playoffs only once in the past decade and had only one winning record in their last 10 seasons. Within four years, he guided them to their first Super Bowl title and won a second championship in Super Bowl XXV four years later. Parcells retired following the second Super Bowl, but came out of retirement in 1993 to become the head coach of the Patriots, another struggling franchise at the time. By his fourth season, New England reached Super Bowl XXXI, although the game ended in defeat. He left the Patriots after their Super Bowl loss and became the head coach and general manager of the Jets, who went from a one-win season to appearing in the AFC Championship Game by his second year.
Parcells retired for a second time in 1999, but returned again in 2003 as the head coach of the Cowboys. The Cowboys made two playoff appearances under Parcells, although both ended in first-round defeats, leading to his third and final retirement in 2007. Following his final retirement from coaching, Parcells served as the vice president of football operations for the Miami Dolphins from 2008 to 2010. He was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013.
Upon graduating from high school, Parcells arrived at Colgate University. As a freshman, he was offered a contract by the Philadelphia Phillies. His father disapproved of a career in sports and wanted him to study law, so the younger Parcells declined the offer. He soon transferred to the University of Wichita (now known as Wichita State University), where he played linebacker and earned a physical education degree. It was here that Parcells' famous nickname "Big Tuna" took hold. The name itself is a mis-statement of his actual nickname "Tuner". There were few radio stations in Wichita at the time, so players often trained without music. Parcells, showing the kind of preparation that would make him a successful coach later, frequently arrived early to training sessions, in order to set up a radio. Parcells would try several locations in the gym to get a signal. His diligence and attention to detail earned him the nickname "Tuner". This subsequently became "Tuna", likely due to the accents of the New York media who covered the Giants.
He was drafted in the seventh round (89th overall) by the Detroit Lions as an offensive lineman, but was released by the team before playing a single NFL game after he reportedly quit the team after a hot morning workout.
At the conclusion of his playing days, Parcells took a close look at his future. He was considering attending law school or becoming a franchise owner for Pizza Hut, where he had worked in college. Instead, he chose to pursue a career in football. He began as an assistant coach at Hastings (1964) before moving on to Wichita State (1965), Army (1966–69), Florida State (1970–72), Vanderbilt (1973–74), and Texas Tech (1975–77). In 1978, he became the head coach at the Air Force Academy for one season.
While serving as linebackers coach at Army, Parcells was also a part-time assistant basketball coach for Bob Knight during the 1966–67 season, which led to their longtime friendship.
In 1979, Parcells accepted an offer to become the defensive coordinator of the New York Giants under head coach Ray Perkins. However, when his family wanted to stay in Colorado, he resigned and took a job with a land development company in Colorado. While living in Colorado, Parcells became a season ticket holder with the Denver Broncos. Parcells called it the most miserable year of his life.
Feeling dissatisfied with his life away from football, Parcells returned to the sport in 1980 as the linebackers coach of the New England Patriots under Ron Erhardt. It was during this stint with the Patriots that Parcells adopted his "Big Tuna" nickname. Whenever he thought his players were trying to get away with something, Parcells would yell "Who do you think I am? Charlie the Tuna?," referencing a StarKist commercial of the era featuring a naive cartoon fish named, "Charlie the Tuna."
The following season, Parcells was approached once again by Perkins to join the Giants' staff as an assistant coach, and Parcells accepted the offer. As defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, he was allowed to change the team's 4–3 defense to a 3–4 system. When Perkins announced on December 15, 1982, that he was leaving the Giants at the end of the season to become head coach and athletic director at the University of Alabama, the Giants announced that Parcells would succeed him as head coach.
When Parcells took over in 1983, the team had posted just one winning season in the previous ten years. In his first year, he made a controversial decision to bench Phil Simms in favor of Scott Brunner due to Brunner's success in leading the Giants to the 1981 post-season. Also, Simms had missed the entire 1982 season in addition to the latter part of 1981 due to injury. Brunner struggled and Parcells went back to Simms in week 6, but Simms broke his thumb and missed the rest of 1983. The result was a disastrous 3–12–1 season during which the Giants surreptitiously offered Parcells' job to University of Miami head coach Howard Schnellenberger after a week 14 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals; however, Schnellenberger declined, and Parcells remained as head coach.
