Former Chiefs safety Ron Parker announces retirement
One of the key members from the Kansas City Chiefs’ “Second Draft” of 2013 has officially called it a career.
Safety Ron Parker, 32, on Monday announced his retirement after a nine-year NFL career, six spent with the Chiefs.
“I would like to thank the Chiefs and the Hunt family for believing in me and giving me my opportunity to take off,” Parker said in a note posted on Twitter. “Coach (Andy) Reid will go down in my book for one of the greatest to do it. This man believed in me when no one else didn’t. Can’t thank you enough for what an unbelievable career that I had.”
The 6-foot, 206-pound Parker entered the league in 2011 out of Newberry College as an undrafted free agent with the Seattle Seahawks.
Over the next two seasons, he spent time with the Oakland Raiders, the Carolina Panthers and two additional stints with the Seahawks before finally finding a team where he would make an impact.
The Chiefs claimed Parker off waivers from Seattle on Sept. 1, 2013 as part of a personnel movement that saw Kansas City land Parker, defensive lineman Jaye Howard, cornerback Marcus Cooper, linebacker James-Michael Johnson, tight end Sean McGrath, wide receiver Chad Hall and linebacker Dezman Moses.
While each player made contributions the next few seasons, Parker arguably had the lasting impact with his versatility to play both safety positions and cornerback.
“He came in as a small college guy and I just thought did a great job,” Reid said Monday when asked about Parker’s retirement. “I told him he would be a great coach. He kind of knew what was going on; he had a great way about him.”
“Good leader, all those things and could run like a son of a gun. He was really a dual-position guy, so he could play corner or you could put him at safety. He was smart enough you could put him in the nickel (cornerback) spot.”
The Chiefs released Parker during the 2018 offseason before he joined the Atlanta Falcons, but the safety didn’t make it through Atlanta’s roster cuts upon establishment of the initial 53-player roster for the regular season.
Parker rejoined the Chiefs shortly after his release and appeared in 15 games in 2018. On his career, Parker appeared in 105 games with 78 starts and totaled 394 tackles, eight sacks, 11 interceptions and 48 passes defensed.
All 78 of Parker’s starts came in a Chiefs uniform.
“World of respect for him,” Reid said. “Loved to play the game. … Great person.”
