NFL coaching legend Bill Parcells doesn't have to look too far to find one of the greatest coaches in history. Actually, he only has to climb a couple flights of stairs at his condominium complex in Florida.
Parcells and Patriots head coach Bill Belichick have been linked together for three decades, and Parcells said Monday that his protégée — and seasonal neighbor — deserves consideration as the greatest coach of all-time.
"There's no dispute in that," Parcells said. "Just put him right up there at the top of the conversation with what he's done. There's no doubt about it. I think he's done a remarkable job. You can put his name up there with anybody who has ever done it."
Parcells and Belichick began working together in 1979 with the Giants, where Parcells was the defensive coordinator and Belichick was an assistant on defense and special teams. In all, they worked together for 15 years — three years as assistants with the Giants, another eight years when Parcells was the Giants head coach, one season when he was the Patriots head coach and three more seasons when he was the head coach of the Jets.
Their relationship hit a rough spot in 2000 when Belichick turned his back on Parcells and the Jets to take over in New England, but they have since mended fences.
"We see each other from time to time, and we've had many conversations over the years," Parcells said. "We worked together for a very, very long time. We were in the same office together for 10 years. I mean, you can't just dismiss things like that. He was a big help to me when we were both assistant coaches together, and then when I was a head coach, he was a vital part of our organization. Hopefully, I've been a help to him at some point. Certainly, he got an opportunity there in New England and was able to do a terrific job. He is a great coach. We get along just fine."