After this dismal first season, Parcells made a finally healthy Simms the starter again for 1984 and replaced half the roster. The team's record improved to 9–7 and 10–6 over the next two years, and earned them their first back-to-back playoff appearances since 1961–1963. In 1986, he led the Giants to the first of two Super Bowls. In the 1986 season, the Giants compiled a franchise-best 14–2 record and the first of three division titles. Parcells, whose stifling 3–4 defense (known as the Big Blue Wrecking Crew) led by Lawrence Taylor, Carl Banks, Harry Carson, and Leonard Marshall, and an offense under the direction of Phil Simms, knocked off the San Francisco 49ers 49–3, and the Washington Redskins 17–0, in the playoffs before routing the Denver Broncos 39–20 in 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. While there are some claims that Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka had been doused a year earlier, NFL Films president Steve Sabol has stated that he can find no evidence to support it in any footage he has reviewed and that he believes the tradition started with Parcells and Jim Burt.
Following the Super Bowl win, Parcells was courted by the Atlanta Falcons to become the head coach and general manager of the franchise. However, NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle would not allow Parcells to break his contract with the Giants and he stayed in New York.[
Parcells led the Giants to a second Super Bowl in 1990. The Giants began the 1990 season 10–0, but lost Phil Simms to injury late in the season and finished 13–3. Playing with a back-up quarterback in Jeff Hostetler and a 33-year-old veteran running back in Ottis Anderson, the Giants convincingly defeated the Chicago Bears in the divisional playoff, 31–3. They followed that up with a dramatic, come-from-behind fashion over San Francisco, 15–13, in the NFC Championship game on a last-second 42-yard field goal by Matt Bahr, set up by a Roger Craig fumble caused by nose tackle Erik Howard. Super Bowl XXV proved equally exciting as the Giants used tough defense and a ball-control and power-running Erhardt – Perkins style offense to stop the Buffalo Bills, 20–19, whose own last-second 47-yard field goal attempt by Scott Norwood missed wide right. Parcells retired from football after Super Bowl XXV due to health problems.
During his coaching tenure, the Giants secured three division titles (1986, 1989, 1990), had only two losing seasons (the Giants went 6–9 during the strike year of 1987), and tallied an 8–3 playoff record. Parcells, along with former Giants head coach Tom Coughlin, both made the NFL playoffs five times as Giants head coach, and the two Super Bowl titles they each won with the Giants occurred in their fourth and eighth seasons with the franchise, respectively.
Following retirement, Parcells spent time as a football analyst for NBC Sports from 1991 to 1992, working as a commentator. He also co-hosted a local sports show in New York with Mike Francesa called Around the NFL.
In 1992, Parcells made a handshake agreement to become head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. At the last minute, Parcells opted not to take the job. Parcells did not feel the situation was right for him at that time. Buccaneers owner Hugh Culverhouse said, "I feel like I've been jilted at the altar."
Parcells was also offered by his friend Ron Wolf the opportunity to become the new head coach of the Green Bay Packers in 1992, but Parcells declined, saying that he needed open heart surgery. The job instead went to Mike Holmgren, who would later coach against Parcells in Super Bowl XXXI.
After a two-year hiatus, Parcells returned to the NFL in 1993 as the head coach for the struggling New England Patriots, who were fresh off of a 2–14 record in 1992. Within two years, he coached the team to a 10–6 record in 1994 and its first playoff game in eight years. In 1996, he guided the Patriots to their first division title in 11 years, and only the second and third home playoff games in franchise history. The Patriots went all the way to Super Bowl XXXI, but lost to the Green Bay Packers, 35–21, in New Orleans.
Parcells left the Patriots after disagreements with owner Robert Kraft, who had bought the team in early 1994, after Parcells' first year as head coach. Parcells had effectively been the team's general manager since arriving in New England, but felt Kraft would not allow him enough input in player personnel decisions. Upon his departure, Parcells famously stated: "They want you to cook the dinner; at least they ought to let you shop for some of the groceries. Okay?" This was mainly in reference to an incident in the Patriots' war room during the 1996 draft. Parcells wanted to draft defensive end Tony Brackens with their first-round choice, but was vetoed by Kraft. They ultimately selected Ohio State wide receiver Terry Glenn.
