IRVING, Texas (AP) -- Bill Parcells retired from coaching Monday, leaving the Dallas Cowboys after four seasons and ending a stellar career that featured three Super Bowl appearances and two championships.

The announcement came 15 days after the Cowboys' season ended with a heartbreaking playoff loss in Seattle. He'd been at his office nearly every day since, and there were other indications that the 65-year-old coach was returning for a fifth year in Dallas and 20th as an NFL head coach.

"I am retiring from coaching football," Parcells said in a statement. "I want to thank Jerry Jones and Stephen Jones for their tremendous support over the last four years. Also, the players, my coaching staff and others in the support group who have done so much to help. Dallas is a great city and the Cowboys are an integral part of it. I am hopeful that they are able to go forward from here."

The announcement came in a morning e-mail. There was no immediate statement from Jones, the team owner, although one was planned for later in the day. There were no immediate plans for a news conference.

"I am in good health and feel lucky to have been able to coach in the NFL for an extended period of time," Parcells said. "I leave the game and the NFL with nothing but good feelings and gratitude to all the players, coaches and other people that have assisted me in that regard. "

Parcells won two Super Bowls with the New York Giants. He came to Dallas four seasons ago energized by the challenge of restoring glory to "America's Team." He went 34-32 and definitely left the Cowboys better than he found them, but his tenure ultimately may be remembered for the lack of a playoff victory.

His teams went 0-2 in the postseason. Dallas appeared headed to a breakthrough win this month in Seattle, but Pro Bowl quarterback Tony Romo botched the hold on a short field goal with a little more than a minute left and the Cowboys lost 21-20. They lost four of their last five games, including the final three, after holding a two-game division lead in December.

Dallas hasn't won a playoff game since 1996, easily the longest skid in the history of the franchise that's been to a record eight Super Bowls.

Parcells' legacy with the Cowboys can be framed this way: Instead of joining Tom Landry, Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer as coaches who led them to championships, he leaves lumped with Chan Gailey and Dave Campo.

Damnthebadluck!!!

Even though I'm not a Cowboys fan, I'll definitely miss him being around. "Put away the anointing oil. Love it!

Not saying this was his reason mind you, but I was wondering who would go...I knew it would either be him or T.O.; sorry it was Bill.

There's no way he can be lumped with Chan Gailey and Dave Campo... Parcells is a proven winner and great personality. Hopefully we'll see him on TV, but I'm sure he'll be approached for GM positions elsewhere.

Ok, he's out the door.

Who will be the coach?

Well, knowing Jerry Jones, he will go for a big name.

The buzz in Cowboyland was that Jones was hoping to get another year out of the Tuna. That extra year would give Jones a chance to work on hiring Bill Cowher.

I hadn't heard that one. He would be a good choice. The only rumor I've heard is Norv Turner will be the head coach and Dave Wannstedt will be DC. I like the coaches. The only problem I have with it is that Norv isn't tough enough on his players and to me that's what these players need more than anything else. They have no discipline. Hey, they could bring Bill's buddy Bob Knight in to slap a few of them around.


Or..... maybe JJ will bring back JJ......


Nah!


My advice is to go for Cowher.

The list of early candidates from a DFW paper:

Ron Rivera, Chicago Bears defensive coordinator;
Norv Turner, San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator ;
Wade Phillips, San Diego Chargers defensive coordinator;
Pete Carroll, Southern California head coach;
Charlie Weiss, Notre Dame head coach;
Bob Stoops, Oklahoma head coach;
Houston Nutt, Arkansas head coach.

They offer no justification for why these people are considered candidates.

Got to do it.....

Your Football advice is about as far-fetched as your political advice.

I think it's funny that the day after both conference championship games the Dallas Cowboys are dominating the sports news shows.

It's the Texas connection. George Bush is to blame for this some how.

Lately, big name college coaches just don't impress me when they make the jump to the NFL. The place to look should be the younger off./def. coordinators with fresh ideas. I was a Tuna fan, but I felt he was way too rigid with making the players change their talents to fit his schemes instead of vice versa.

I agree about the college coaches but the problem with a young OC/DC is that it takes them a long time to develop a good coaching staff. Sean Peyton was an exception to the rule.

I also agree about Parcells being too stubborn to change his schemes. A prime example is this past season. IMO he should have switched to Barber as the starter about half way through the season.

Still, his record speaks for itself. Not many coaches retire with 2 super bowl wins.

True that, but like everything else in this world, it's "what have you done for me lately?".

The wholesale switch to the 3-4 defense is another perfect example of his inflexibilty. The fact that Dallas' D played as well as they did for so long before being exposed was amazing.

Dallas will have even more problems if they hire a "no name" or college coach. If T.O. couldn't respect Bill what do you think he will do to a lesser coach? I would like to see Cowher. I think T.O. would lip off once and Cowher would put him through a wall and after that they would go win a couple super bowls. The main reason T.O. pulls the crap he does is that either the coaches let him get away with it or the owners interfere with the coaches. If someone would really stand up to him he would probably straighten out.

Tony