New York Giants: The Top 5 Bill Parcells Moments

The “Big Tuna” was and remains the best coach in New York Giants history. He celebrated his birthday today, so it’s only fitting to do it with him.

Part of the reason Parcells is so revered is that he was a guy who talked the talk but also walked the walk. He wasn’t afraid to tell people what he thought with often brutal honesty. Then he’d proceed to show them why he was right, as he was most of the time. New Yorkers love that sort of bravado mixed with brilliance.

What made him so great was that there were plenty of standout moments in his Giants career that illustrated the type of coach he was. He was tough and gritty, but he was also intelligent, sly and cunning. He also wasn’t afraid to gamble. If one were to go back over his time on the sidelines, what were the biggest Parcells moments? Here are five that stood out the most.

#5:  Taking the wind

Weather can so often play a pivotal role in the outcome of games. New York is no stranger to this reality. Parcell lived with that east coast madness for years and it didn’t get any crazier than the 1986 NFC championship game. The Giants were playing the Washington Redskins for the right to go to the Super Bowl. There was one problem. It was windy.

Really windy. Estimates are it reached between 30-35 miles per hour during the game. Though the Giants won the coin toss, Parcells made the unusual decision to kick off, allowing him the choice to pick which direction his team would go on offense. He chose the way the wind was blowing so his team would have it at their backs for the first quarter.

It was a brilliant decision. New York scored a quick 10 points in the first quarter while Washington, having to a deal with both the wind and the Giants’ powerful defense, never found a rhythm. New York won 17-0, advancing to their first Super Bowl.