Bernie Parrish

No. 30

Position:

Personal information

Date of birth:

April 29, 1936 (age 80)

Place of birth:

Height:

5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)

Weight:

194 lb (88 kg)

Career information

High school:

College:

NFL Draft:

1958 / Round: 9 / Pick: 108

Career history

Career highlights and awards

Career NFL statistics

Player stats at PFR

Bernard Paul Parrish (born April 29, 1936) is an American former college and professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) and American Football League (AFL) for eight seasons during the 1950s and 1960s. Parrish played college football for the University of Florida, and thereafter, he played professionally for the Cleveland Browns of the NFL and the Houston Oilers of the AFL. Parrish's football memoirs later stirred controversy.

Parrish was born in Long Beach, California in 1936. He grew up in Gainesville, Florida, where he attended P.K. Yonge High School and played high school football and baseball for the P.K. Yonge Blue Wave.

Parrish accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, and played halfback and defensive back for coach Bob Woodruff's Florida Gators football team in 1956 and 1957. Memorably, Parrish was named Associated Press "Back of the Week" for his performance in the Gators' 14–7 win over the Vanderbilt Commodores, including rushing for 111 yards, scoring both touchdowns, kicking both extra points, catching an interception, and making seven tackles—including one to prevent the Commodores' tying score. He also played second base for coach Dave Fuller's Florida Gators baseball team from 1956 to 1958. As a junior in 1958, he batted .433 and led the Gators in runs batted in, hits, doubles and home runs, received first-team All-Southeastern conference (SEC) honors, and was the Gators' first-ever first-team baseball All-American.