Although Parcells had decided to leave New England, his contract did not allow him to coach anywhere else.
The Giants seriously considered offering him his old job as head coach of their organization, but in a dramatic behind-the-scenes event ended up offering the job to Jim Fassel instead.
The New York Jets sought Parcells as head coach and general manager after a 4–28 record under Rich Kotite. To circumvent Parcells' contractual obligations, the Jets hired Bill Belichick (then the No. 1 assistant to Parcells) as the Jets coach, and then hired Parcells in an "advisory" role. New England threatened legal action against Parcells and the Jets, but NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue brokered a deal between the two sides, with New England releasing Parcells from his contract and the Jets giving New England a third- and fourth-round pick that year, a second-round pick the next year and a first-round draft choice the year after that. Jets owner Leon Hess gave Parcells complete control over football operations, the main sticking point in his dispute with Kraft.
Parcells again orchestrated a remarkable turnaround in his first year with the Jets. In his first season with the Jets, the team barely missed the playoffs with a record of 9–7 (the Jets were 1–15 the year before Parcells arrived, and had won a total of 10 games in the previous three seasons combined). In 1998, the Jets went to the playoffs with a current franchise-best 12–4 record, which was good enough for second place in the conference and earned the Jets their third home playoff game since moving to New Jersey in 1984 (their first home playoff game was against the New England Patriots following the 1985 season), but they lost to the eventual Super Bowl XXXIII champion Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game, in which New York had led 10–0 in the third quarter before Denver scored 23 unanswered points. It was the only time Parcells lost a conference championship game.
In 1999, expectations were high for the Jets to go to the Super Bowl. However, quarterback Vinny Testaverde ruptured his Achilles tendon in the Jets' home opener against the New England Patriots and the season went downhill from there. After starting the season 1–6, the Jets won three straight and faced the Indianapolis Colts. Parcells emphasized the importance of not obtaining a "7th loss" but they did lose to the Colts and then to the New York Giants the following week. At 4–8, the Jets were in danger of finishing below .500. The Jets would finish 8–8, but out of the playoffs. In 1999, Parcells retired from football for the second time, vowing that he would not coach again. He picked his assistant Bill Belichick to be head coach, which ended up seeing him resign in favor of Al Groh. Parcells remained with the Jets one more year as general manager until he announced his resignation on January 9, 2001. To date, he is the only Jets coach to leave the team with a winning record after coaching at least two seasons.
Following three straight 5–11 seasons, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones lured Parcells out of retirement and made him the head coach in 2003.
Always known for deploying psychological tactics and strategies to get the most from his players, Parcells mandated upon his arrival in 2003 that to have the Cowboys star placed on the helmet was a privilege reserved for players that had made the team, not a right, and informed all rookies that regardless of their draft position, it was incumbent upon them to "earn the star." Jones enthusiastically embraced the idea, and supported Parcells' decision to have Cowboys equipment managers remove all of the star logos from rookie helmets. Since then, all drafted and UFA (undrafted free agent) rookies that report to the Cowboys must officially make the roster before having the star logo permanently placed on their helmet.
The practice of "earning the star" has become a permanent fixture of Cowboys tradition, with all of Parcells' successors adopting the practice. As social media emerged, #EarnTheStar and #EarningTheStar became popular Twitter hashtags for Cowboys fans and players.
In his first season with the Cowboys in 2003, he led them to the playoffs with a 10–6 record (losing to the eventual NFC champion Carolina Panthers in the Wild Card round), making him the first head coach in NFL history to guide four teams to the playoffs.
The 2004 season was one of turmoil. Starting quarterback Quincy Carter was terminated for alleged drug use in favor of 40-year-old veteran Vinny Testaverde, who had been brought to the Cowboys from the New York Jets by his former coach in the off-season. While a favorite of Coach Parcells, Testaverde proved ineffective as a starter. The Cowboys started strong, with victories against the Cleveland Browns and Washington Redskins, but injuries, older personnel, spotty play-calling, and persistent penalties hobbled the Cowboys, and they quickly fell off to a 3–5 record by midseason, finishing the season 6–10.
The Cowboys improved their defense before the 2005 season with the additions of first-round draft picks DeMarcus Ware and Marcus Spears. Parcells drafted these players in hopes of jumpstarting the team's transition from the traditional 4–3 defense to a 3–4 defense, which Parcells ran in all of his previous stops. Jerry Jones also added a number of high-priced older veteran players, acquiring nose tackle Jason Ferguson and cornerback Anthony Henry via free agency, and linebacker Scott Fujita via the Kansas City Chiefs. On offense, the Cowboys felt the need to upgrade their passing game to complement their top 2004 draft pick, running back Julius Jones, and acquired quarterback Drew Bledsoe via free agency. During his tenure, Parcells made a point of signing players who had played for him in the past, including Bledsoe, Terry Glenn (with the Patriots), Testaverde, cornerback Aaron Glenn, wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson, and fullback Richie Anderson with the Jets. In 2005, the Cowboys went 9–7, missing the playoffs by one game.
In 2006, the Cowboys signed controversial former Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Terrell Owens. Keyshawn Johnson was released and signed with the Carolina Panthers. Owens, whom Parcells never referred to by name, but rather as "The Player", was fairly successful with the team. In week 7 of the 2006 season, Parcells decided to replace veteran quarterback Drew Bledsoe with fourth-year quarterback Tony Romo. The Cowboys were 6–4 with Romo as the starter. They finished the season with a 9–7 overall record but failed to win the NFC East Division after a 23–7 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Christmas Day in week 16, followed by a loss to the last-place team in the NFC North, the Detroit Lions in week 17. They were able to clinch a playoff berth as the 5th seed in the NFC, eventually losing 21–20 against the Seahawks in Seattle on January 6, on a botched hold by Tony Romo during a field goal attempt.
Parcells would finish his Dallas stint with a 34–30 record and no playoff wins. Parcells' greatest accomplishment as Cowboys head coach was the development of quarterback Tony Romo. He signed Romo in 2003 and helped him develop into a Pro Bowl quarterback by 2006.
Parcells would have entered the final year of his contract with the Cowboys in 2007, and had been facing questions all year as to whether he would return to the Cowboys to coach his final season. With his 0–2 playoff record over four years as coach of Dallas, many had begun to wonder if the game had simply "passed him by." Immediately following the Cowboys' loss to the Seattle Seahawks, Parcells said that he was unsure if he would return in 2007, and the rumors about Parcells' future escalated.
On January 9, the Newark Star Ledger reported through anonymous sources that Parcells had contacted the New York Giants about their available general manager position, but the Giants were not interested in Parcells' services. Parcells, the next day, quickly refuted any interest in the position, stating, "There is absolutely nothing to it. Whoever said it is a liar."
On January 22, 2007, he announced his retirement as head coach of the Cowboys after 4 years, apparently ending his coaching career.
Evidently, there are still questions as to his specific reasons for leaving the game. There were even reports that Parcells had been holding out for more money, and that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones simply did not think Parcells' performance was worth the money he was demanding for the upcoming season.
After retiring from coaching, Parcells became a studio analyst for ESPN. This was his fourth stint with ESPN, having worked there before accepting the job in Dallas, where he coached both the Dallas Cowboys and a little league team for charity. It was rumored that ESPN offered him a position on Monday Night Football, but Parcells declined the opportunity. (It is also worth noting that ESPN still held a contract with Parcells as a broadcaster even when he coached the Cowboys.)
On December 19, 2007, the Miami Herald reported that Parcells had agreed to become the new executive vice president of football operations of the Miami Dolphins. ESPN reported the following day that he signed a four-year contract. Just a day prior, reports linking Parcells to the Atlanta Falcons' position of vice president of football operations were leaked. However, the following day the Falcons formally announced that Parcells had turned down the offer because of discussions with Miami.
In the first season as executive vice president of football operations, Parcells fired head coach Cam Cameron, general manager Randy Mueller, along with a few assistant coaches, after a 1–15 finish in the 2007 season. With vacancies at the general manager and head coaching spots, he brought in Jeff Ireland to be the general manager and signed Tony Sparano as head coach.
The new front office under Parcells then signed over 20 little-known players in the free-agent market.
In the 2008 draft, they 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.
