Two years after he joined the organization as the executive vice president of football operations, Bill Parcells has relinquished control of the Miami Dolphins to general manager Jeff Ireland, the team announced Tuesday.
Parcells has been described as a football mentor to Ireland, as the pair first worked together with the Dallas Cowboys organization. Just two weeks after he was hired by the Dolphins in 2007, Parcells brought Ireland with him as Miami's general manager.
According to the Dolphins, this move has been premeditated since the partnership began back in 2007. Parcells had planned on taking a backseat to hand the reins over to Ireland when he was ready. Parcells will now serve as a daily team consultant.
"This was the intent of the structure put in place in the past," the Dolphins said. "Ireland will assume full control over all aspects regarding the team and support staff."
Before Parcells lured him to the Dolphins organization, Ireland spent seven years working in player personnel for the Cowboys. He has been very involved with Parcells during every step of the drafting process for the upcoming season, where team owner Stephen Ross predicts Miami will play in the Super Bowl.
"It's constant," Ireland told The Associated Press regarding preparation for 2010. "It never stops. Bill and I have grinded through every single player two or three times."
Ireland was an NFL scout for 11 years before his seven-year stint with the Cowboys.
Parcells, 69, has served as head coach for five different NFL programs, transforming each team from a losing to a winning program. He has won 19 division titles and two Super Bowls in his coaching career. Parcells is still under contract with the Dolphins, a position he can walk away from at any time and still earn the $12 million owed to him.
