The Unforgettable Jets Sideline Feud Between Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick
Rivalries in the NFL aren’t new, and even clashes between teammates are seen as part of the game. But when two coaches from the same team go head-to-head during a high-stakes playoff game? That’s something rare—and it actually happened during an AFC Divisional Round in the late 1990s. The two coaches involved were none other than Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick, two giants in the game. Now, former Jets wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson has brought the fiery moment back into the spotlight with a firsthand account.
Parcells, known for his tough and direct approach, clashed with Belichick—then the defensive coordinator—during a 1998 playoff game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The two had a long history, having worked together on the Giants and Patriots, with Belichick serving as Parcells’ assistant for years. But this moment was different. It was head coach versus coordinator, right in the middle of a playoff battle.
Johnson, appearing on the Games With Names podcast, recalled the heated sideline drama. During the game, Parcells wanted to sub Johnson in for a defensive play, but Belichick was firmly against it. According to Johnson, the disagreement escalated quickly. “Parcells and Belichick got into it and it was the craziest thing I’d ever seen on the sideline,” he said. Belichick refused to make the substitution, and just after the argument, the opposing team scored a touchdown. Parcells was furious and unleashed on Belichick right there on the sideline.
Despite the tense moment, Johnson ended up proving himself. He made a key interception and finished the game with nine receptions for 121 yards and a touchdown, plus another 28 rushing yards, a rushing touchdown, and even a fumble recovery. Looking back, Parcells clearly made the right call.
But that wasn’t the only bombshell story Johnson shared. He also talked about the bizarre day when Bill Belichick resigned as Jets head coach—just one day after being named to the position. Belichick’s resignation note, famously scribbled on a napkin, read simply: “I resign as HC of the NYJ.” He reportedly gave a long speech to the press explaining his decision, but the reasons behind it remain mysterious to this day.
Johnson described the chaos of that moment at the Jets facility. He recalled being told there was a press conference upstairs, only to discover Belichick resigning in front of the media with a napkin in hand. The team was left stunned and confused, especially since it seemed Belichick had accepted the position. “He didn’t want the job,” Johnson recalled being told, noting how surreal the moment felt.
Following Belichick’s resignation, Al Groh stepped in as head coach for the 2000 season. Soon after, Belichick moved on to the New England Patriots. However, it wasn’t a clean break. The Jets insisted that Belichick was still under contract and demanded compensation. The Patriots ultimately gave up a first-round draft pick to acquire him. In hindsight, it was one of the most pivotal moves in NFL history. Under Belichick, the Patriots went on to win multiple Super Bowls and build a dynasty.
The entire episode—from the on-field feud to Belichick’s sudden departure—remains one of the most fascinating chapters in Jets and Patriots history, revealing the complex dynamic between two legendary coaches and the turning points that shaped their legacies.