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“When Are You Going to Get a Real Job?”: Bill Parcells’ Mom’s Reaction to Him Getting the Giants Head Coach Role

By the time the New York Giants made Bill Parcells their head coach in 1983, he had already worked at Hastings College, Army, Florida State, Vanderbilt, Texas Tech, and Air Force. That’s a lot of moving boxes for someone whose…

By Nilaav Ranjan Gogoi · Essentially Sports

Published: Sunday, 1 November 2026 at 7:12 PM

Key Things to Know

Bill Parcells recalled his mother asking when he would get a real job upon being hired by the Giants.
His mother preferred careers like banking, law, or medicine over coaching in smelly gymnasiums.
Parcells noted her attitude changed after his coaching earnings significantly increased.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Former NFL head coach Bill Parcells revealed on the Football Doesn't Lie Podcast that his mother, Ida Parcells, initially disapproved when he was named the New York Giants head coach in 1983. Ida questioned when he would get a real job like his banker brother, complaining about smelly gymnasiums because she preferred her sons to become doctors or lawyers.

Parcells noted that her attitude softened as his coaching income grew over his career. Parcells went on to coach 19 NFL seasons across four franchises, winning two Super Bowls with the Giants and compiling a career 172-130-1 regular-season record.

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