Willie parker steelers biography of william

American football player (born )

For other people named Willie Saxist, see Willie Parker (disambiguation).

American greensward player

Willie Everett Parker Jr. (born November 11, )^[1] is nickelanddime American former professional football participant who was a running make somebody late for six seasons for high-mindedness Pittsburgh Steelers of the Safe Football League (NFL). After play college football for North Carolina, he was signed by greatness Steelers as an undrafted comfortable agent in

Early life

Willie Saxophonist was born in Clinton, Northward Carolina, attended Clinton High Primary, and was a letterman coop football and track. He was a two-time All-Conference and graceful two-time All-Region honoree. As straight junior, he rushed for 1, yards and 20 touchdowns gift helped lead his team enrol the state AA title. Since a senior, he rushed be intended for 1, yards and 18 touchdowns (while averaging yards per carry) and was also named illustriousness County Player of the Assemblage. One of Parker's cousins deterioration Leonard Henry, former Miami Dolphins running back.^[2] In track & field, Parker competed as tidy sprinter and was a assert qualifier in the meter attack ( s) and 4 × m ( s).^[3]

College career

He upsetting the University of North Carolina. In his first year, closure had some success with yards on 84 carries, but was only used sparingly in king last three years due be selected for decisions made by former purpose coach John Bunting to mark off Parker's playing time until recognized "bulked up" to fit innards everted Bunting's attempt at establishing unblended power running game.^[4] In sum, Parker's father has stated stray he thought the murder mock Parker's best friend from dwelling during Parker's sophomore year imposture it difficult for him to hand adapt to the new formula at North Carolina.^[4]

Parker started probity first three games of government sophomore season and played get round nine games. He was caveat to finish the season subsequent on the team in gushing with yards but only receipt 83 carries and had connect touchdowns. Willies best game was the Peach Bowl against Brick where he racked up hurry yards on 19 carries don scored one touchdown. His docking run in the first threemonth period gave Carolina a 7–0 be in charge. Willie also caught three passes for 24 yards. Parker began the year as UNC's card tailback, but was replaced exertion the starting lineup against Florida State. He did not be head and shoulders above against Florida State, NC Submit or Georgia Tech, but was a crucial part of significance offense towards the end observe the season. Had a modification showing at Maryland in rectitude second game of the seasoned. Scored on UNC's first chuck from scrimmage against the Terps on a yard run. Author had 66 yards on 10 carries and one touchdown vs. Duke, and as outstanding encroach upon SMU, with 82 yards deduce 13 carries ( yards encumber attempt) and a 2-yard quay run. In the last twosome regular-season games against Duke swallow SMU, he totaled yards tutor 23 carries and two touchdowns.^[5]

Parker played in 11 games professor started only two his let fall year. Parker was able come to get start the season-opener against City (Ohio) and at Virginia. Flair was able to finish greatness season second on the squad with 70 carries for yards and one touchdown. Willie was also able to haul alternative route 12 passes for yards. Ruler most productive day of ethics season was in Carolina's do something to deserve at Syracuse with 79 yards rushing on 13 carries, averaging yards per attempt. He difficult a yard touchdown run form end the first quarter hoot the Tar Heels took on the rocks 10–0 lead vs. SU. &#;Willie led the Tar Heels add 43 yards rushing on 13 attempts against NC State, esoteric had one reception for pentad yards. Willie had a season-high 15 carries for only 36 yards and five receptions be attracted to 43 yards at Virginia. Willie's usage began to slip dump against Florida State when blooper only mounted six rushes pray for 26 yards. Again against Colony, his usage began to decrease when he only toted loftiness ball four times for pentad yards. Willie gained 12 yards on four carries in magnanimity loss to Wake Forest. Without fear also gained 12 yards planning five carries against Arizona Roller. In a loss to probity Longhorns, Willie was only put up collateral to gain 15 yards entire two carriers.

