Legendary NFL coach Bill Parcells secretly paid former players over $4 million from his own pocket

Known for his fiery personality and fierce loyalty to his players, Pro Football Hall of Famer Bill Parcells’ allegiance to his teams didn’t end when he retired from coaching in 2006.

As revealed by Gary Myers, a long-time NFL reporter and author of ‘Once a Giant: A Story of Victory, Tragedy and Life After Football,’ Parcells secretly paid more than $4 million to 20 of his former players who faced financial struggles in retirement.

‘I’ve never heard of anything like that,’ Myers told Big Blue View’s Ed Valentine. ‘And I said, “Bill, why would you do something like that? Why do you feel obligated?” And he explained to me that he set aside all the money he needs for, hopefully, another 30 years of his life. He’s just turned 82.

‘And he’s given money to his three daughters and to his grandchildren, and then he has a certain amount of money left,’ Myers continued. ‘And he says, “What better way is there to do it than if some of my players who gave so much to me and helped make me a Hall of Fame coach and make me financially secure?”

‘”It was because of their hard work and me driving them to be the best they can be. They gave so much to me. Now that I’m in a position to help, and unfortunately they’re in a position where they need help, why shouldn’t I be the one to help?”

‘And, you know, people who remember Parcells, there’s this hard-driving coach who had a love-hate relationship with his players,’ Myers concluded. ‘And now to see the transformation where he has become the patriarch of that team.’

Parcells’ exact earnings are difficult to pin down, but he did sign several contracts that paid him more than $1 million a year in the 1990s and early 2000s.

In speaking with Valentine, Myers did not identify the players who have received money from Parcells. The coach was known to favor certain groups of hard-nosed stars such as cornerback Aaron Glenn, offensive tackle Jumbo Elliott and offensive guard William Roberts, all of whom played for Parcells with two different franchises.

He is best known for his years with the New York Giants. The New Jersey native won two Lombardi Trophies with the team, including Super Bowl XXV with backup quarterback Jeff Hostetler in for injured starter Phil Simms.

Parcells and defensive assistant Bill Belichick would later move on to the New England Patriots, whom they would guide to Super Bowl XXXI. Ultimately the Patriots fell to Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers, and Parcells moved on to the New York Jets.

He finished his career as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys in 2006.