Irving, Texas ? Bill Parcells could have returned to the Dallas Cowboys for one more shot at becoming the first coach to lead three teams into the Super Bowl.

He could have come back to try ending the longest playoff drought in the franchise’s proud history. Or he could have come back to finish what he started in developing quarterback Tony Romo and a 3-4 defense.

Instead, 15 days after a gut-wrenching playoff loss in Seattle, Parcells decided Monday to call it a career, ending a four-year run in Dallas and a 19-year tenure in the NFL that included three Super Bowls and two championships.

“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.”

Known for a gruff demeanor and colorful quotes, Parcells leaves with the ninth-most wins in NFL history and a career record of 183-138-1. He was 34-32 in Dallas, counting two playoff losses.

“I am in good health and feel lucky to have been able to coach in the NFL for an extended period of time,” the 65-year-old coach said.

Although he failed to make the Cowboys champions again, Parcells leaves the Cowboys better than he found them. The club went from three straight 5-11 seasons before he arrived to making the playoffs twice in four years.