AJ Parker units sights on NFL return after San Francisco 49ers launch

For the fourth time in less than 29 months, Bartlesville High School graduate A.J. Parker is tackling another challenge to his NFL career.

His release last week by the San Francisco 49ers on an injury settlement is just another obstacle to overcome in his quest to suit back up on Sundays. When, how and if Parker is numbered among the exclusive pro fraternity is partly in the province of destiny — and partly in the realm of serendipity (right team, right time).

Meanwhile, the two-year NFL defensive back is in Owasso living near family and friends and rehabbing for his determined effort to return. Parker told the E-E during a brief Friday interview he’s looking forward to getting completely healed and signing this season with another NFL team, even if it’s to a practice squad for the time being.

“Just competing at that level of competition,” Parker said about what’s been most rewarding about his pro career so far.

He’s also thrived on being able to go up against some of the league’s best players and proving he belonged.

Among his career highlights have been an interception of Baker Mayfield, a forced fumble against the Green Bay Packers that led to a touchdown and fueled a stunning Lions’ upset late in the 2021 season, and 61 tackles (49 solo) and seven passes defended.

“Even if he doesn’t play another down of NFL football, he’s proven he can play on that level,” his former Bartlesville High head football coach John McKee said.

Parker has 16 regular season games, including seven starts, under his belt during his two seasons (2021-22) in the Detroit Lions’ organization.

He had positioned himself in August for serious consideration to be named to the 53-man roster of the San Francisco 49ers, moving up on the preseason depth chart to No. 2 at nickleback. But, a hamstring injury suffered against the Los Angeles Chargers in the final exhibition game ended Parker’s tenure with the 49ers, at least during this inning of his career.

A.J. Parker:San Francisco 49ers place Bartlesville grad on IR leaving NFL future in limbo

The 49ers assigned the 25-year-old Parker to its preseason injured reserve list, meaning he would have been ineligible to play all season for the team, even after he recovered. With his release from San Francisco, Parker is now a free agent. Only rehabbing from his injury stands between him and a chance to resume living the dream.

McKee, who Parker played for in the mid-2010s, believes Parker’s career hasn’t written his final pro football chapter.

“I don’t think it’s going to be the end of his NFL career,” McKee said.

Inside A.J. Parker’s rise from Bartlesville to the NFL

McKee understands the impact Parker can have on a team, both physically and emotionally. Parker proved to be a major component for Bartlesville in back-to-back playoff seasons in 2014 and 2015, as a receiver and cornerback. In 2015, the Bruins surged to the program’s best-ever record (10-2), including an appearance in the state semifinals.

Bartlesville won 21 games during Parker’s sophomore through senior seasons (2013-15). In the seven seasons since, Bartlesville won only 21 games, an average of three wins a season.

When he first arrived as a freshman, current Bartlesville Bruin football assistant Bobby Holmes could sense the young man had a unique combination of physical gifts and emotional presence.

“We saw that he’s a tremendous athlete in the things he did,” Holmes. “We saw how hard he worked and how he built himself up. We also saw his impact on the other players.”

Parker could be both encouraging as a positive example or push his teammates to be better. Mostly, “It was that desire he had to be better that made the guys around him better,” Holmes said.

“His work ethic and mentality set him apart,” said Kyle Pool, another Bruin assistant during Parker’s prep playing days. “The first time he practiced with us, it was like, ‘Okay, he’s spectacular.'”

“He went from a skinny little kid as a freshman to still being a skinny young man as a senior,” McKee said. “He is so quick and agile. In the NFL he is fearless. They’ve got him playing the slot as nickleback which meant he has to take on offensive linemen and running backs. His tenacity, his want to and his will to get the job done stand out.”

Parker’s stats in his junior and senior years added up to 65 catches, 1,253 yards and 17 touchdowns. His receiver prep stats might not seem as astronomical as they might have been because he had to split catches with another exceptional receiving talent named A.J. Archambo, who went on to play baseball at Oral Roberts University.

Holmes said Archambo and Parker made each other better with their fierce competition in practice, especially when Parker covered Archambo.

Parker earned All-State honors and was named to the USA TODAY Sports/American Family Insurance All-USA Oklahoma Team. He then moved on to Kansas State, where he started full-time for his final three seasons.

He went undrafted, which led to his first sojourn in NFL limbo. But the Lions inked him a day or two after the draft to a rookie free-agent contract, not exactly a golden pass guaranteeing an NFL career.

However, with his foot in the door, the unheralded Parker conquered the tremendous odds against him and powered to a spot on the 53-man roster for the 2021 season. He appeared in 13 games (missing four others due to injuries) and garnered seven starts as the team’s No. 1 nickleback.

Parker went into the 2021-22 offseason with high hopes of challenging for a full-time starting role for the 2022 team. Yet, the Lions waived him at the end of the 2022 training camp. When Parker cleared waivers, the Lions signed him to their practice squad.

He would remain with the organization throughout the 2022 season, even getting a call-up to the Lions for a few games prior to returning to the practice squad.

“Tremendous athlete and even a better person”

In January, the free agent Parker signed a reserve future contract with San Francisco.

Parker labored hard for the next seven-plus months to prove he could contribute to the 49ers, even though his chances of making the roster were seen by some of the team’s observers as a longshot. After a gritty camp showing, he appeared, at least on paper, to have a chance to make the cornerback rotation.

During San Francisco’s first two exhibition games, he made a total of four tackles in limited action. But, in the final preseason contest, after he had made a tackle, Parker came out with what was classified as a hamstring injury.

When the 49ers made their final roster cutdown a few days later, they put Carter on the injured reserve list but didn’t name him to the 53-man roster.

Parker said as he works back to being 100 percent, his agent will be putting out feelers to find a new NFL address.

Parker has shown a resiliency to make good things happen when given a chance no matter how high some people might think the challenge is. Perhaps that’s how he managed to launch his 5-foot-11 frame over the high jump bar at 6-foot-10 inches to set a new Bartlesville school record.

Whether Parker plays again or not, he fills a special place in McKee’s heart. Parker’s game-used Lions jersey is framed in McKee’s house.

Parker is the only player to advance to the NFL from a team of which McKee was the head coach. And beyond his explosive exploits on the field, Parker is an unforgettable individual for the right reasons.

“He’s one of those special kids,” McKee said. “He’s one of the special ones that you always remember and that you try to have a connection to and see where they go in life.

“A.J. is a tremendous, tremendous athlete and even a better person.”