They also released fan favorite Zach Thomas, who would end up signing with the Dallas Cowboys, and traded star defensive end Jason Taylor to the Washington Redskins for a second-round pick in the 2009 draft.
The Dolphins then went on to sign quarterback Chad Pennington (drafted by Parcells in his Jets days), who was cut by the Jets to make room for Brett Favre.
The Dolphins finished the 2008 season 11–5 and became AFC East champions when Pennington and the Dolphins defeated Favre and the Jets in the final game of the season. They finished with a 10-game improvement from the previous season, making the Dolphins one of two teams in NFL history to accomplish a 10-game turnaround, the other being the 1999 Indianapolis Colts. It was also the first time since 2001 that the Dolphins made the playoffs. However, they were routed in the first round by the Baltimore Ravens, 27–9.
Parcells left the Dolphins in 2010.
On February 12, 2014, Parcells was reportedly interviewed by the Cleveland Browns in an executive capacity, but the two sides could not come to a deal. However, on March 6, 2014, Pro Football Hall of Fame executive Gil Brandt reported Parcells had met with Browns owner Jimmy Haslam as a courtesy consultant. Brandt made another tweet stating that Parcells met with Teddy Bridgewater for 4+1⁄2 hours, leading many to speculate his role with the Browns was as a draft consultant for the front office on the incoming quarterback class leading into the 2014 NFL draft. But when the media contacted the Browns directly, the team denied these rumors.
In an interview with The Plain Dealer, Jimmy Haslam squashed any rumor that Parcells would be joining the front office, saying, "...Bill's not going to come work for us, okay? I know that's what everyone's angling at, but there's other people that we talk to too who are knowledgeable in football that will share that too. Somehow the Parcells information just happened to hit the radar screen." Haslam also mentioned that his and Parcells's advisory relationship began in 2013 when Parcells gave some suggestions for their head coaching search.
Since 2014, Parcells has on occasion given advice to the Browns, such as in 2017 when Parcells gave his endorsement to hiring John Dorsey as their new general manager, and in 2018 when he was given the same role as in 2014 by consulting the Browns front office in searching for their next franchise quarterback in the 2018 NFL draft.
Parcells was married to Judith Goss from 1962 until their divorce in 2002. The couple, who married when both were still undergraduates at Wichita State, had three daughters, Suzy, Dallas, and Jill. Parcells's son-in-law through his daughter Dallas is football executive Scott Pioli, who won three Super Bowls as an executive with the New England Patriots.
Gutman, Bill (2000). Parcells: A Biography. Carroll & Graf Publishers, Inc. Retrieved March 8, 2008.
Corbett, Jim (February 2, 2013). "Parcells, Carter finally make Pro Football Hall of Fame". USA Today. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
Needell, Paul (December 28, 2009). "For Parcells, there is no greater game". The Star-Ledger. Newark, New Jersey. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
"Bill and Don shared a bed in the family's small house in Hasbrouck Heights, N.J." The Palm Beach Post. August 28, 2008.
Litsky, Frank (January 19, 1987). "Super Bowl XXI: The Giants vs. the Broncos; the Two Sides of Bill Parcells". The New York Times. Retrieved May 8, 2020. Bill is his nickname. His real name is Duane Charles Parcells, but once he became a teenager only his mother called him Duane. He was raised in Hasbrouck Heights, N.J., and everyone knew him as Duane except his fourth-grade teacher. She used to say, 'Duane Parcells, is she here?'
""Young Bill usually got his way, even when it came to unofficially changing his birth name, Duane Charles, which Doug said his brother "always hated.' Assigned to a new school, River Dell High, in his sophomore year, he found that students confused him with a boy named Bill. So Parcells adopted the name and made it stick."".
Litsky, Frank (January 19, 1987). "Super Bowl XXI: The Giants vs. the Broncos; the Two Sides of Bill Parcells". The New York Times. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
Oates, Bob (October 24, 1989). "Through the Wars: New York Giants Are Riding High After a History of Ups and Downs". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 29, 2025.
Puma, Mike. Parcells made struggling franchises into winners, ESPN.com. Accessed October 11, 2006. "When he entered River Dell High School in 1955, Parcells was one of the biggest kids in his class at 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds."
