Bill Parcells gave Mike Zimmer some advice about being a head coach
Former NFL head coach and general manager Bill Parcells is nothing if not a realist. And a huge buzzkill.
The Hall of Famer understands the intense demands placed on coaches in the NFL, and he makes a point of communicating those demands to coaches advancing their careers in the industry. Basically, Parcells wants them to know that things won't always be rosy.
Case in point: the words of wisdom Parcells gave to new Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer the day Zimmer accepted the job:
1 of 3 things Bill Parcells told Mike Zimmer to write down on the day he was hired by Vikings: 1. Your best friends will disappoint you
— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) January 19, 2014
No. 2 was "4 or 5 things happen every day in pro football you wish wouldn't happen & if you can't handle those, you need to get another job
— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) January 19, 2014
Parcells' 3rd instruction to Zimmer about being a head coach: "It's lonely."
— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) January 19, 2014
Zimmer wasn't scared off by Parcells' cautionary tales. He's been in the game for a long time and experienced more than his fair share of hardships.