Rodney Parker

Shortly before the 1984 season starter, Parker was traded with three others to the San Antonio Gunslingers for undisclosed draft picks. Through four games, he was the team's second leading receiver with 12 catches for 190 yards. He was released on March 21. "There's more to playing receiver than catching the ball," his coach said. "There's blocking and fighting for the ball, being aggressive. Parker just wasn't doing some of the things that needed to be done."

In August 1982, The Morning News reported that Parker was one of "the most impressive" players in training camp. Later in the month, coach Dick Vermeil said that "if the final cut had to be made today, Parker would still be on the roster as, at worst, a role player." Despite this, he was released as part of the final roster cuts in September.

On September 27, 1982, it was announced by the Philadelphia Stars of the United States Football League (USFL) that Parker had been signed to play in the upcoming 1983 USFL season. Although expected to be a starter, he moved down in the depth chart before the season started, making him a backup to Willie Collier. Due to this, he saw very little action in the first two games and did not record a single catch. For most of the season, with the exception of four games, Parker played as a backup, and he only recorded 13 catches in limited playing time, none for touchdowns. The Stars compiled a 15–3 record in the season, and went on to play in the championship game, where they lost 22–24 to the Michigan Panthers. On the final play of the championship, Parker caught a two-yard touchdown pass.

Early in 1980, Parker was contacted by Carl Peterson, director of player personnel for the Philadelphia Eagles. Peterson invited him to the Eagles minicamp. "I was shocked. I mean, after getting cut by the worst team in pro football, you really have to figure that's going to diminish any interest the National Football League is going to have in you," Parker said. "But when Carl called I accepted on the spot. I didn't even ask for some time to think about it. I guess I didn't want to give them any time to think about it. I didn't want to give him a chance to renege or to change his mind." He impressed in the minicamp was invited to their training camp in Hershey, Pennsylvania. He was given a contract on May 19.

On March 30, 1979, Parker was re-signed by the Roughriders. Sportswriter Ruddy MacLean of The Leader-Post called him "one of the fastest runners in the CFL." Parker appeared in five games, recording 10 catches for 232 yards before being placed on waivers in August. He finished his CFL career with 25 receptions for 581 yards and two touchdowns in ten games.

After graduating from Tennessee State, Parker was selected in the sixth round (152nd overall) of the 1978 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. The Atlanta Constitution reported that he "may return kicks." He signed his rookie contract on June 9. On August 1, in training camp, Parker suffered a strained knee that the Falcons announced would sideline him for several weeks. Parker was placed on waivers on August 15.

In 1974, Parker enrolled at Tennessee State University. He made the varsity team for his sophomore season, 1975. As a junior in 1976, Parker recorded 25 receptions for 552 yards and scored five touchdowns. His 552 receiving yards led the team.

Rodney Parker (born July 18, 1953) is an American former gridiron football wide receiver who played six seasons professionally. He played college football at Tennessee State and was a sixth round NFL draft pick of the Atlanta Falcons in 1978. After being released by them in training camp, Parker signed in the Canadian Football League (CFL) with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, with whom he would play until being released in 1979. In the 1980 season, Parker returned to the National Football League (NFL) by signing with the Philadelphia Eagles. After two seasons with them, Parker played two years in the United States Football League (USFL) with the Philadelphia Stars, San Antonio Gunslingers and Pittsburgh Maulers before retiring in 1985.

Parker was born on July 18, 1953, in Mobile, Alabama, where he grew up. He attended Francis T. Nicholls High School in New Orleans, Louisiana, and is the only attendee of that school ever to play in the National Football League (NFL). In his school, he was a "star" participant in track and field.