Latest news with #Parcells
Boston Globe
31-07-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Patriots coach Mike Vrabel sounds like Bill Parcells, coaches like Bill Belichick, and even has a dash of Jerod Mayo
Vrabel, 49, certainly has many influences over a four-decade football life. At his opening news conference, he thanked high school coach Gerry Rardin, college coach John Cooper, NFL coaches Bill Cowher, John Mitchell, and Romeo Crennel, and college bosses Luke Fickell, Urban Meyer, and Bill O'Brien. Advertisement But for anyone who has spent time in Foxborough over the past 30 years, Vrabel's demeanor is strikingly familiar. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'I would say there's definitely more of Parcells in him, in terms of a lot of charm, a lot of charisma, and a lot of energy,' said former linebacker Ted Johnson, who played for Parcells and Belichick in Foxborough. 'But the Belichick stuff is just not leaving any stone unturned, being a smart football team, having guys that are versatile and high football IQ. Those are all qualities Belichick looked for, and Vrabel is the same way.' Vrabel never played for Parcells, but they are practically spirit animals. Parcells was legendary for his New Jersey, Advertisement 'That was a big part of his coaching style, was the interplay with players, particularly guys that he had an affinity for,' Johnson said. 'He loved to chirp and to bust on guys, and he was a phenomenal motivator.' Related : Vrabel isn't from Jersey, but he was a top-rate trash-talker as a player, and hasn't let up as a coach. Last week in practice, Vrabel wore scout-team pinny No. 5. Safety Jabrill Peppers, who wears No. 5, told Vrabel to take off the jersey. 'He told me to go check in on the Patriots Hall of Fame,' Peppers said, 'so there's nothing I can say to come back from that.' Vrabel, of course, was 'He came in here blowing smoke, and I said I didn't know he played the same position as me,' Swinson said. 'I got educated on it, so now he just clowns me for it.' Related : And in Parcells-ian fashion, Vrabel jumped all over a, ahem, certain reporter last week who repeated a question that had been asked 10 minutes earlier. 'Whether you were in a coma when I answered Tom's question, typing on your phone or tweeting, I don't know,' Vrabel said. 'But I spent five minutes answering that question. I can go back through it, but I'd rather not.' Johnson said Parcells 'knew which buttons to push,' and he sees the same in Vrabel. 'Parcells didn't treat everyone the same, and I think that's Mike,' said Johnson, who played with Vrabel from 2001-04. 'He identifies what guys need, and then acts accordingly.' Advertisement Vrabel also has plenty of Belichick in his style. It's only natural after playing for Belichick for eight seasons and winning three Super Bowls. They come from similar backgrounds — Vrabel and Belichick are only-children whose parents were football coaches and educators. And like Belichick, Vrabel spends his days Mike Vrabel played for Bill Belichick for eight seasons, winning three Super Bowls. Winslow Townson/Associated Press 'Any time you see Vrabs, be ready to answer a question. That's my mind-set,' Peppers said. 'Make sure guys are taking notes, because he might ask you a question from OTAs. He hasn't got me yet.' In the first team meeting in April, Vrabel quizzed the room about the last time the Patriots won the AFC East title, and no one knew the answer (2019). Players learned quickly to be prepared. 'He does it all the time — with me he'll ask about scheme stuff,' linebacker Christian Elliss said. 'We have to stay mentally aware, and we've got to make sure when he does ask us we answer the right way, or else it's not only shame on you, but shame on your whole position.' Johnson said the quizzes create accountability, which is a big part of building a program. 'It will force guys to maybe study more than they would have otherwise,' Johnson said. 'The worst thing you can do is be embarrassed in front of your own teammates.' Related : Vrabel has been quizzing the media, too. When asked what would make it a successful training camp, Vrabel turned the question around. Advertisement 'If we can remember what the objectives of training camp were, which were, do you remember? No?' Vrabel said. Eventually, the answers were found: Build a team, earn a role, and prepare to win. 'You guys are on fire today,' Vrabel said. 