Willie Parker – RB
2008 stats: 210 rushes, 791 yards, 5 touchdowns
Willie Parker finds himself as one of the most memorable/fan favored half backs the Steelers have had since the dawn of the new millennium. Nicknamed “Fast Willie” for his blazing speed, Parker found himself as a constant in the Steelers offense after doing a superb job as a fill-in for the injured Jerome Bettis during a stretch of time in 2005, and managed to rush for the longest run in Super Bowl history (75 yards).
After being elected to the Pro Bowl in 2006/2007, Parker found himself again carrying the load during the 2008 Steelers season, despite the team selecting RB Rashard Mendenhall in the first round of that year’s draft (Rashard was put on IR in week 4 after receiving a fractured shoulder from Ray Lewis).
Parker, averaging a career low 3.8 yards per carry that year, failed to contribute on the game’s biggest stage, gaining a mere 53 yards on the ground. The following season, turf toe sidelined Parker, as he eventually lost the starting job to Mendenhall and was later cut by the team after the 2009 season.
Where are they now?
Parker, after not making it on the final 53 man roster of the Washington Redskins, announced his retirement in August of 2012. Willie now finds himself coaching at Heritage High School in Wake Forest, North Carolina. Parker, joined alongside former NFL players Dewayne Washington and Torry Holt, has been at Heritage since 2015.
Fast Willie will always have a special spot in the hearts of Steelers fans, and anybody who played fantasy football from 2005-2007. Another un-drafted rookie, Parker made the best of his opportunities and now finds himself in Steelers lore.