Gutman, Bill (2000). Parcells: A Biography, p. 17. Carroll & Graf Publishers, Inc.
Art, Stapleton. "Stapleton: Mickey Corcoran's captivating trip down memory lane".
Anderson, Dave (December 2, 2015). "Mickey Corcoran, Mentor to Bill Parcells, Dies at 93". The New York Times.
http://wsu.wichita.edu/the-shocker/story.php?eid=15&id=268#.Xjiwac5KiHs [permanent dead link]
"Charles viewed sports as a healthy diversion, but wanted his son to study law. Bill decided to play football in college. He was a freshman at Colgate when the Philadelphia Phillies offered him a contract. Charles quickly nixed that idea. Parcells then transferred to the Municipal University of Wichita (now Wichita State), where he played linebacker in 1958–59 and earned a physical education degree".
Booher, Christian (July 22, 2021). "On This Date: Bill Parcells Quits Detroit Lions after Training Camp Practice". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
"BILL PARCELLS LOOKS BACK AT FOOTBALL LIFE – SAYS HE ALMOST CHOSE PIZZA HUT OVER FOOTBALL; COMMENTS ON SAINTS JOB; NICKNAME BIG TUNA". The Dan Patrick Show. July 30, 2013. Retrieved March 29, 2022. I never really was aspiring [to NFL coaching] when I was a young coach. It was a decision between going into coaching, going to law school , which I had interest in.And going to work for a franchise that I had worked for in college. The name of the franchise was Pizza Hut. …. We were running stores for them. … What they wanted me to be was a franchisee and expand the franchise. When they were talking to me there were only about six or eight of them.
http://www.mahalo.com/Bill_Parcells "Bill Parcells started his [head] coaching career with the Air Force Academy and was part-time assistant basketball coach at Army, while Bobby Knight was the head coach."[dead link]
"Knight equals Dean Smith on all-time wins list after Texas Tech tops Bucknell". USA Today. December 23, 2006. Retrieved April 26, 2010.
"Backing out nothing new for Parcells".
Graham, Daniel (February 24, 2015). "Bill Parcells Still Considers Himself a Student to One Man". GMenHQ.com.
"Young Is Angry". The New York Times. December 12, 1983. Retrieved April 26, 2010.
Rovell, Darren (October 14, 2005). "How the dunk was born". ESPN Page 2. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
Borden, Sam (January 20, 2012). "A Splashy Tradition, Gatorade Style". The New York Times.
Myers, Gary (December 19, 2007). "Report: Bill Parcells considering Falcons' VP of football operations post". Daily News. New York.
Eskenazi, Gerald (May 16, 1991). "FOOTBALL: Decision; A Giant Among Giants, Parcells Says Goodbye". The New York Times.
Myers, Gary (August 3, 2013). "As Bill Parcells enters Football Hall, Tom Coughlin's resume displays Fame appeal". Daily News. New York.
"With Parcells, it's the same old song, different verse". SI.com. Associated Press. January 19, 2002. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
Sandomir, Richard (January 5, 1992). "PRO FOOTBALL; Parcells Snubs Chance to Join the Packers". The New York Times.
"Bill Parcells: Biography". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
Fialkov, Harvey (December 30, 2007). "Give Parcells picks, he will find gold". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
"Giants were seconds away from bringing Bill Parcells back in 1997". www.giants.com. January 15, 2015.
"1998 NFL Standings & Team Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
"1998 NFL Standings". The Football Database.
"AFC Championship - New York Jets at Denver Broncos - January 17th, 1999". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
"Testaverde done for the season". ESPN.com. September 13, 1999. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
"New York Jets at Indianapolis Colts - November 28th, 1999". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
"New York Jets at New York Giants - December 5th, 1999". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
"Parcells resigns; Belichick turns down job". ESPN.com. January 5, 2000. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
"Parcells quits front-office position". www.espn.com. January 10, 2001. Retrieved September 5, 2024.
