Back in East Rutherford on Sunday afternoon, Bill Parcells was preparing for a Hall of Fame honor in his home state and his home stadium.
The legendary former Giants coach, who started his NFL career with the organization in 1979 as a defensive coordinator, was presented with his Hall of Fame ring at halftime of the Giants-Broncos game. Parcells, who captured two Super Bowl championships as Giants coach, was enshrined in Canton this summer.
“[This honor is] the same [as Canton] in a lot of ways because this is where it started for me in terms of opportunity,” Parcells said. “Someone took a chance on me as an assistant coach. I’ll always be grateful to the Giant organization for that. I’ll say that today. It’s been a great life for me in the NFL.”
Nobody would argue that. Parcells, 72, was a head coach in the NFL for 22 seasons, spending time with the Giants, Patriots, Jets and Cowboys. Still, of the four organizations, he unquestionably delivered his biggest impact with the Giants, leading them to Super Bowl triumphs over the Broncos in 1987 and the Bills in 1991.
“I’m one of the lucky ones,” the Englewood native said. “And of course this is a special place for me because this is where I’m from. Pretty close. Right up the road here.”
Five Giants Hall of Famers — Y.A. Tittle, Frank Gifford, Sam Huff, Lawrence Taylor and Harry Carson — were part of the halftime ceremony, with Carson declaring, “Thank you for bringing championship football back to the New York Football Giants.” Taylor and Carson, of course, were part of Parcells’ vaunted linebacker crew.
Asked if the Hall placed his bust next to the oft-troubled Taylor’s, Parcells quipped, “I can see him from where [mine is].”
Parcells believes several other former players he coached could enter the Hall one day, specifically citing the Cowboys’ Jason Witten, whom he called “certainly one of the very best tight ends ever that I’ve seen.”
Parcells could also see two of his former assistant coaches with the Giants — Bill Belichick and Tom Coughlin — see induction too. Belichick is a sure thing, while Coughlin’s two Super Bowl trophies and 151 career victories (16th-most all time) make him a strong candidate.
“I think he definitely is going to have some consideration,” Parcells said of Coughlin. “There’s no doubt about it.”