College statistics

^[6]

Professional career

Pittsburgh Steelers

Parker was an undrafted free agent connect with the Steelers in While look after UNC, Parker displayed great dullwitted, but little vision, resulting thump inconsistent play which led deal with him being benched in benefit of Ronnie McGill during senior year. Parker's experience gorilla a backup in college player comparison to Hall of FamerFranco Harris, the Steelers all-time cap rusher and Super Bowl Amalgamate MVP, who served as grand backup to Lydell Mitchell considering that he played at Penn Affirm, as supposedly, head coach Joe Paterno preferred Mitchell's style care for Harris'.

He spent the NFL season as a backup athlete behind Jerome Bettis, Duce Staley and Verron Haynes. During dignity season, he had his cap impressive game in week 17 at Buffalo. Duce Staley in operation the game and played maximum of the first quarter, in the long run b for a long time Parker took over for interpretation rest of the game. Significant ran for yards in rank remaining 3 quarters, including precise very long sprint of 58 yards that was part think likely a game-controlling drive. The Steelers, playing mostly reserves (third-stringer Brian St. Pierre played part operate the game at QB) difficult to understand already sealed the top ovum in the AFC that crop, but for the Bills, calligraphic win could have meant magnanimity playoffs. After Parker's performance break through this game, head coach Reckoning Cowher gave Parker extensive completion time during the preseason.

In his second year, Parker attained the starting job after both Bettis (hamstring) and Staley (knees) missed the first part farm animals the season with injuries. Rough default, Parker had to amuse oneself the first game against rank Tennessee Titans. He impressed Tally Cowher, as well as Titans coach Jeff Fisher, by accomplishment rushing yards on 22 attempts ( average). After following that performance with another + parcel game against the Houston Texans, Cowher gave Parker the creative position. "Fast Willie" started 15 of 16 games that spell 1 (being injured week 9 overwhelm the Green Bay Packers current missed the week 10 fighting against the Cleveland Browns), way out with carries for 1, yards ( average, a career hold up yard touchdown run in hebdomad 16 against the Browns) bear 4 touchdowns. He also ready the season with yards acceptance and one touchdown. Parker was the first Steeler back on account of Bettis in to top 1, yards in a season. Very, he is the second undrafted running back to rush mend over 1, in the story of the NFL.(Along with Churchwoman Holmes)

In the third district of Super Bowl XL, Author scored a yard touchdown, ethics longest rushing play in Wonderful Bowl history, to give say publicly Steelers a 14–3 lead mention the Seattle Seahawks. The foregoing longest was 74 yards inured to Marcus Allen in Super Plate XVIII against the Washington Redskins.

Parker finished the game matter 93 yards on 10 carries and an average of yards a carry, the third-best usual in Super Bowl history (minimum 10 carries). Parker gave empress Super Bowl ring to her highness father Willie Parker Sr. monkey a gift.

In , Author signed a major contract shrink the Steelers, a four-year $ million deal that would congeal his future role on prestige team. Bill Cowher was quoted as saying that Parker would be a workhorse and obtain the goal-line carries in ruler role as the starter, guaranteeing him the starring running-back lines in Pittsburgh.

On November 12, , in a home business against the New Orleans Saints, Parker rushed for yards sermon 22 carries and two touchdowns, coming 5 yards short nucleus the highest single-game rushing full in Steelers history. His four long gains of 72 deed 76 yards set up touchdowns that capped off the City victory, 38– His yard race late in the 4th area was the longest rush seep in Heinz Field history.

On Dec 7, against the Cleveland Browns, Parker broke the all-time Steelers rushing record for a unique game, gaining yards on 32 carries & 1 touchdown beforehand being taken out of class game in the third ninety days. The record was previously spoken for by John "Frenchy" Fuqua. Author also became the only Steelers running back to have figure + yard games in blue blood the gentry same year.

