New York Giants: The Top 5 Bill Parcells Moments
By Erik Lambert
![Cowboys coach Bill Parcells late in the game as the Dallas Cowboys defeated the San Francisco 49ers by a score of 34 to 31 at Monster Park, San Francisco, California, September 25, 2005. (Photo by Robert B. Stanton/NFLPhotoLibrary) Cowboys coach Bill Parcells late in the game as the Dallas Cowboys defeated the San Francisco 49ers by a score of 34 to 31 at Monster Park, San Francisco, California, September 25, 2005. (Photo by Robert B. Stanton/NFLPhotoLibrary)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/af8251ec8cb99ffa4c732dd2289881bbc6195cea00f4ce0ac651408bff6152bd.jpg)
#4: Sticking with Simms
There were several occasions from the moment Parcells took over the Giants that he could’ve put a permanent end to quarterback Phil Simms in New York. He almost did exactly that in 1983 when he benched the embattled quarterback for Scott Bruner. That move blew up spectacularly in his face, prompting Simms to return with a strong year in 1984.
However, the penultimate moment came two years later. Simms was in a prolonged slump and the cries had grown deafening from fans for him to be benched. Through the first 10 games, he’d thrown 14 interceptions. He completed just 14 passes total in narrow wins over Dallas and Philadelphia. Parcells called him in for a meeting after that.
Rather than bench him or yell at him, the coach instead told his QB to relax and to stop worrying. Let it go and rest assured that Parcells had his back. Simms responded with 17 touchdowns and just eight interceptions over the final nine games of the season, capping off with a Super Bowl MVP award and a Giants championship.