The last time Bill Parcells – now in the Hall of Fame – coached football, the game looked significantly different. The sport he dominated for a significant period of time has seen scheme evolutions and positions themselves take other shapes and forms.

When discussing one of these changes for The 33rd Team in a recent article, Parcells pointed toward Pittsburgh Steelers' safety Minkah Fitzpatrick as an example of one of the key developments in the league. The emergence of what he calls the modern nickel back.

Parcells' last stint as a head coach happened in 2006 when he led the Dallas Cowboys to a 9-7 record in Tony Romo's first season as a starter. That was just a year before the New England Patriots – led by Josh McDaniel's spread offense and Tom Brady's execution of it – broke all kinds of records with a unit that featured Wes Welker in the slot.

That year, Welker led the NFL in receptions, a feat he would replicate twice more in the next four seasons. Those were the early days of what would become one of the most important shifts in football history; the emergence of the slot receiver.

The Steelers themselves are no strangers to this trend as many will surely remember Ward moving to the slot close to full-time in 2008. That year, he led the league in passing snaps from the slot.

Following the Patriots' success, 11 personnel (one running back, one tight end, and three wide receivers) would go on to become the most common personnel grouping in the league a few years later. The slot receiver position continued to evolve year after year, too. Even to this day, changes are still taking place. It's gone "from Wes Welker to supersized," as The Athletic's Robert Mays wrote in August.

As you would expect from a coach who has worked on defense since 1964 when his career began in Hastings College as a linebackers coach, Parcells thinks about the defense's response rather than focusing on Welker and his dominant successors.

He thinks about the emergence of the modern nickel back. "It’s no exaggeration to call it the most important defensive position on the field," says Parcells in the recent The 33rd Team article.

And when he does, he thinks of the Steelers' Minkah Fitzpatrick as a prime example in today's game.

After bringing up legendary names like Darren Woodson, Ronnie Lott, and LeRoy Butler, Parcells recognizes today's players that fit the description:

"By appearance, the current players that fit the description of the modern nickel back—though, unlike those mentioned above, I have not been on the field with these guys—are Minkah Fitzpatrick of the Steelers and Derwin James of the Chargers. This is based on just watching them play rather than personal experience with them."

According to the Hall of Fame coach, the Steelers have one of the most necessary positions in today's game covered. Fitzpatrick plays mostly at free safety but spends significant time in the slot and in the box.

As a versatile weapon, he allows Pittsburgh to adjust to today's weapons.

"The modern nickel back has got to be able to cover not only size and speed from the wide receiver position but also from the tight end position., says Parcells. "And then, when they insert one of these little Tyreek Hills in there, he could wind up covering that guy."

It's fair to say the Steelers' defensive star is able to check off the key boxes the two-time Super Bowl champion brings up. "He must have the ability to cover, tackle, be physical, and be a good run support man, and yet he still must be able to run with speed receivers."

As Parcells notes in the article, this is a hard guy to find. When it comes to Pittsburgh's success on defense, Fitzpatrick is the most important (or second-most, because you know… T.J. Watt still exists) player on the team.

At least to Parcells, the Steelers veteran plays the "most important defensive position on the field." To do that and be pointed out as an example is the biggest compliment you can get from a coach like him.

Featured image via Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports