1. Bernard Paul Parrish was an American professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League and American Football League for eight seasons during the 1950s and 1960s.
14 Facts About Bernie Parrish
1. 2.
Bernie Parrish played college football for the Florida Gators, and thereafter, he played professionally for the Cleveland Browns of the NFL and the Houston Oilers of the AFL.
3.
Bernie Parrish accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, and played halfback and defensive back for coach Bob Woodruff's Florida Gators football team in 1956 and 1957.
4.
Bernie Parrish played second base for coach Dave Fuller's Florida Gators baseball team from 1956 to 1958.
5.
Bernie Parrish decided to forgo his senior year of NCAA eligibility, and accepted a Major League Baseball bonus contract.
6.
Bernie Parrish returned to Gainesville during the NFL off-season to complete his degree and graduated from Florida with a bachelor's degree in building construction in 1960.
7.
Bernie Parrish was a key man of the Browns' defense on their run to winning the 1964 NFL championship.
8.
In 1971, Bernie Parrish wrote a best-selling book, They Call It A Game, published by The Dial Press, about the economics and politics of the NFL.
9.
Bernie Parrish's book included the controversial allegation that the NFL had fixed the outcomes of some of its games.
10.
Some critics expressed the opinion that Bernie Parrish had failed to substantiate such claims in any material way.
11.
Bernie Parrish enjoyed a second career as a hotel developer before retiring to spend more time with his wife and family.
12.
Bernie Parrish was a harsh critic of the late NFLPA President Gene Upshaw, and publicly excoriated Upshaw's record on providing disability and medical assistance to retired NFL players.
13.
Bernie Parrish died on October 23,2019, from prostate cancer.
14.
On October 1,2017, Bernie Parrish was inducted into the Cleveland Browns Legends hall along with Tony Adamle at halftime of a game with the cross-state rival Cincinnati Bengals.