Willie Parker facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Willie Parker

Parker with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2006
No. 39
Position:	Running back
Personal information
Born:	(1980-11-11) November 11, 1980 (age 44) Clinton, North Carolina, U.S.
Height:	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:	212 lb (96 kg)
Career information
High school:	Clinton (NC)
College:	North Carolina (1999–2003)
Undrafted:	2004
Career history
Pittsburgh Steelers (2004–2009) Washington Redskins (2010)*
Career highlights and awards
2× Super Bowl champion (XL, XLIII) 2× Pro Bowl (2006, 2007) Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Honor NFL record Longest run in Super Bowl history (75 yards)
Career NFL statistics
Rushing attempts: 1,253 Rushing yards: 5,378 Rushing touchdowns: 24 Receptions: 84 Receiving yards: 697 Receiving touchdowns: 5
Player stats at PFR

Willie Everett Parker Jr. (born November 11, 1980) is a former American football player. He was a running back for six seasons. Willie Parker played for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at North Carolina. The Steelers signed him in 2004, even though he was not picked in the NFL draft.

Early Life and High School Sports

Willie Parker grew up in Clinton, North Carolina. He went to Clinton High School. There, he was a star in both football and track. He was named All-Conference and All-Region twice.

In his junior year, he ran for 1,329 yards. He also scored 20 touchdowns. His team won the state AA championship. As a senior, he rushed for 1,801 yards and 18 touchdowns. He averaged 12.3 yards per carry. He was also named the County Player of the Year.

In track, Willie was a fast sprinter. He qualified for state in the 100-meter dash. He also competed in the 4 × 100-meter relay.

College Football Career

Willie Parker attended the University of North Carolina. In his first year, he ran for 355 yards. He had 84 carries. However, he played less in his later years. This was because his coach wanted him to gain more weight.

Sophomore Season Highlights

Parker started the first three games of his second year. He played in nine games overall. He finished second on the team in rushing. He had 400 yards on 83 carries. He scored three touchdowns. His best game was the Peach Bowl against Auburn. He ran for 131 yards on 19 carries. He scored one touchdown in that game. He also caught three passes for 24 yards.

He started the year as UNC's main running back. Later, he became a key part of the offense. He had a 102-yard game against Maryland. He scored a 77-yard touchdown run early in that game. He also played well against Duke and SMU.

Junior Season and Challenges

In his junior year, Parker played in 11 games. He started only two of them. He finished second on the team with 236 yards. He had 70 carries and one touchdown. He also caught 12 passes for 104 yards. His best day was against Syracuse. He ran for 79 yards on 13 carries. He had a 50-yard touchdown run in that game.

His playing time began to decrease later in the season. In his final year, he played even less.

College Statistics Overview

Professional Football Career

Joining the Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers signed Willie Parker in 2004. He was an undrafted free agent. This means no team picked him in the NFL draft. In college, he was known for his speed.

In his first year (2004), he was a backup player. He played behind other running backs. His best game was in week 17 against the Buffalo Bills. He ran for 102 yards in three quarters. This performance impressed his coach, Bill Cowher.

Parker against the Titans in 2005

Becoming a Starter and Super Bowl XL

In 2005, Parker became the starting running back. This happened because other players were injured. In his first game as a starter, he ran for 161 yards. He followed this with another 100+ yard game. Coach Cowher then made him the permanent starter. Fans called him "Fast Willie."

He started 15 out of 16 games that season. He gained 1,202 rushing yards. He also scored 4 touchdowns. He was the first Steelers running back since 2001 to run for over 1,000 yards.

Parker receiving a handoff

In Super Bowl XL, Parker made history. He scored a 75-yard touchdown run. This is the longest rushing play in Super Bowl history. It gave the Steelers a 14–3 lead. He finished the game with 93 yards on 10 carries. The Steelers won Super Bowl XL. Parker gave his Super Bowl ring to his father.

Record-Breaking Seasons (2006-2007)

In 2006, Parker signed a big contract with the Steelers. He became the main running back. On November 12, 2006, he ran for 213 yards against the New Orleans Saints. He scored two touchdowns. His 76-yard run was the longest in Heinz Field history.

On December 7, he broke the Steelers' single-game rushing record. He gained 223 yards against the Cleveland Browns. He also became the only Steelers running back to have two games with over 200 rushing yards in one year.

Parker played in all 16 games in 2006. He rushed for 1,494 yards and 13 touchdowns. He also caught 31 passes for 222 yards and 3 touchdowns. His 16 total touchdowns broke a Steelers team record. He was chosen for his first Pro Bowl.

Parker running against the Ravens, 2006.

In 2007, Parker continued to play well. He rushed for 1,316 yards. He had eight games where he ran for over 100 yards. This led the league. He earned his second Pro Bowl spot. However, his season ended early. He broke his right leg in a game on December 20, 2007.

Super Bowl XLIII and Final Steelers Years

After his leg injury, there were questions about his return. He played little in the 2008 preseason. In the first game of 2008, he ran for 138 yards. He scored a career-high 3 touchdowns. He was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week.

Later in 2008, Parker had a knee injury. He missed five games. Other running backs stepped up in his place. Parker still had four games with over 100 rushing yards. He finished the season with 791 yards and five touchdowns.

The Steelers reached the Super Bowl again in 2008. They played the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII. Parker ran for 53 yards on 19 carries. The Steelers won their sixth championship ring.

In 2009, Parker started the first three games. He then got a toe injury. Another running back, Rashard Mendenhall, played well. Mendenhall became the new starter. The Pittsburgh Steelers were the only team Parker played for in his main NFL career.

Later Career and Retirement

On April 2, 2010, Parker signed with the Washington Redskins. He was released before the season started. In 2011, he was going to play for the Virginia Destroyers in the United Football League. However, he never played with the team.

On August 3, 2012, Willie Parker officially retired from playing football.

Professional Statistics Overview

Regular Season Stats

Post Season Stats

Coaching Career

After retiring from playing, Willie Parker became a football coach. In July 2012, he became an assistant coach for the West Virginia Wesleyan College football team.

Starting in 2015, Parker became the running backs coach at Heritage High School. This school is in Wake Forest, North Carolina. Other former NFL players also coach there.

Personal Life

Willie Parker has a cousin named Jaylen Warren. Jaylen Warren currently plays running back for the Steelers.