Monday Morning Huddle: Should Bill Parcells make the Patriots Hall of Fame?

When Bill Belichick led the New England Patriots to their first Super Bowl win in February 2002, many of his key players were actually brought in by one of his predecessors. Ty Law, Willie McGinest, Tedy Bruschi, Lawyer Milloy, Adam Vinatieri and Troy Brown all played considerable roles in the Patriots’ upset win over the St. Louis Rams. All were drafted by Bill Parcells.

Parcells arrived in New England in 1993, taking over after a disastrous few years dominated by bad play and relocation rumors. The next four seasons, he helped rebuild the moribund franchise and turn it from laughing stock to contender: the Patriots went only 34-34, including the postseason, but they also had two winning seasons and reached Super Bowl XXXI to cap their 1996 campaign.

While he left the organization in controversial fashion — he was already on his way out when that Super Bowl was played (and lost) — Parcells’ impact was still felt years later. He may not have led New England to the promised land himself, but he very much helped lay the foundation upon which Belichick was able to build the Patriots’ dynasty in the early 2000s.

As a result of this, his name has come up time and again in relation to the club’s Hall of Fame. Already having made the Pro Football version, Parcells is still waiting for the Patriots’ honor to come his way.

He has come close before, though. An expert panel named him a finalist four times, but each time the fan vote did not go in his favor.

Parcells lost against Drew Bledsoe, his first draft pick with the Patriots, in 2011. He was beaten by Troy Brown and Ty Law, two more selections of his, in 2012 and 2014. In 2020, Richard Seymour was voted in over the former head coach.

All of this begs the question: Should Parcells even make it in?

There are arguments for both sides. On the one hand, he helped turn the Patriots around after their disappointing run in the late 80s and early 90s; he brought some core contributors of future championship teams in; he reached the Super Bowl. On the other hand, he never won a title with the Patriots; he left under controversial circumstances; he also finished with a .500 winning percentage.

So, with all of that said, what do you say? Should Parcells make the cut? Let us know in the comments!