Bill Parcells told Sports Illustrated on Monday that he doesn't believe he'll return to coaching, amid reports that he could take over the New Orleans Saints on an interim basis.
Debate: Tuna time in New Orleans?
Should the
Saints promote from within or hire an outsider like
Bill Parcells
to be interim coach?
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"Do I have the bug?" Parcells said. "I don't think so."
Parcells said he has passed on two opportunities to coach again since leaving the Dallas Cowboys in 2006.
Saints coach Sean Paytonplanned to talk with Parcells about having the Hall of Fame finalist fill in as the team's interim coach for the upcoming season, Fox Sports insider and NFL Network contributor Jay Glazer reported Monday. Payton was suspended by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for the entire 2012 season for his role in the team's "bounty" scandal.
A league source told NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora that the Saints are considering bringing on Parcells, but that it's unlikely the team would hire him. Parcells, 70, also is only one of several options the team is weighing, La Canfora reported.
At the NFL Annual Meeting in Palm Beach, Fla., Goodell confirmed the Saints would be permitted to hire a coach from outside the franchise, so long as he isn't currently on staff with another team.
Parcells assembled a 172-130-1 record, including two Super Bowl titles with the New York Giants and another Super Bowl appearance with the New England Patriots, in 22 years as an NFL head coach. He is the only coach to take four different franchises to the playoffs.
Parcells first retired from coaching after leaving the New York Jets in 1999, but he joined the Cowboys in 2003 before leaving again three years later.
After being named a Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist in 2012, Parcells would have to wait another five years to be considered for Hall of Fame induction if he returns to coaching in any capacity, Hall of Fame vice president of communications Joe Horrigan confirmed to NFL.com.
