Jackie Parker

John Dickerson "Jackie" Parker (c. 1932 – November 7, 2006) was an American football player who became an All-American in college football and an outstanding professional football player in the Canadian Football League at the running back, quarterback, defensive back, and kicker positions. He is primarily known for his play with the Edmonton Eskimos. Later in his career, he played for the Toronto Argonauts and the BC Lions, and coached the Eskimos and Lions after his playing career ended.

Parker was named a member of the College Football Hall of Fame in 1971, and the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1976. In November, 2006, Parker was voted one of the CFL's Top 50 players (#3) of the league's modern era by Canadian sports network TSN.

College career
Born in Knoxville, Tennessee, Parker played college football for Jones County Junior College in 1950-51 then two seasons as a member of the Bulldogs at Mississippi State University where he was named to the All-Conference and College Football All-America Teams.

Professional playing career
In 1954, Parker signed with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Western Interprovincial Football Union (which became part of the Canadian Football League in 1958). Nicknamed "Ol' Spaghetti Legs", Parker became one of the most important parts of the Eskimos dynasty of the mid-1950s. Parker played both the defensive and offensive sides of the ball, a practice not so uncommon in his day as it is today; however, his main strength was offence, where he was both a strong runner and an excellent quarterback. This is shown by his Western All-Star selections; as a running back in 1954, 1957 and 1959, and as a quarterback in 1955, 1956, 1958, 1960 and 1961. Parker won six consecutive Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophies as the West's most outstanding player from 1956 to 1961, and seven in total. He was awarded the Schenley Award as Canadian football's most outstanding player in 1957, 1958 and 1960 and was the runner-up in 1956 and 1961.

During the first three years of his career (1954–1957), the Eskimos won consecutive Grey Cups. In the 1954 Grey Cup, Parker made one of the most famous plays in Grey Cup history when, in the fourth quarter, Ted Tully hit Montreal Alouettes running back Chuck Hunsinger and forced a fumble. Parker recovered the ball and returned it 90 yards for a touchdown, giving the Eskimos, who were a large underdog in the game, a surprise victory. Parker's 90-yard fumble return remains a Grey Cup record to this day.

Following the 1962 season, the Eskimos traded Parker to the Toronto Argonauts for five players and $15,000. Parker played in Toronto from 1963 to 1965.

Parker finished his playing career with the BC Lions in 1968 when, as an assistant coach, he helped the team out of a difficult mid-season situation by donning the pads for one last go round as quarterback. At the time of his retirement, Parker, who also kicked extra points and field goals, had scored a then CFL record 750 points.

Coaching and post-football career
After his playing days ended, Parker moved into coaching. Parker coached the BC Lions for part of the 1969 season and all of 1970, before moving on to the front office as general manager the next year. He stayed as general manager until being fired in 1975.

Parker coached the Eskimos from 1983 until resigning for health reasons two games into the 1987 CFL season.

After leaving football, Parker was an executive with the Interprovincial Steel & Pipe Corporation, Ltd.

On November 7, 2006, Parker died in the early morning hours at a local Edmonton hospital at age 74 due to throat cancer.

Parker's awards and honours
Parker's jersey #91 currently hangs on the Wall of Honour at the Eskimos' Commonwealth Stadium. "Jackie Parker Park" in Edmonton, Alberta was named in his honor.

Jackie Parker was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 1971, the Mississippi State University Hall of Fame and the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 1972, the College Football Hall of Fame in 1976, and Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 1987. In November 2006, Parker was voted one of the CFL's top 50 players (#3) in a poll conducted by Canadian sports network TSN.


 * Grey Cup victories – 1954, 1955, 1956
 * CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award – 1957, 1958, 1960
 * CFL All-Star – 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961
 * Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy (West Division's Most Outstanding Player) – 1954, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961
 * Dave Dryburgh Memorial Trophy (Top Scorer in West Division) – 1959, 1961
 * Canadian Football Hall of Fame – 1971
 * Edmonton Eskimo Wall of Honour – 1983
 * Canada's Sports Hall of Fame – 1987
 * Mississippi State University Hall of Fame – 1972
 * Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame – 1972
 * College Football Hall of Fame – 1976

Videos
1954 Grey Cup fumble return TD

External sources

 * Edmonton Eskimo Team Website
 * The Canadian Encyclopedia
 * CFL Facts, Figures, And Records: 2003 Edition
 * Graham Kelly, The Grey Cup: A History (1999)