A lot had happened since the last time the New England Patriots played in a Super Bowl. Head coach Bill Parcells left the franchise due to disputes with the ownership and was succeeded by Pete Carroll. While Carroll went 27-21 in his three years in New England, he was unable to reach another title game, and was fired one day after the Patriots’ 1999 season ended.
The very same day, 170 miles southwest of Foxboro, Bill Parcells retired after three years as head coach of the New York Jets. His successor was already found – or so everyone thought.