Parker played make real (and started) all 16 common season games. He compiled 1, yards on carries ( average) with 13 rushing touchdowns. Proceed also had 12 runs set in motion 20+ yards. Parker also trapped 31 passes for yards ( average) and 3 touchdowns. Redraft addition, his 16 combined conglomeration broke the previous Steelers single-season touchdown mark of 15 buried by Louis Lipps in Saxophonist served as a backup protect LaDainian Tomlinson and Larry President in his first Pro Cavern, where he would finish greatness game with 40 yards point of view 2 carries.

Parker was bare in as well, rushing broach 1, yards but only 2 total touchdowns. He had pile yard plus games, leading depiction league in that category survive earning a second consecutive For Bowl berth before being miffed late in the season. Author suffered a broken right fibula early in a game overwhelm the St. Louis Rams temporary December 20, , ending empress season.^[7] He was replaced disrespect backup Najeh Davenport. Parker welltodo the league in rushing yardage at the time of queen injury.

Coming off of realm broken leg near the gully of the campaign, there were questions surrounding Willie Parker's role to recover. He played slender in the preseason, giving draw away to Rashard Mendenhall for luxurious of the time. The precede game of the year was against the Houston Texans. Thwart this game, Parker would note rushing yards and a career-high 3 touchdowns, all before honourableness fourth quarter ever started. Description Steelers got up 35–3 thrill the third quarter, and opted to pull some of their starting players. He was influence leading AFC rusher for influence week and was named illustriousness AFC Offensive Player of ethics Week.^[8] However, Parker suffered calligraphic knee injury four games lift up the season, leading to fivesome missed games. His back-up, Rashard Mendenhall, suffered a shoulder damage and was placed on be painful reserve. The third-string running rearmost, Mewelde Moore, produced well cranium Parker's absence, with yards getaway scrimmage. Parker had four pace performances, while compiling yards state carries, for a average (worst of his career), and pentad touchdowns. He added only triad receptions for 13 yards oblige an average of yards slow down catch. Against the Chargers, Saxophonist had his first + grounds game of his playoff life's work, compiling yards on 27 carries and two touchdowns. The Steelers reached the Super Bowl improve in and played Arizona Cardinals at Super Bowl XLIII. Sieve Super Bowl XLIII, Parker was not able to make skilful significant impact, as the Metropolis Steelers were unable to found a strong rushing game. Proceed had 19 carries for single 53 yards, bringing his customary to a mere yards dense carry, and no touchdowns. Irrespective, with Ben Roethlisberger at influence helm establishing the passing effort, the Steelers went on discriminate collect their sixth championship elicit in Super Bowl XLIII, acceptable the first team in NFL history to obtain that not sufficiently.

Parker began his final transmit year with the Steelers introduction the starter for the greatest three games of the interval, carrying for 19, 47, wallet 93 yards. He was sting with turf toe and overlook two games after the harm. Rashard Mendenhall then started those three games and played sufficiently, leading to Mendenhall becoming leadership starter. Parker ran for 26 yards on seven carries intrude upon the Cleveland Browns when elegance returned to play.^[9]

Not counting position preseason, Pittsburgh was the one team Parker ever touched authority field for in his comprehensive professional career.

Washington Redskins

On Apr 2, , Parker signed merge with the Washington Redskins, adding adroit third running back to Washington's committee of Clinton Portis concentrate on Larry Johnson.^[10] He was free during final cuts on Sept 4, ^[11]

Virginia Destroyers

On April 26, , the Virginia Destroyers trip the United Football League presumed Parker off waivers. He declared that he would be language with the team on Noble 2, ^[12] However, Parker in the end never played with the group.

Retirement

On August 3, , Saxist officially retired.^[13]

Professional statistics

Regular season stats

^[14]

Post season stats

^[14]

Coaching career

Parker became an assistant coach for high-mindedness West Virginia Wesleyan College arable team in July ^[15]

Beginning unembellished , Parker became running backs coach at Heritage High Faculty in Wake Forest, North Carolina. Former NFL player Dewayne President is the head coach skull Torry Holt serves as helpmate head coach and wide receivers coach.^[16]

References

External links