"Parcells gets $17.1 million deal to coach fourth team". ESPN.com. January 2, 2003. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
Orsborn, Tom (August 2, 2011). "Garrett wants Cowboys newbies to earn star". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
Watkins, Calvin (August 1, 2011). "Dallas Cowboys rookies must earn star". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
@dallascowboys (June 20, 2018). ""You have to EARN the right to wear that star." -Jason Garrett#EarnTheStar" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
"Wild Card - Dallas Cowboys at Carolina Panthers - January 3rd, 2004". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
"Cowboys cut Carter loose". Deseret.com. August 5, 2004. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
"A star is born: Owens signs with the Cowboys". ESPN.com. Associated Press. March 18, 2006. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
"Cowboys cut Johnson, opening up extra cap room". ESPN.com. March 14, 2006. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
"Keyshawn signs four-year deal with Panthers". ESPN.com. March 24, 2006. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
"Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys - December 25th, 2006". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
"Detroit Lions at Dallas Cowboys - December 31st, 2006". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
"Wild Card - Dallas Cowboys at Seattle Seahawks - January 6th, 2007". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
Garafolo, Mike; Needell, Paul (January 9, 2007). "Giants: Say no thanks to Parcells". The Star-Ledger. Newark, New Jersey. Archived from the original on January 11, 2007. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
"Parcells denies interest in Giants' GM job". MSNBC. January 10, 2007. Archived from the original on January 24, 2007. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
"Parcells retiring after four seasons in Dallas". NFL.com. January 22, 2007. Archived from the original on January 25, 2007.
Silver, Mike (July 2, 2007). "Money men: 2. Jerry Jones (Stephen Jones), Cowboys". SI.com. Archived from the original on August 14, 2007. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
"Parcells accepts top job with Dolphins – December 19, 2007 – MiamiHerald.com". Miami Herald.
Mortensen, Chris (December 20, 2007). "Parcells signs four-year deal to head Dolphins' football operations". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
Mortensen, Chris (December 19, 2007). "ESPN's Parcells likely to become vice president of Falcons". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
"Parcells no longer a candidate with Falcons". NFL.com. December 19, 2007. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
"The Tuna has reeled in a starting QB and some sizable Fish up front. The verdict: bigger, and a bit better". Sports Illustrated. September 1, 2008. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
"Pennington finds redemption in New York". MSNBC. December 28, 2008. Archived from the original on January 22, 2009. Retrieved January 20, 2009.
Wilkening, Mike (July 17, 2013). "Bill Parcells believes his departure hurt the Dolphins". NBC Sports. Retrieved February 16, 2015.
"Browns meet with Bill Parcells". WOIO. February 12, 2014. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
Mueller, Jared (March 7, 2014). "Bill Parcells Reported 'Consultancy' With Cleveland Browns is False". FanSided. Archived from the original on February 3, 2023. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
Cabot, Mary Kay (March 31, 2014). "Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam Q&A on long-term success, his role in the draft, Bill Parcells and more". cleveland.com. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
Dudukovich, Nick (December 8, 2017). "Cleveland Browns: Bill Parcells endorsed John Dorsey to ownership". FanSided. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
Edwards, Josh (March 8, 2018). "Report: Browns consulting Bill Parcells on Draft's QBs". 247 Sports. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
Gorta, William J. (January 30, 2002). "PART-CELLS – WIFE CANS COACH TUNA". Retrieved December 30, 2024.
"Sunday at One - (2017) Spring 2017 - THE SHOCKER". the-shocker.wichita.edu. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
"Bill Parcells Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
Jonathan Phillip Ogden is an American former professional football player who was an offensive tackle and spent his entire career with the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He played college football for the UCLA Bruins, and was recognized as a unanimous All-American. He was selected by the Ravens with the 4th overall pick in the 1996 NFL draft, making him the first Ravens draft selection in franchise history. He was an 11-time Pro Bowl selection and a nine-time All-Pro. Ogden won Super Bowl XXXV with the Ravens in 2001.
On February 2, 2013, Ogden was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the first inductee to spend his entire playing career as a Raven. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2012, and has been ranked as the #3 best offensive lineman of all-time by Fox Sports.
During the 1996 NFL draft, Ogden was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round with the fourth overall choice, the first draft pick made by the Ravens. Ozzie Newsome wanted to select Ogden but owner Art Modell wanted to select Lawrence Phillips.
