Parcells Poised to Run NFL Falcons
Big Tuna Finalizing Deal to Take Over Atlanta Falcons
Former NFL standout head coach Bill Parcells prepared to take over football operations for the Atlanta Falcons.
It appears that Pro Football Hall of Fame-bound coach Bill Parcells is headed to the Atlanta Falcons to oversee football operations.
Parcells – who retired from coaching (again!) after the 2006 season – told The New York Daily News that joining the Falcons as vice president of football operations is pretty much a done deal.
"I think I probably will do it," Parcells told the Daily News. "The job description is to be the football operations overseer. We still have a little work to do, but I don't think it's anything major. I don't expect any real deal-breaker. I don't think there will be any major hangups."
According to multiple published reports the Big Tuna would be responsible for hiring a new general manager and head coach for the club. Falcons’ owner Arthur Blank reportedly has told current general manager Rich McKay that he would not remain in that role no matter what. McKay could remain with the franchise as club president.
In the wake of the abrupt resignation of former head coach Bobby Petrino last week, the Falcons approached former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Bill Cowher about coming to Atlanta, but Cowher flatly turned down the offer. Blank contacted Parcells, who has been working as an analyst for ESPN, early this week.
According to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen Blank first contacted Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones before reaching out to Parcells. Parcells coached the Cowboys for four years before resigning in January. Ironically Jones served as the emissary for the University of Arkansas in its successful bid to lure Petrino from the Falcons.
"Arthur wants to rebuild the football operation. I'll hire a general manager and then we'll hire a coach. We'll do this together, the GM, the coach and myself," Parcells told ESPN. "The coach absolutely will not be Bill Parcells. All this happens if we finalize this thing, which I expect to do."
Parcells could bring instant credibility to the team, with his acumen for personnel moves and a stellar resume that includes three trips to the Super Bowl, including two victorious ones. He helmed the New York Giants to two championships, and coached the 1997 New England Patriots in a third Super Bowl, lost to the Green Bay Packers.
Petrino’s resignation came the day after a humiliating defeat on Monday Night Football and the day former Falcons star quarterback Michael Vick was sentenced to 23 months in federal prison on dogfighting charges. Before the game Petrino told Blank he would remain with the team as head coach.
"I'm going to oversee the football operation, Parcells said by telephone from his home in Saratoga, NY. "I'm going to hire a general manager if the deal is finalized in Atlanta. We are going to hire a coach and talk to all the coaches who are there. It's going to be a collective effort. The triangle is going to be the GM, the coach and Bill Parcells. I'm also going to include Rich McKay if he wants to stay in the business.”
Several Atlanta-based columnists have cautioned against the Parcells move since he’s got a similar track record as Petrino, one of being footloose and seemingly scoping out new jobs while still employed by other teams.
