Lemar Parrish

Lemar R. Parrish (born December 13, 1947), nicknamed Leapin' Lemar, is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Lincoln Blue Tigers. He was selected in the seventh round of the 1970 NFL draft and played for the Cincinnati Bengals (1970–1977), Washington Redskins (1978–1982) and Buffalo Bills. Parrish was named to eight Pro Bowls.

Early life Lemar R. Parrish was born on December 13, 1947, in West Palm Beach, Florida.

College career He played college football for Lincoln University of Missouri in Jefferson City, Missouri. He was a running back and a four-year letter-winner from 1966 to 1969. In 1969, he set the school's record for longest punt return when he returned a punt 95 yards for a touchdown against Southwest Missouri State University. He also set school records for most punt return yards in a game (129 yards on three returns) and highest average per punt return in that game (43 yards per return). That year, Parrish averaged 16.8 yards per punt return. That, and his career average of 15.5 yards per return, are still school records. He was named All-American in 1969.

Professional career Cincinnati Bengals After graduating college, he was selected by the Bengals in the seventh round of the 1970 NFL draft with the 163rd overall pick. Parrish immediately made an impact, not just as a defensive back but also as a kick returner on special teams.

In his 1970 rookie season, Parrish recorded five interceptions, one fumble recovery, 194 yards returning punts, 482 yards returning kickoffs, and scored two touchdowns (one kickoff return and one blocked field goal return). His 482 kickoff return yards came on just 16 returns, a whopping 30.1 yards per return average.

In 1974, Parrish set a franchise record with an NFL-leading 18.8 yards per punt return average (18 returns for 338 yards). In his eight seasons with the Bengals, Parrish was selected to the Pro Bowl six times (1970, 1971, 1974–1977).

After the 1977 season, Parrish got into a contract dispute with the Bengals, and was traded to the Redskins.

Parrish left the Bengals as the team's all-time leader in touchdowns scored by "return or recovery" with 13 (four on punt returns, four on interception returns, three on fumble returns, one on a kickoff return, and one on a blocked field goal return). He was also the only player in franchise history ever to score two "return or recovery" touchdowns in a single game, a feat he accomplished three times. At the time of his retirement, he was tied for 15th all-time in interceptions, for which he has been passed over by dozens of players in the years since retirement. In 1997, The Cincinnati Enquirer said that Parrish hurt his chances for more interceptions by "covering receivers so tightly that quarterbacks didn't even try." Teams were known to throw to his teammate, cornerback Ken Riley's side instead of Parrish's. In 1974, Riley himself even said "They keep on throwin' over here, and I get my six or seven interceptions a year."

Head coaching record