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Bill Cowher Recalls Rejecting Bill Parcells’ Lucrative Offer to Join NFC Rival Before Eventually Joining Steelers

Marty Schottenheimer’s Cleveland run came to a bitter end in 1998. And it marked the turning point in Bill Cowher’s life. After Schottenheimer left, Cowher thought of closing the Cleveland chapter. While he had a chance to join NFC rival…

By Soheli Tarafdar · Essentially Sports

Published: Tuesday, 10 November 2026 at 2:32 AM

Key Things to Know

Bill Cowher revealed he turned down a lucrative offer from Bill Parcells to coach with the New York Giants.
Cowher chose to remain loyal to Marty Schottenheimer by joining the Kansas City Chiefs instead of the Giants.
Parcells offered Cowher the defensive backs coach role with more money following an interview with Bill Belichick.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Bill Cowher revealed on the Coach2Coach with Jason Garrett podcast that he rejected a lucrative offer from New York Giants head coach Bill Parcells. After Marty Schottenheimer left the Cleveland Browns, Parcells offered Cowher more money to serve as the Giants' defensive backs coach following an interview with then-defensive coordinator Bill Belichick. However, Cowher chose loyalty over the higher salary and followed Schottenheimer to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Cowher served as the Chiefs' defensive coordinator from 1989 through 1991, overseeing one of the league's top defenses. That success subsequently helped him secure the Pittsburgh Steelers' head coaching role in 1992, where he eventually won Super Bowl XL.

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