'We're off to a great start.' Vrabel's style is also influenced by one angle Parcells and Belichick could never replicate — that of a former player. In that sense, Vrabel is similar to Mayo, though Mayo's inexperience as a coach seemed to prevent him from fully connecting with his team. But Vrabel and his staff are giving veteran players occasional days off to ensure they are fresh for Week 1. And Vrabel might be 15 years removed from his playing days, but he is an active participant in practice, whether it's playing free safety on the scout team or wearing a blocking pad and going one-on-one with the linemen. 'When you've got a guy that played at a high level, won some Super Bowls and got it out of the mud, you've got a certain respect for him,' said right tackle Morgan Moses, now in his 12th season. 'When you see a coach holding pads and getting blasted every day, and he's not complaining, he's not moaning about it, that makes everybody respect that level of attitude.' On the practice field, Vrabel sounds like Parcells, coaches like Belichick, and adds a dash of Mayo. The Patriots can only hope it's the right recipe for success. Ben Volin can be reached at
Fox Sports
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Todd Haley: Bill Parcells Had Dan Campbell Start Fight At Cowboys Practice
Detroit Lions' head coach Dan Campbell is the man in Motown, but apparently he was previously Bill Parcells' hitman on the Dallas Cowboys back in his days as a tight end. Former Cowboys wide receiver coach Todd Haley, who was with the organization from 2004 to 2006, revealed an amazing story about Parcells and Campbell, who played for the Cowboys from 2003-05. "Practice on a Wednesday was going bad. You could see Coach Parcells getting heated up. He was not happy with the way anything was going. There was no energy, and I see him call Dan over to the side and say a couple words to him. And Dan runs back into the huddle, and Parcells with his arms crossed like he always did, walked over to me, and he said, 'Watch this Todd.' A fight ensued on the next play, and Dan Campbell was in the middle of it," Haley said on the latest edition of ESPN's "This is Football" podcast. "As coaches, you got to do whatever you have to do to get things going in the right direction, and he knew that Dan was his man to get in there and stir it up, and it worked. All of a sudden, everybody is hooping and hollering, excited, and good things happened from there." Considering Campbell's "bite a kneecap off" line at his Lions introductory press conference and infectious passion on the sideline and in interviews, Haley's story is, without a doubt, believable. Campbell spent the first four seasons of his NFL career with the New York Giants (1999-2002), who selected him in the third round of the 1999 NFL Draft out of Texas A&M. After the three-year stint in Dallas, the tight end spent the final three seasons of his career with the Lions (2006-08). Campbell finished his career with 91 receptions, 934 receiving yards and 11 receiving touchdowns. As a head coach, Campbell has taken the Lions from the NFL's basement to the party on the rooftop. After a 3-13-1 first season (2021), the Lions have posted 9-8, 12-5 and 15-2 campaigns under Campbell, highlighted by reaching the NFC Championship Game in 2023, winning back-to-back NFC North titles (2023-24) and earning the No. 1 seed in the NFC in 2024. As for Parcells, the Cowboys became his final NFL head-coaching stint, with the franchise going a combined 34-30 under him from 2003-06, which included making the playoffs in 2003 and 2006. Of course, the Hall of Fame head coach won two Super Bowls as head coach of the Giants (1986 and 1990 seasons), helped the New England Patriots reach Super Bowl XXXI and also helped the New York Jets reach the AFC Championship Game in the 1998 season. Meanwhile, Haley coached under Parcells on both the Jets and Cowboys and went on to have three NFL offensive coordinator gigs (Arizona Cardinals, Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns) and was the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs from 2009-11. He was most recently the head coach of the then-USFL's Memphis Showboats in 2023. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience National Football League Dallas Cowboys Detroit Lions recommended Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more in this topic
USA Today
24-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Todd Haley details Bill Parcells asking Dan Campbell to start practice fight