He was named a four-time first team All-Pro and an 11-time Pro Bowler at left tackle, earning trips to Hawaii in every season except his rookie year. During his career, Ogden caught two passes – both for one yard and both for touchdowns. He also recovered 10 fumbles and recorded 10 tackles. Ogden also won a reputation for smiling. "He's a laugher," joked former New York Giants DE Michael Strahan. "You see him, you think to yourself this guy is not mean enough to handle the mean guys out there in the NFL. Jonathan would rip your limbs off, and he'd smile...and wave your arm in front of you." He is widely considered one of the best tackles to ever play the game.
In 2001, Ogden won a Super Bowl ring with the Ravens when they defeated the New York Giants 34–7 in Super Bowl XXXV. Ogden announced his retirement on June 12, 2008 after a career that spanned 12 seasons, all with Baltimore. His retirement left Ray Lewis and Matt Stover as the last remaining Ravens from the team's inaugural season in Baltimore. At 6' 9", Ogden was tied with fellow Raven Jared Gaither for the second tallest player in the NFL behind Bengals tackle Dennis Roland at the end of Ogden's playing career.
Ogden served as the Ravens' honorary captain at Super Bowl XLVII, which saw his former team win their second world championship.
In 1997, he established the Jonathan Ogden Foundation to help student-athletes take responsibility for their futures through lessons learned on the playing field, in the classroom, and throughout their local communities.
On May 1, 2000, Ogden appeared on WWF Raw along with members of the Baltimore Ravens and attempted to win the WWF Hardcore Championship from Crash Holly after Holly was attacked by Steve Blackman, but was unsuccessful. In September 2009, Ogden was selected to Sporting News' Magazine's Team of the Decade (2000's). In 2010, he was placed 72nd on the list of NFL's top 100 players. He was present during the Ravens' Super Bowl XXXV reunion in 2010.
Ogden has starred in commercials for Apple Ford, a dealership in Columbia, Maryland, and during his playing career, he appeared in TV advertisements for GEBCO, a local car insurance company. He also appeared in a 2012 advertisement with Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake in support of Maryland Question 7. The measure expanded gambling in the state.
Corbett, Jim (February 2, 2013). "Parcells, Carter finally make Pro Football Hall of Fame". USA Today. Retrieved February 2, 2013.
"Who are the 10 best offensive lineman of all-time? | Fox Sports". amp.foxsports.com.
Klingaman, Mike (July 22, 2007). "Brains, brawn keep Jonathan Ogden man among boys". Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
Wang, Gene (February 1, 2013). "Jonathan Ogden: From St. Albans to the Baltimore Ravens . . . to the Hall of Fame?". Washington Post.
Michael Lewis, The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game, at 257 (W.W. Norton & Co., Inc. 2007).
"Bruin Notes: UCLA All-Time Great Jonathan Ogden Retires; Bruins Name 2008 Captains - UCLA Official Athletic Site". Archived from the original on June 9, 2012. Retrieved December 4, 2010.
"Eight New Members to be Inducted into UCLA Hall of Fame - UCLA Athletics - UCLA Official Athletic Site". Archived from the original on June 12, 2012. Retrieved December 4, 2010.
Ogden Officially Enters College Football Hall of Fame Archived June 24, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, UCLABruins.com, December 5, 2012
"Baltimore Ravens | People | Jonathan Ogden". Archived from the original on April 13, 2011. Retrieved December 4, 2010.
"WONDERLIC DOESN'T MEAN WUNDERKINDS". mcall.com. April 24, 1996. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
"Jonathan Ogden, Combine Results, OT - UCLA". nflcombineresults.com. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
"1996 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
Butt, Jason (August 12, 2013). "Jonathan Ogden, the first Raven in the Hall of Fame". baltimorebeatdown.com. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
"NFL First Team All-Pro Selections Career Leaders". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
Pennington, Bill (January 29, 2001). "PRO FOOTBALL: SUPER BOWL; Ravens' Defense Overwhelms Giants in Super Bowl". The New York Times. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
"Ogden – "I'm a Raven for life"".
Mills, Chuck (July 29, 2015). "Ravens Top 20 #4: Jonathan Ogden Becomes Immortal". Baltimore Beatdown. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
"WWF Monday Night Raw -5/01/2000". rawwrestlingrants.blogspot.com. Retrieved September 22, 2018.
