49 Facts About Willie Parker

Willie Parker was born in Clinton, North Carolina, attended Clinton High School, and was a letterman in football and track.

Willie Parker was a two-time All-Conference and a two-time All-Region honoree.

Willie Parker started the first three games of his sophomore season and played in nine games.

Willie Parker was able to finish the season second on the team in rushing with 400 yards but only having 83 carries and had three touchdowns.

Willie Parker began the year as UNC's starting tailback, but was replaced in the starting lineup against Florida State.

Willie Parker did not play against Florida State, NC State or Georgia Tech, but was a crucial part of the offense towards the end of the season.

Willie Parker had 66 yards on 10 carries and one touchdown vs Duke, and as outstanding against SMU, with 82 yards on 13 carries and a 2-yard touchdown run.

Willie Parker played in 11 games and started only two his junior year.

Willie Parker was able to start the season-opener against Miami and at Virginia.

Willie Parker was able to finish the season second on the team with 70 carries for 236 yards and one touchdown.

Willie Parker was able to haul in 12 passes for 104 yards.

Willie Parker had a season-high 15 carries for only 36 yards and five receptions for 43 yards at Virginia.

Willie Parker's usage began to slip away against Florida State when he only mounted six rushes for 26 yards.

Willie Parker gained 12 yards on four carries in the loss to Wake Forest.

Willie Parker gained 12 yards on five carries against Arizona State.

Willie Parker was an undrafted free agent with the Steelers in 2004.

Willie Parker spent the 2004 NFL season as a backup player behind Jerome Bettis, Duce Staley and Verron Haynes.

Duce Staley started the game and played most of the first quarter, while Willie Parker took over for the rest of the game.

Willie Parker ran for 102 yards in the remaining 3 quarters, including a very long sprint of 58 yards that was part of a game-controlling drive.

Willie Parker impressed Bill Cowher, as well as Titans coach Jeff Fisher, by gaining 161 rushing yards on 22 attempts.

Willie Parker finished the season with 218 yards receiving and one touchdown.

Willie Parker was the first Steeler back since Bettis in 2001 to top 1,000 yards in a season.

Willie Parker finished the game with 93 yards on 10 carries and an average of 9.3 yards a carry, the third-best average in Super Bowl history.

In 2006, Willie Parker signed a major contract with the Steelers, a four-year $13.6 million deal that would solidify his future role on the team.

Bill Cowher was quoted as saying that Willie Parker would be a workhorse and receive the goal-line carries in his role as the starter, guaranteeing him the starring running-back role in Pittsburgh.

On November 12,2006, in a home game against the New Orleans Saints, Willie Parker rushed for 213 yards on 22 carries and two touchdowns, coming 5 yards short of the highest single-game rushing total in Steelers history.

Willie Parker became the only Steelers running back to have two 200+ yard games in the same year.

Willie Parker played in all 16 regular season games.

Willie Parker compiled 1,494 yards on 337 carries with 13 rushing touchdowns.

Willie Parker caught 31 passes for 222 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Willie Parker served as a backup to LaDainian Tomlinson and Larry Johnson in his first Pro Bowl, where he would finish the game with 40 yards on 2 carries.

Willie Parker was productive in 2007 as well, rushing for 1,316 yards but only 2 total touchdowns.

Willie Parker had eight 100-yard plus games, leading the league in that category and earning a second consecutive Pro Bowl berth before being injured late in the season.

Willie Parker suffered a broken right fibula early in a game against the St Louis Rams on December 20,2007, ending his season.

Willie Parker led the league in rushing yardage at the time of his injury.

Willie Parker played little in the preseason, giving way to Rashard Mendenhall for much of the time.

Willie Parker was the leading AFC rusher for the week and was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week.

However, Willie Parker suffered a knee injury four games into the season, leading to five missed games.

Willie Parker had four 100-yard performances, while compiling 791 yards on 210 carries, for a 3.8 average, and five touchdowns.

Willie Parker added only three receptions for 13 yards for an average of 4.3 yards per catch.

In Super Bowl XLIII, Willie Parker was not able to make a significant impact, as the Pittsburgh Steelers were unable to establish a strong rushing game.

Willie Parker had 19 carries for only 53 yards, bringing his average to a mere 2.8 yards per carry, and no touchdowns.

Willie Parker began his final contract year with the Steelers as the starter for the first three games of the season, carrying for 19,47, and 93 yards.

Willie Parker was injured with turf toe and missed two games after the injury.

Willie Parker ran for 26 yards on seven carries against the Cleveland Browns when he returned to play.

Not counting the preseason, Pittsburgh was the only team Willie Parker ever touched the field for in his entire professional career.

Willie Parker was released during final cuts on September 4,2010.

Willie Parker announced that he would be signing with the team on August 2,2011.

Willie Parker became an assistant coach for the West Virginia Wesleyan College football team in July 2012.