Todd Haley learned a lot from Bill Parcells during his time on the legendary coach's staff with the Dallas Cowboys. One of the key lessons came to him at a practice during which current Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell started a fight. Haley recalled Dallas' practice, which was ahead of a key game against the New York Giants, was not going well. Parcells was "getting heated" on the sidelines because of the Cowboys' effort. "He was not happy with the way anything was going," Haley told Kevin Clark on his "This is Football" podcast. "There was no energy." Haley witnessed Parcells call over Campbell – who was then a tight end for the Cowboys – and deliver a message. Campbell ran back to the huddle while Parcells sidled up to Haley, arms crossed. "Watch this, Todd," Parcells said, according to Haley. NFL RANKINGS: Which of league's 32 teams will be most fun in 2025? After the next play, a fight ensued. Campbell "was in the middle of it," at Parcells' request. "As coaches, you gotta do whatever you have to do to get things going in the right direction," Haley explained of the maneuver. "[Parcells] knew that Dan was his man to get in there and stir it up." Haley also detailed that the skirmish achieved Parcells' ultimate goal. "All of a sudden, practice – everybody's hooping and hollering, excited," Haley said. "And good things happen from there." Campbell has brought that same energy and feistiness to the Lions as their coach. He has a 39-28-1 record across four seasons in charge of the team, leading Detroit to an NFC championship game appearance during the 2023 NFL playoffs and the NFC's No. 1 overall seed in 2024.
The Herald Scotland
19-06-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Aaron Glenn is ready to be Jets coach after Bill Parcells' advice
That was not exactly what Glenn wanted to hear in 2012, four years after retiring from a stellar 15-year career as an NFL cornerback, when the bug hit him to try getting back in the league to pursue a coaching career. "He told me that he wanted me to scout first, because I had a chance to be a head coach," the New York Jets coach told USA TODAY Sports on Tuesday. "And to be a good head coach, you've got to understand personnel. So, listen, I did not want to do it at all. I wanted to go straight to coaching. "But man, that was the best advice I could have gotten." And look at him now. Glenn, 52, worked as a scout for the Jets for two years before steadily climbing the NFL coaching ladder and bringing Parcells' prediction to life. In personnel, which included scouting the NFL and colleges, Glenn learned the nuances of every position, which goes so far in handling the evaluation business of his new job. Let Parcells, the Hall of Famer who coached Glenn with the Jets and later with the Dallas Cowboys, tell us why he thinks this is such a big deal. "I want to tell you one thing about him that I think is interesting," Parcells told USA TODAY Sports during a phone interview, shortly after Glenn was hired. "There are very few pro football players that when their football career is over, they're willing to go to another profession and start at the lowest level. But Aaron did that because he was trying to get the proper foundation. That one thing showed me that he was serious about being a coach." Glenn was at the Ozzie Newsome GM Forum hosted by the Black College Football Hall of Fame and supported by the NFL, part of a roundtable discussion that also featured Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles and Atlanta Falcons GM Terry Fontenot. That provided Glenn another reason to be nostalgic as he opened up to an audience that included several college coaches. Bowles was Glenn's crafty position coach for a year with the Jets and two seasons with the Cowboys. Fontenot shared much insight when he worked in the New Orleans Saints personnel department during the five seasons Glenn was the team's secondary coach. It's no wonder that Glenn, reflecting on his rise, emphasized not cutting corners. "I try to tell a lot of people: 'Don't miss a step,'" Glenn said. "And that's not just in your process of becoming a head coach, but in the scheme of things in general. I've had an opportunity to hit a number of different parts of the NFL that a lot of people don't get a chance to. So, whatever it is as far as learning experience in this league, you've got to take it. Even though you might think it will slow you down from getting that next job, it's really helping you in that next job because you're getting valuable information." That mindset probably goes double as Glenn gets on with the task of trying to revitalize the franchise