Patriots proprietor Robert Kraft and former head coach Invoice Parcells have seemingly made amends a long time after the coach’s exit to the AFC East rival Jets in 1997.
On Tuesday, Kraft introduced on the NFL homeowners conferences that Parcells might be inducted into the group’s Corridor of Fame as a contributor this 12 months and defined the timing was proper for him to be honored with a purple jacket in Foxborough.
Parcells was the pinnacle coach of the Patriots for 4 seasons (1993-96) and led them to 2 playoff berths and a Tremendous Bowl look — after inheriting a group that had completed 14-50 within the earlier 4 years.
Parcells had been a finalist 5 instances for the distinction in 2011, 2012, 2014, 2020 and 2023.
“He had been a finalist for five years, and while both of us are alive … I thought it would be great given what he’s done for the team,” Kraft, who turns 84 in June, advised The Boston Globe.
Parcells, who was enshrined into the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame in 2012, will flip 84 in August.
It was extensively believed that Parcells was snubbed for the group’s Corridor of Fame after his falling out with Kraft within the mid-90s.
On the time, Parcells wished personnel management and Kraft wouldn’t budge — and Kraft wasn’t thrilled that rumors of Parcells leaving for the Jets overshadowed the Patriots’ Tremendous Bowl towards the Packers in 1997.
Inexperienced Bay beat New England, 35-21, and Parcells took his abilities to the Jets.
“I personally feel that those days are over,” Parcells advised The Boston Globe through telephone. “Life’s too short for that kind of stuff. We haven’t interacted much, but I think we both pretty much feel the same way.”
Kraft initially wished to shock Parcells by delivering the information in particular person throughout a go to to Jupiter, Fla., the place Parcells is a resident within the winter.
Nonetheless, Kraft wound up calling the two-time Tremendous Bowl champ as Parcells was within the strategy of driving to his summer season residence in Saratoga.
“I’m very honored. I am,” Parcells stated of Kraft’s name. “I don’t take any of this stuff for granted. I’ve been fortunate with the Giants and the national Hall of Fame and then this one. That’s three of them. That’s a pretty humbling thing.”
Kraft, who purchased the Patriots in 1994, credited Parcells for bringing “instant credibility” to the group in a separate assertion on Monday.
“In the early 1990s, the Patriots were in disarray, but the hiring of Bill Parcells in 1993, a two-time Super Bowl Champion, brought instant credibility to the franchise. We had never had a head coach with his credentials,” Kraft stated in an announcement. “He was a grasp motivator and all the time bought probably the most out of his gamers.
“In my first season as proprietor, he led us on that unforgettable seven-game win streak to qualify for the playoffs. Two years later, he completed one thing Patriots followers had by no means seen earlier than, main us to our first two residence playoff wins in franchise historical past, and one other journey to the Tremendous Bowl. These are recollections I’ll always remember and achievements worthy of this honor.
“As a five-time finalist for our hall of fame, I am sure he would have been voted in eventually, but I wanted to expedite the process so he can enjoy the ceremony. I look forward to welcoming Bill back to Foxborough and celebrating his induction into the Patriots Hall of Fame.”
The date for the ceremony has but to be introduced.
Julian Edelman, Adam Vinatieri and Logan Mankins are all candidates to be honored.
Parcells went 32-32 in 4 seasons with the Patriots and 2-2 within the playoffs.
He’s the one coach in NFL historical past to steer 4 completely different groups to the playoffs and three completely different groups to the convention championship recreation.
Parcells additionally served as the pinnacle coach of the Giants and the Cowboys.
He was inducted into the Giants’ Ring of Honor in 2010 after successful two Tremendous Bowls with the group.
