Riddick Parker facts for kids

Riddick Thurston Parker, Jr. (born November 20, 1972 – died August 19, 2022) was an American football player. He played as a defensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons. Riddick played for teams like the Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots, and Baltimore Ravens from 1997 to 2003. Before joining the NFL, he played college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels.

Riddick Parker's Early Life and College

Riddick Parker was born in Emporia, Virginia, on November 20, 1972. He went to Southampton High School in Courtland, Virginia. There, he played football and was recognized as one of the best players in the state in 1989.

After high school, Riddick studied history and communications at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He earned his college degree in 1994. He played football for the North Carolina Tar Heels on a scholarship. He played for all four years he was there.

In 1995, Riddick was not chosen by any team in the 1995 NFL Draft. This is called being "undrafted." However, he still signed with the San Diego Chargers as a new player. He was later released from the team before the 1995 season began. He then played for the Rhein Fire in NFL Europe in 1996. Later that year, he signed with the Seattle Seahawks.

Professional Football Career

Riddick Parker started his NFL career with the Seattle Seahawks on August 31, 1997. He was 25 years old. In his first season, he was a backup defensive lineman. He played in 12 games and made three tackles.

In the 1998 season, he played in 8 games, making seven tackles and one sack. A "sack" is when a defensive player tackles the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage. Riddick was known for being a bit smaller for his position. So, in 1999, he worked hard to increase his weight from about 274 pounds to 300 pounds.

The 2000 season was a big year for Riddick. He started all 16 games for the Seahawks. He made a career-high 48 tackles that season. In one game on October 29, 2000, he made nine tackles, which was his best single-game performance.

After the 2000 season, Riddick became a free agent. This means he could sign with any team he wanted. On June 5, 2001, he signed with the New England Patriots. He was part of the team that won Super Bowl XXXVI, which is the biggest championship in American football. Even though he didn't play in the championship game, he still earned a Super Bowl ring.

Riddick spent his last two years in the NFL playing for the Baltimore Ravens. He signed with the San Francisco 49ers in August 2004, but he retired from football the next month after being released from the team.

Life After Football

After he stopped playing professional football, Riddick Parker became a financial adviser. He also went back to school. He earned a special certificate in school administration from Johns Hopkins University. Later, he got a Master's degree in Public Administration from Walden University.

Riddick then worked as an education consultant for Baltimore City Public Schools. He helped with reading programs and ways for students to graduate. After that, he became an assistant principal at Armstrong High School.

In the summer of 2021, Riddick was promoted to principal of George Wythe High School in Richmond, Virginia. Sadly, he passed away suddenly on August 19, 2022, while riding his bicycle in Chesterfield, Virginia.