riding with the NFL's longest playoff drought at 14 seasons. Of course, these jobs generally open up for a reason and with the Jets, the calling card is instability. Glenn marks the sixth Jets coach since 2009. But at least he has been a first-hand witness to a stark turnaround, having a key role as the Detroit Lions transformed from an essential doormat to one of the NFL's most legitimate championship contenders over the past two seasons under coach Dan Campbell. It can indeed happen. Perhaps he's perfect for this. Parcells calls him "a tiger." As a player, Glenn's tenacity made up for his slight stature at 5-foot, 9-inches. As a coach, that same aggressive flow endears him to players who vouch for his ability to relate. Something that veteran defensive end Za'Darius Smith said about Glenn earlier this year, as the Lions ramped up for their (very short) playoff run, summed up widespread sentiment. "For a coach to relate to players, and players to relate to a coach who played for 15 years, it's like you want to listen," Smith told USA TODAY Sports. "You have that trust." Although the Lions were upset in their playoff opener, nearly a year after their collapse in the NFC title game, Glenn's stock rose on his ability to patch up an injury-ravaged unit to the point that Detroit earned the NFC's No. 1 seed. Fixing the Jets, 5-12 in 2024, is an entirely different animal. To which Glenn doesn't seem to even blink. After all, he stepped into the NFL in 1994 as the Jets' first-round pick (12th overall) from Texas A&M. "This is my third time around the horn with the Jets," he said. "It's fate. I was meant to have that job. Even though there are some things to work out, there is no other job that fits." Glenn surely has some nerve, casting the Jets as a dream job. We'll see. Glenn told reporters last week that 91% of players attended all of the offseason workout. Teamed with new general manager Darren Mougey, didn't bother to try it with Aaron Rodgers, and instead is rolling with former Steeler Justin Fields. Fate (and the NFL schedule-makers) lined up Pittsburgh and Rodgers for Glenn's debut on Sept. 7, so, no lack of interest. But first things first. Training camp opens in five weeks. As Justin Fields energizes Jets, we'll know soon if Steelers goofed with Aaron Rodgers "I'm going to approach it just like I always have," Glenn said. "I want to be in the bunker with the players, meaning I want the players to know I'm in there with them. To me, that's what training camp is all about. That's when you'll begin to really build a foundation as a team." If Glenn's old school philosophy and desire for physicality is any indication, the Jets could be in for one of the NFL's most demanding camps. Glenn knows. The Lions were noted for their physical camps under Campbell. Detroit's coach, who played with Glenn at A&M and coached with him on Sean Payton's staff in New Orleans, also gets a lot of credit from Glenn for preparing him to transition to this new opportunity. Campbell saw to it that Glenn handled some of the head coaching tasks, such as setting the camp practice schedule. That couldn't hurt. But... "You know, when you become a head coach, it's not exactly what you thought it was," Parcells said. "I tell all the guys that I've worked with, when they start out, there are going to be five or six things that happen every day that you wish wouldn't happen. If you can't deal with that, then you need to find another business, because that's the way professional athletics are. There are things that happen and you just have to be willing to persevere and cope. I'm not trying to sound like this is some courageous undertaking. You get quite a bit of adversity along the way. You have to be prepared to deal with it." Aaron Rodgers went to Mike Tomlin's backyard cookout. There was chemistry (and good food) That said, Parcells is excited about Glenn's chances to ultimately succeed because he believes that he is well prepared. After all, a dozen years ago, he took Parcells' career advice. "When you're coaching, you're really teaching," Parcells said. "Communication is vital. You've got to figure out how to do that with your pupils. Listen, this kid, all I can say is he's prepared for the undertaking. Even with that, it never goes the way you think it's going to go. The boat's going to rock and there's going to be sharks in the water. I know he understands that. Even with the preparation, you can't expect the transition to be smooth. But I'm fired up for him." This is a sweet spot about now for Glenn. He