Lemar Parrish
Encyclopedia
Lemar R. Parrish is a former professional American football
player who played defensive back
in the National Football League
for the Cincinnati Bengals
(1970–1977), Washington Redskins
(1978–1982), and the Buffalo Bills
(1982).
Before his NFL career, Parrish played for Lincoln University of Missouri, located in Jefferson City, Missouri
. After graduating college, he was selected by the Bengals in the seventh round of the 1970 NFL Draft
. Parrish immediately made an impact for the Bengals, not just as a defensive back, but also as a kick returner
on special teams. In his 1970 rookie season, Parrish recorded five interceptions, one fumble recovery, 194 yards returning punts, 482 yards returning kickoffs, and scored two touchdowns (one punt return and one kickoff return). His 482 kickoff return yards came off just 16 returns, a whopping 30.1 yards per return average. In 1974, Parrish set a franchise record with an NFL leading 18.8 yards per punt return average (18 returns for 338 yards). In his eight seasons with the Bengals, Parrish was selected to the Pro Bowl
six times (1970, 1971, 1974–1977).
After the 1977 season, Parrish got into a contract dispute with his team, and ended up being traded to the Redskins. Parrish left the Bengals as the team's all time leader in touchdowns scored by "return or recovery" with 13 (four on punt returns, four on interception returns, three on fumble returns, one on a kickoff return, and one on a blocked field goal return). He was also the only player in franchise history ever to score two "return or recovery" touchdowns in a single game, a feat he accomplished three times. In a 1970 game against the Bills, he scored touchdowns on a 95 yard kickoff return and an 83 yard blocked field goal return. In a 1972 game against the Houston Oilers
, he scored touchdowns on interception returns of 25 and 33 yards. In a 1974 game against Washington, he scored touchdowns on a 93 yard punt return and 47 yard fumble return.
Parrish also left the team as their all time leader in punt return yards with 1,201, and held the franchise record for punt return yards in a season with 338 in 1974.
With the Redskins, Parrish was no longer used as a kick returner, but he still made a big impact, recording nine interceptions in his first year with them, and seven in the year after that. He made the Pro Bowl two more times with Washington, in 1979 and 1980. Parrish played with Redskins until 1981, and then spent his final season with Bills before retiring in 1982.
In his 13 NFL seasons, Parrish recorded 47 interceptions for 462 yards, 13 fumble recoveries for 65 return yards, 131 punt returns for 1,205 yards, 61 kickoffs for 1,504 yards, and 13 touchdowns.
After retiring in 1982, Parrish struggled with a drug addiction, but checked into a Tennessee rehab clinic
in 1986 and managed to overcome it and turn his life around. He later returned to his alma mater, Lincoln University of Missouri and earned a bachelor's degree in physical education with a minor in psychology. Parrish eventually served as Head Coach of the Blue Tigers Football Team from 2004 to 2009.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player who played defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
for the Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
(1970–1977), Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
(1978–1982), and the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
(1982).
Before his NFL career, Parrish played for Lincoln University of Missouri, located in Jefferson City, Missouri
Jefferson City, Missouri
Jefferson City is the capital of the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Cole County. Located in Callaway and Cole counties, it is the principal city of the Jefferson City metropolitan area, which encompasses the entirety of both counties. As of the 2010 census, the population was 43,079...
. After graduating college, he was selected by the Bengals in the seventh round of the 1970 NFL Draft
1970 NFL Draft
The 1970 National Football League Draft was held on January 27–28, 1970.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:...
. Parrish immediately made an impact for the Bengals, not just as a defensive back, but also as a kick returner
Kick returner
In American and Canadian football, a kick returner is the player on special teams who is primarily responsible to catch kickoffs and attempts to return them in the opposite direction. If the ball is kicked into his own endzone, he must assess the situation on the field while the ball is in the...
on special teams. In his 1970 rookie season, Parrish recorded five interceptions, one fumble recovery, 194 yards returning punts, 482 yards returning kickoffs, and scored two touchdowns (one punt return and one kickoff return). His 482 kickoff return yards came off just 16 returns, a whopping 30.1 yards per return average. In 1974, Parrish set a franchise record with an NFL leading 18.8 yards per punt return average (18 returns for 338 yards). In his eight seasons with the Bengals, Parrish was selected to the Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
six times (1970, 1971, 1974–1977).
After the 1977 season, Parrish got into a contract dispute with his team, and ended up being traded to the Redskins. Parrish left the Bengals as the team's all time leader in touchdowns scored by "return or recovery" with 13 (four on punt returns, four on interception returns, three on fumble returns, one on a kickoff return, and one on a blocked field goal return). He was also the only player in franchise history ever to score two "return or recovery" touchdowns in a single game, a feat he accomplished three times. In a 1970 game against the Bills, he scored touchdowns on a 95 yard kickoff return and an 83 yard blocked field goal return. In a 1972 game against the Houston Oilers
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
, he scored touchdowns on interception returns of 25 and 33 yards. In a 1974 game against Washington, he scored touchdowns on a 93 yard punt return and 47 yard fumble return.
Parrish also left the team as their all time leader in punt return yards with 1,201, and held the franchise record for punt return yards in a season with 338 in 1974.
With the Redskins, Parrish was no longer used as a kick returner, but he still made a big impact, recording nine interceptions in his first year with them, and seven in the year after that. He made the Pro Bowl two more times with Washington, in 1979 and 1980. Parrish played with Redskins until 1981, and then spent his final season with Bills before retiring in 1982.
In his 13 NFL seasons, Parrish recorded 47 interceptions for 462 yards, 13 fumble recoveries for 65 return yards, 131 punt returns for 1,205 yards, 61 kickoffs for 1,504 yards, and 13 touchdowns.
After retiring in 1982, Parrish struggled with a drug addiction, but checked into a Tennessee rehab clinic
Drug rehabilitation
Drug rehabilitation is a term for the processes of medical or psychotherapeutic treatment, for dependency on psychoactive substances such as alcohol, prescription drugs, and so-called street drugs such as cocaine, heroin or amphetamines...
in 1986 and managed to overcome it and turn his life around. He later returned to his alma mater, Lincoln University of Missouri and earned a bachelor's degree in physical education with a minor in psychology. Parrish eventually served as Head Coach of the Blue Tigers Football Team from 2004 to 2009.