Riddick Thurston Parker Jr. (November 20, 1972 – August 19, 2022) was an American professional football player who was a defensive lineman for seven seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots, and Baltimore Ravens from 1997 to 2003. Parker played college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels.
| No. 97 | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Defensive tackle |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | November 20, 1972 Emporia, Virginia, U.S. |
| Died: | August 19, 2022 (aged 49) Chesterfield, Virginia, U.S. |
| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Weight: | 295 lb (134 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Southampton (Courtland, Virginia) |
| College: | North Carolina |
| Undrafted: | 1995 |
| Career history | |
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |
| Stats at Pro Football Reference | |
Early life
editParker was born in Emporia, Virginia, on November 20, 1972.[1] He attended Southampton High School in nearby Courtland, Virginia,[1] where he played for its football team and received all-state honors in 1989.[2] He then studied history and communications at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, graduating with a bachelor's degree in 1994.[3][4] He played for the North Carolina Tar Heels, joining as a scholarship true freshman and ultimately lettering in all four years.[2][5] Undrafted in the 1995 NFL draft,[6] Parker signed as a rookie free agent with the San Diego Chargers,[2] but was waived prior to the start of the 1995 season.[7] He then played for the Rhein Fire of NFL Europe for the 1996 season, before signing with the Seattle Seahawks in July of that same year.[8]
Professional career
editParker made his NFL debut with the Seahawks on August 31, 1997, at the age of 25, in a 41–3 loss against the New York Jets.[9] During his rookie season, he served as the team's reserve defensive lineman,[10][11] playing in 12 games and recording three tackles.[1] He then posted seven tackles and one sack in 8 games during the 1998 season,[1] having fended off a challenge from Carl Hansen for the franchise's number 4 defensive tackle.[12] Regarded as small for a player in his position,[13][14] Parker increased his weight from 274 pounds (124 kg) to 300 pounds (140 kg) in 1999.[15] He subsequently had a breakthrough year, starting all 16 games for the Seahawks during the 2000 season and recording a career-best 48 tackles.[1][6] In the ninth game of the season on October 29, 2000, he made a career-high nine tackles in a 24–19 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.[16][17]
Parker became a free agent after the 2000 season and signed with the New England Patriots on June 5 of the following year.[6][18] He won his only Super Bowl ring when the Patriots emerged victorious in the Super Bowl XXXVI.[3][19] However, he did not play in the championship game.[1][20] Parker spent his last two years in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens.[1] He signed with the San Francisco 49ers on August 7, 2004,[21][22] but retired after being released the following month.[3][23]
Later life
editAfter retiring from professional football, Parker worked as a financial adviser with Legg Mason.[24] He earned a graduate certificate in school administration and supervision from Johns Hopkins University, before obtaining a Master of Public Administration from Walden University. He was subsequently employed as an education consultant working on literacy development and graduation pathway programs for Baltimore City Public Schools, before becoming an assistant principal at Armstrong High School.[3]
Parker was promoted to principal of George Wythe High School in Richmond, Virginia, during the summer of 2021.[3] He died suddenly while bicycling, on the morning of August 19, 2022,[3][25] in Chesterfield, Virginia.[26]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g "Riddick Parker Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on December 23, 2021. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
- ^ a b c "Two Much: It's His Ticket to Wealth". Daily Press. Newport News, Virginia. December 23, 2003. p. B2. ProQuest 34325292. Archived from the original on August 21, 2022. Retrieved August 19, 2022 – via ProQuest.
- ^ a b c d e f Suarez, Chris (August 19, 2022). "Superintendent: George Wythe principal has died". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Richmond, Virginia. Archived from the original on August 20, 2022. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
- ^ "36 Former Tar Heels On NFL Rosters". North Carolina Tar Heels. September 12, 1999. Archived from the original on August 21, 2022. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
- ^ "Heels Try To Get On Track at Indiana". North Carolina Tar Heels. September 7, 1999. Archived from the original on August 21, 2022. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
- ^ a b c "Patriots Sign Free Agent Parker". Associated Press. June 5, 2001. Archived from the original on August 21, 2022. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "NFL Transactions". St. Petersburg Times. August 23, 1995. Archived from the original on August 20, 2022. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
- ^ "Johnson Defends Green Decision". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. July 11, 1996. Archived from the original on August 20, 2022. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
- ^ "Riddick Parker 1997 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
- ^ Blanchette, John (September 23, 1997). "Hawks' Health A Worry Knee Injury To Kennedy Latest Setback; Streak Could End". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Archived from the original on August 20, 2022. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
- ^ "Cortez Kennedy has broken leg, but may not miss remainder of season". Associated Press. November 10, 1997. Archived from the original on August 21, 2022. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
- ^ "Seattle". Sporting News. Vol. 222, no. 33. St. Louis. August 17, 1998. p. 23. ProQuest 221355326. Archived from the original on August 21, 2022. Retrieved August 19, 2022 – via ProQuest.
- ^ "Raiders' Nemesis Sam Adams Sidelined Sunday by Bad Knee". The Press Democrat. Santa Rosa, California. December 4, 1999. p. C6. ProQuest 280928893. Archived from the original on August 21, 2022. Retrieved August 20, 2022 – via ProQuest.
- ^ Cour, Jim (November 19, 2000). "Holmgren's Seahawks finally flying high". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Associated Press. p. 7C. ProQuest 261197850. Archived from the original on August 21, 2022. Retrieved August 20, 2022 – via ProQuest.
- ^ Sando, Mike (February 14, 1999). "Update: Hawks Go Slow to Start Free Agency". The News Tribune. Tacoma, Washington. p. D5. ProQuest 264786286. Archived from the original on August 21, 2022. Retrieved August 20, 2022 – via ProQuest.
- ^ Maiocco, Matt (November 4, 2000). "Seahawks charged to play lowly San Diego squad". Nanaimo Daily News. Associated Press. p. B2. ProQuest 361099058. Archived from the original on August 21, 2022. Retrieved August 20, 2022 – via ProQuest.
- ^ "Riddick Parker 2000 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ Powers, Ken (November 10, 2000). "Parker drives to spot on line". Telegram & Gazette. Worcester, Massachusetts. p. B1. ProQuest 268818029. Archived from the original on August 21, 2022. Retrieved August 20, 2022 – via ProQuest.
- ^ "Pats unveil Super Bowl rings". New England Patriots. June 9, 2002. Archived from the original on September 19, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "A Look at Tar Heels in the NFL". North Carolina Tar Heels. October 23, 2001. Archived from the original on August 20, 2022. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ Murphy, Brian (August 8, 2004). "49ers Notebook – Kezar an unknown entity to youngsters". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on August 21, 2022. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ Maiocco, Matt (August 10, 2004). "Rattay Still Unable to Practice as Exhibition Opener Looms". The Press Democrat. Santa Rosa, California. p. C1. ProQuest 280902461. Archived from the original on August 21, 2022. Retrieved August 20, 2022 – via ProQuest.
- ^ "Transactions". The Baltimore Sun. September 8, 2004. Archived from the original on June 19, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ Murray, Ken (April 5, 2006). "Ravens host high school symposium". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on June 20, 2021. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
- ^ Dreier, Natalie (August 19, 2022). "Former Patriots, Seahawks player Riddick Parker dies". WFTV. Archived from the original on August 21, 2022. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
- ^ "Obituary | Riddick T. Parker, Jr. of Chesterfield, Virginia". R. E. Pearson and Son Funeral Home. Archived from the original on November 23, 2021. Retrieved August 21, 2022.