hasn't lost a game. He hasn't been put on blast by the New York tabloids because of a controversial decision. He's relaxed, grateful for all of his mentors and eager to share insights with younger coaches. In a few weeks, though, the grind will arrive. He may be a rookie coach, but he's been around the NFL long enough in other capacities to realize the pressure cooker that looms. "I'm going to be around the players as much as possible," Glenn said. "They'll get to know me and I'll get to know them. But I want to make sure at this point that I spend as much time with my wife and kids as I can." Which represents another good move. Follow Jarrett Bell on social media: @JarrettBell
USA Today
18-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Exclusive: Aaron Glenn followed legend's advice, is ready to be Jets coach
ATLANTA – Maybe Aaron Glenn isn't a short time away from his debut as a rookie NFL head coach if he didn't follow through on some pertinent advice from Bill Parcells. Be a scout. That was not exactly what Glenn wanted to hear in 2012, four years after retiring from a stellar 15-year career as an NFL cornerback, when the bug hit him to try getting back in the league to pursue a coaching career. 'He told me that he wanted me to scout first, because I had a chance to be a head coach,' the New York Jets coach told USA TODAY Sports on Tuesday. 'And to be a good head coach, you've got to understand personnel. So, listen, I did not want to do it at all. I wanted to go straight to coaching. 'But man, that was the best advice I could have gotten.' And look at him now. Glenn, 52, worked as a scout for the Jets for two years before steadily climbing the NFL coaching ladder and bringing Parcells' prediction to life. In personnel, which included scouting the NFL and colleges, Glenn learned the nuances of every position, which goes so far in handling the evaluation business of his new job. Let Parcells, the Hall of Famer who coached Glenn with the Jets and later with the Dallas Cowboys, tell us why he thinks this is such a big deal. 'I want to tell you one thing about him that I think is interesting,' Parcells told USA TODAY Sports during a phone interview, shortly after Glenn was hired. 'There are very few pro football players that when their football career is over, they're willing to go to another profession and start at the lowest level. But Aaron did that because he was trying to get the proper foundation. That one thing showed me that he was serious about being a coach.' Glenn was at the Ozzie Newsome GM Forum hosted by the Black College Football Hall of Fame and supported by the NFL, part of a roundtable discussion that also featured Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles and Atlanta Falcons GM Terry Fontenot. That provided Glenn another reason to be nostalgic as he opened up to an audience that included several college coaches. Bowles was Glenn's crafty position coach for a year with the Jets and two seasons with the Cowboys. Fontenot shared much insight when he worked in the New Orleans Saints personnel department during the five seasons Glenn was the team's secondary coach. It's no wonder that Glenn, reflecting on his rise, emphasized not cutting corners. 'I try to tell a lot of people: 'Don't miss a step,'' Glenn said. 'And that's not just in your process of becoming a head coach, but in the scheme of things in general. I've had an opportunity to hit a number of different parts of the NFL that a lot of people don't get a chance to. So, whatever it is as far as learning experience in this league, you've got to take it. Even though you might think it will slow you down from getting that next job, it's really helping you in that next job because you're getting valuable information.' That mindset probably goes double as Glenn gets on with the task of trying to revitalize the franchise riding with the NFL's longest playoff drought at 14 seasons. Of course, these jobs generally open up for a reason and with the Jets, the calling card is instability. Glenn marks the sixth Jets coach since 2009. But at least he has been a first-hand witness to a stark turnaround, having a key role as the Detroit Lions transformed from an essential doormat to one of the NFL's most legitimate championship contenders over the past two seasons under coach Dan Campbell. It can indeed happen. Perhaps he's perfect for this. Parcells calls him 'a tiger.' As a player, Glenn's tenacity made up for his slight stature at 5-foot, 9-inches. As a coach, that same aggressive flow endears him to players who vouch for his ability to relate. Something that veteran defensive end Za'Darius Smith said about Glenn earlier this year, as the Lions ramped up for their (very short) playoff run, summed up widespread sentiment. 'For a coach to relate to players, and players to relate to a coach who played for 15 years, it's like you want to listen,' Smith told USA TODAY Sports. 'You have that trust.' Although the Lions were upset in their playoff opener, nearly a year after their collapse in the NFC title game, Glenn's stock rose on his ability to patch up an injury-ravaged unit to the point that Detroit earned the NFC's No. 1 seed. Fixing the Jets, 5-12 in 2024, is an entirely different animal. To which Glenn doesn't seem to even blink. After all, he stepped into the NFL in 1994 as the Jets' first-round pick (12th overall) from Texas A&M. 'This is my third time around the horn with the Jets,' he said. 'It's fate. I was meant to have that job. Even though there are some things to work out, there is no other job that fits.' Glenn surely has some nerve, casting the Jets as a dream job. We'll see. Glenn told reporters last week that 91% of players attended all of the offseason workout. Teamed with new general manager Darren Mougey, didn't bother to try it with Aaron Rodgers, and instead is rolling with former Steeler Justin Fields. Fate (and the NFL schedule-makers) lined up Pittsburgh and Rodgers for Glenn's debut on Sept. 7, so, no lack of interest. But first things first. Training camp opens in five weeks. As Justin Fields energizes Jets, we'll know soon if Steelers goofed with Aaron Rodgers 'I'm going to approach it just like I always have,' Glenn said. 'I want to be in the bunker with the players, meaning I want the players to know I'm in there with them. To me, that's what training camp is all about. That's when you'll begin to really build a foundation as a team.' If Glenn's old school philosophy and desire for physicality is any indication, the Jets could be in for one of the NFL's most demanding camps. Glenn knows. The Lions were noted for their physical camps under Campbell. Detroit's coach, who played with Glenn at A&M and coached with him on Sean Payton's staff in New Orleans, also gets a lot of credit from Glenn for preparing him to transition to this new opportunity. Campbell saw to it that Glenn handled some of the head coaching tasks, such as setting the camp practice schedule. That couldn't hurt. But… 'You know, when you become a head coach, it's not exactly what you thought it was,' Parcells said. 'I tell all the guys that I've worked with, when they start out, there are going to be five or six things that happen every day that you wish wouldn't happen. If you can't deal with that, then you need to find another business, because that's the way professional athletics are. There are things that happen and you just have to be willing to persevere and cope. I'm not trying to sound like this is some courageous undertaking. You get quite a bit of adversity along the way. You have to be prepared to deal with it.' Aaron Rodgers went to Mike Tomlin's backyard cookout. There was chemistry (and good food) That said, Parcells is excited about Glenn's chances to ultimately succeed because he believes that he is well prepared. After all, a dozen years ago, he took Parcells' career advice. 'When you're coaching, you're really teaching,' Parcells said. 'Communication is vital. You've got to figure out how to do that with your pupils. Listen, this kid, all I can say is he's prepared for the undertaking. Even with that, it never goes the way you think it's going to go. The boat's going to rock and there's going to be sharks in the water. I know he understands that. Even with the preparation, you can't expect the transition to be smooth. But I'm fired up for him.' This is a sweet spot about now for Glenn. He hasn't lost a game. He hasn't been put on blast by the New York tabloids because of a controversial decision. He's relaxed, grateful for all of his mentors and eager to share insights with younger coaches. In a few weeks, though, the grind will arrive. He may be a rookie coach, but he's been around the NFL long enough in other capacities to realize the pressure cooker that looms. 'I'm going to be around the players as much as possible,' Glenn said. 'They'll get to know me and I'll get to know them. But I want to make sure at this point that I spend as much time with my wife and kids as I can.' Which represents another good move. Follow Jarrett Bell on social media: @JarrettBell
