Billy Parker (gridiron football) facts for kids
| No. 17 – Texas Southern Tigers | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Defensive coordinator & defensive backs coach |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | May 17, 1981 Mechanicsville, Virginia, U.S. |
| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Weight: | 215 lb (98 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Mechanicsville (VA) Atlee |
| College: | William & Mary |
| Undrafted: | 2004 |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
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| As coach: | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Player stats at CFL.ca (archive) | |
| Player stats at ArenaFan.com | |
Billy Parker (born May 17, 1981) is a former professional gridiron football player. He used to play as a linebacker, a key defensive position. Today, he works as a defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach for the Texas Southern team. He started this coaching role in 2024.
Billy Parker played college football at William & Mary. After college, he played professionally for several teams. These included the Cleveland Browns, Carolina Panthers, New York Dragons, and Montreal Alouettes. He also spent time as a defensive assistant coach for the Montreal Alouettes from 2017 to 2018. More recently, he was an analyst for the Tampa Bay Vipers in the XFL.
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Billy Parker's Early Life and Sports
Billy Parker grew up and went to Atlee High School. While there, he was a talented athlete. He earned "letterman" status in three different sports. These sports were football, basketball, and track. In football, he was recognized as an "All-Metro" player. This means he was one of the best players in his area.
Billy Parker's College Football Career
Billy Parker attended The College of William & Mary for his college studies. He earned a degree in Sociology while playing football.
Freshman Year Highlights (2000)
In his first year, 2000, Billy Parker showed great defensive skills. He was second on his team in passes defended. This means he broke up many passes thrown by the opposing team.
Sophomore Year Performance (2001)
In 2001, his second year, he continued to excel. He again finished second on the team in passes defended. He also made 33 tackles, stopping offensive players.
Junior Year Success (2002)
His junior year in 2002 was very impressive. He led his conference in passes defended throughout the entire season. He also made history by returning interceptions for touchdowns in two games in a row. This tied a record for the most interception returns for a touchdown in a single season in the Atlantic 10 conference. He was also among the top 50 players nationwide for interceptions per game.
Senior Year Contributions (2003)
In his final college season, Billy Parker continued to be a strong defender. He recorded 45 tackles. He also made two interceptions and forced one fumble, recovering it himself.
Billy Parker's Professional Football Journey
After college, Billy Parker played in several professional football leagues. These included the National Football League (NFL), the Arena Football League (AFL), and the Canadian Football League (CFL).
National Football League (NFL) Experience
In 2004, Parker got a chance to try out with the Cleveland Browns. In 2005, he attended training camp with the Miami Dolphins. Later that year, he joined the Carolina Panthers' practice squad. A practice squad is a group of players who train with the team but are not on the main roster. He stayed with them through the regular season and playoffs. In 2006, he again attended training camp with the Panthers, but was later released.
Arena Football League (AFL) Career
Billy Parker made his debut in the Arena Football League in 2005. The AFL is a type of indoor football played on a smaller field.
2005 AFL Season Achievements
In his first AFL game on February 6, he got his first interception and tackle. He was almost named Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. He was selected for both the All-Rookie and All-Arena teams as a defensive specialist. He tied his team's record with 10 interceptions. He also made 90.5 tackles. He had two games where he made two interceptions each.
2007 AFL Season Performance
In 2007, Parker continued to play well. He made 66 tackles and had four interceptions. He also led the league with 28 pass break-ups. He was named Defensive Player of the Game twice that season.
2008 AFL Season and New Logo
In 2008, Billy Parker played in all 16 games. He finished with 71 tackles, 20 passes defended, and eight interceptions. He also helped unveil a new logo for his team, the New York Dragons.
Canadian Football League (CFL) Success
Billy Parker signed with the Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League (CFL) in 2009. The CFL plays a slightly different version of football than the NFL.
CFL Career Highlights
In his first six seasons in the CFL, Parker was a strong player. He recorded 283 tackles, 7 special teams tackles, and 11 interceptions. He also recovered 2 fumbles. In 2013, he was named an East division all-star. He was also part of two Grey Cup championship teams with the Montreal Alouettes. The Grey Cup is the CFL's championship trophy. He won it in 2009 and 2010. After the 2013 season, he signed a new two-year contract with the Alouettes.
Billy Parker's Coaching Journey
After his playing career, Billy Parker transitioned into coaching.
Early Coaching Roles
In 2004, he helped coach the Hanover Hawks football team. He also served as an assistant coach for two indoor football teams. These were the Richmond Revolution and the Richmond Raiders. In 2017, he became a defensive assistant coach for his former team, the Montreal Alouettes.
Recent Coaching and Analyst Positions
In 2019, he was hired by the Tampa Bay Vipers in the XFL as an analyst. An analyst helps a team by studying game footage and strategies.
See also
- List of Arena Football League and National Football League players
