Over the course of the week leading up to Super Bowl LII between the Patriots and Eagles, providencejournal.com will each day highlight the defining moments of the Patriots franchise over the last 25 years.
Story published: January 22, 1993
Headline: Patriots tap Parcells to be savior; Ex-Giant leader: Back to his roots
A new era of excitement and anticipation dawned on the New England Patriots yesterday with the [...]
Over the course of the week leading up to Super Bowl LII between the Patriots and Eagles, providencejournal.com will each day highlight the defining moments of the Patriots franchise over the last 25 years.
Story published: January 22, 1993
Headline: Patriots tap Parcells to be savior; Ex-Giant leader: Back to his roots
A new era of excitement and anticipation dawned on the New England Patriots yesterday with the introduction of two-time Super Bowl winner Bill Parcells as the club's fourth coach in the past five years.
Veteran observers called the signing of Parcells, who won Super Bowl rings with the New York Giants in the 1986 and 1990 seasons, one of the most significant moves in the history of the Patriots organization.
The appointment of the 51-year-old Parcells, an NBC analyst the past two seasons, was announced at a packed press conference in the Westin Copley Hotel. Parcells replaces Dick MacPherson, who was fired Jan. 8 after the Patriots completed a league-worst 2-14 season. One day later, the team's chief executive officer Sam Jankovich resigned.
"Under the leadership of coach Parcells, I am confident that the Patriots will soon be competitive on the field," said Patriots owner James Orthwein. "In Bill Parcells, we have a man with a great track record and a commitment to winning. . . . It is the beginning of a new and exciting chapter in the history of the team." Among those on hand to greet Parcells was Massachusetts Governor Weld, who praised the appointment and predicted that if any coach could take a 2-14 team and turn it into a 14-2 club it would be Parcells.
"I started my coaching career here in New England (linebacker coach in 1980) and I am going to end it here. This will be my last coaching job," Parcells said.
"The team's 2-14 record last year had nothing to do with my decision to coach here. That is all history and history means nothing in football. No one passed a rule that says we can't win in 1993."
In eight years as head coach of the Giants, Parcells compiled an 80-49-1 record in the tough NFC East and qualified for the playoffs five times. They won eight of 11 postseason games.
Parcells, who said his long-term contract with the Pats is for more than one year and less than 10, said his most immediate tasks are building a coaching staff, meeting with personnel people and setting up a quick spring schedule for his players.
Although he doesn't have the title of general manager, Parcells figures to have strong input on personnel matters, while others handle financial and admistrative duties.
"But this isn't about control. This is a team. We're a team, from top to bottom. Anyone that has their own agenda won't be around long," Parcells said.
"The Patriots have convinced me they are willing and able to bring a championship-caliber team to New England. That was my only concern during our discussions. I have no reservations on that now. If I did, I wouldn't be sitting here today."
Orthwein said the club would not have gone to all the expense and commitment if it wasn't going to listen to Parcells.
At a meeting last week, Parcells said, Orthwein asked him what it would take to be competitive.
"I told him I wasn't interested in improving bit by bit. I want to improve the Patriots to the point where we can compete for a championship," declared the new Patriots coach. "I pledge to the fans and the players that I won't rest until we approach that goal."
Parcells said there is no timetable as to when the Pats will be battling for a championship.
"Obviously, I would be foolish to give you a timetable because everybody's clock would be running," he noted. "But there are resources available now that weren't available a few years ago. Teams that can exploit those resources can make some changes in improvement rather quickly. What I want to do is put a team on the field that can get to the playoffs."
When asked what made the New England offer so attractive after turning down the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' head job last year, Parcells said he took the Patriots' job because he felt good physically and looked forward to returning to the profession he loves.
"You are what you are. I am a football coach. I don't envision myself as anything else," he said.
Of this year's college draft, Parcell declared he will use the Patriots' No. 1 pick to "take the best guy available. The guy that I think can have the biggest impact on this franchise will be the guy we draft."
Whether that player will be Washington State quarterback Drew Bledsoe remains uncertain. "I haven't had time to speak with our personnel people and haven't evaluated the college talent yet," Parcells said.
Parcells also insisted that he won't rely on the expensive free agents that become available over the next few months
"I don't think you can buy a championship," Parcells said. "The way you do it is to methodically acquire, develop and coach players. My job as coach is to give the players a good design, make sure they're in condition and then get them to play."