How Bill Parcells Reacted To Patriots Honor Bestowed By Robert Kraft

Bill Parcells was a finalist for the New England Patriots Hall of Fame five times since 2011, but came up short on the fan vote on each occasion.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft made sure that won’t happen again despite his checkered past with Parcells.

Kraft surprisingly announced Tuesday morning from the NFL owners’ meetings that he decided to induct Parcells into the franchise’s Hall of Fame as a contributor this summer.

Parcells, already a Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee and member of the New York Giants’ Ring of Honor, was taken aback by the news when Kraft called him and was more than willing to accept the accolade.

“Of course I was (surprised),” Parcells told The Boston Globe’s Ben Volin. “I’m very honored. I am. 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.”

Parcells uplifted a sinking franchise when he took the helm of the Patriots in 1993. He spent four seasons as the head coach, amassing just a 32-32 record but also guided the Patriots to an appearance in Super Bowl XXXI against the Green Bay Packers.

Parcells, who was named the NFL Coach of the Year in 1994, also played a roll in setting up the start of New England’s dynasty by drafting key playmakers like Ty Law, Willie McGinest, Tedy Bruschi, Troy Brown and Lawyer Milloy.

But Parcells and Kraft butted heads at the end of Parcells’ tenure in New England. Parcells didn’t like Kraft giving his input on roster decisions — hence the famous “groceries” quote — and things really blew up when it leaked during the week of the Super Bowl in 1997 that Parcells was departing.

But that’s all in the past now for Parcells.

“I personally feel that those days are over,” Parcells said. “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.”