The Two Bills is not a football documentary — it’s a relationship documentary.
The latest in ESPN’s lauded 30 for 30 series, the film features the first recorded conversation between legendary NFL coaches Bill Parcells (although his real first name is Duane) and Bill Belichick since 1991. The two worked together with the New York Giants, New England Patriots and New York Jets over the course of 20 years, but didn’t speak for a long while after Belichick abruptly left the Jets in 2000.
Fittingly filmed in the Giants’ current locker room at MetLife Stadium, the documentary also features a strong complementary cast, including Lawrence Taylor, Bryan Cox, Robert Kraft, Romeo Crennel, Charlie Weis, Scott Pioli, Ty Law, Willie McGinest and Pepper Johnson.
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Here are seven surprising moments and revelations that make it a must-watch film for sports fans:
1. No initial love for Belichick
Lawrence Taylor describes in vivid detail why he didn’t want Belichick as his defensive coordinator with the Giants. The players didn’t respect him because he didn’t look like he played football.
“He didn’t look like a football player,” according to Giants linebacker Harry Carson. “You sort of disregarded him, because he’s not one of us. He’s a coach, but he’s not one of us.”
The early footage of Belichick makes him look appreciably nerdier than he looks now, which certainly didn’t help his cred with the players.
2. “Doom”
Belichick was called “Doom” with the Giants because he always thought the sky was falling. That mindset is part of what makes him great.
“Belichick, looking at the negative side and preparing for the negative has made him a better football coach, because he prepares for all the things that can go bad,” Romeo Crennel said. “To tell you the truth, I think he kind of halfway liked the idea that people were calling him ‘Doom,’ because that way, he didn’t have to be nice to anybody.”
3. Climbing Parcells’s coaching tree
The depth of coaching genius on Parcells’ early staffs is amazing. Along with Belichick, big Bill also had Weiss, Crennel and Al Groh at his disposal. The Parcells coaching tree is legendary and would go on to produce other future Super Bowl–winning coaches in Tom Coughlin and Sean Payton.
Belichick is tied with Vince Lombardi and George Halas for most championships, but throughout the film he gratefully credits Parcells with much of what he learned.
4. Therapy session
Parcells and Belichick laugh and smile throughout the movie — two things you don’t often see either do. The reminiscing helped them remember why they were so close in the first place, and you can hear the pain of regret their voices when they discuss their fall-out. The most honest moment is when Belichick revealed his role in their beef.
“I certainly take my share of the responsibility in the relationship at that point. I could have done a better job.”
5. Young Belichick
Not only did he go through many hair styles, Belichick used to show far more personality. He used to be long winded in press conferences. The archival footage throughout the film is great largely due to his soundbites. He still had the same nasally voice, but at times there were excitable inflections.
6. Kraft buys the groceries
History repeats itself. The scenes of Robert Kraft meddling with Parcells during the end of his tenure in New England bring new meaning to the recent rumours in Foxboro. The friction between owner and coach led to Parcells uttering the famous quote: “If they want you to cook the dinner, at least they ought to let you shop for some of the groceries.”
7. Belichick twice a Jet
Belichick was twice the coach of the New York Jets and never coached a game for them. It’s an incredibly ludicrous stat that takes 15 minutes to unpack, but the soap opera is the best part of the film.
