Jim Parker (American football)
- Baltimore Colts (1957-1967)
- 8 × Pro Bowl selection ( 1958-1965 )
- 10 × All-Pro selection ( 1957-1966 )
- NFL 75th Anniversary All- Time Team
- NFL 1950s All- Decade Team
- Outland Trophy (1956 )
- Back number blocked for the Colts
- 2 × NFL Champion (1958, 1959)
- Ohio High School Hall of Fame
- Ohio State Varsity O Hall of Fame (1977 )
- Baltimore Ravens Ring of Honor
- Pro Football Hall of Fame (1973 )
- College Football Hall of Fame (1974 )
James Thomas "Jim" Parker ( born April 3, 1934 in Macon, Georgia, USA, † July 18, 2005 in Columbia, Maryland), nicknamed " Big Jim " was an American football player. He played as a guard / offensive tackle for the Baltimore Colts in the National Football League ( NFL).
Playing career
College career
Jim Parker grew up in Macon and in Toledo, Ohio. After attending high school, he studied from 1954 to 1956 at Ohio State University and played as a guard for the team of the college American football. Even as a college football player Jim Parker celebrated great successes. In 1954, he won the national college football championship with the " Ohio State Buckeyes ". In the years 1955 and 1956 he was elected to the All- American, 1956 he was the winner of the Outland Trophy, a prize of the best offensive or defensive line players will be awarded. Parker was the first black player to win the award. Parker received a bachelor's in sports.
Professional career
In 1957 Jim Parker was drafted by the Baltimore Colts in the first round in eighth place. The Colts paid Parker after signing a contract with a term of two years, a salary of $ 14,000. Coach of the team from Baltimore was Weeb Ewbank. Ewbank succeeded by the commitment of young, success- hungry players, such as the fullback Alan Ameche, the running back Lenny Moore or the wide receiver Raymond Berry of the Colts to form a top team. Parker played within the offense of the team as a left tackle and had the task of protecting quarterback Johnny Unitas from the attacks of the opponent's defense.
In 1958, the Colts moved to the NFL championship game and a Parker won his first title. Opponents were the New York Giants, who could be defeated by 23:17. Protected by his offensive line could achieve Unitas 349 yards of space thanks to passing trains. Alan Ameche scored the decisive touchdown in overtime. The game is considered by many football fans as the best football game ever.
In 1959, Parker was able to win his second title. Again were the Giants in the NFL playoff opponent. They had to again, this time with a pass 31:16, beaten. Also in this game, Unitas was able to put his teammates in crucial scene. He scored two touchdowns and an area gain of 264 yards.
Starting in 1962, Parker has been used predominantly as a left guard. 1963 took over Don Shula, the coach of the Colts. He led the team in the following year in the third NFL playoff history of his team. This time, however, showed the Cleveland Browns as superior and won with 27-0. Hampered by numerous injuries had to Parker after the 1967 season to finish his career.
After the NFL
Jim Parker had his career after a liquor store in Baltimore. In 1999, he sat down to rest. He was married three times and had five sons and eight daughters. Parker died of heart and kidney failure and is buried in the King Memorial Park in Windsor Mill Manor.
Honors
Jim Parker played eight times in the Pro Bowl, the final game of the best players of the season. He was ten times elected to the All- Pro. Parker is a member of the NFL 75th Anniversary All- Time Team, NFL 1950s All- Decade in the team, in the Ohio High School Hall of Fame, the Ohio State Varsity O Hall of Fame, the Pro Football Hall of Fame and in the College Football Hall of Fame. Parker was the first player who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and had come only as a player of the offensive line to use. His jersey number 77 is not assigned when the Colts. The magazine " The Sporting News" chose him as one of the 100 best football players of all time. The Baltimore Ravens honor him on the Ring of Honor