Parker was born and grew up in Paterson, New Jersey and attended Eastside High School.
He played basketball and football and was named first-team All-Passaic Valley Conference at quarterback as a senior.
[1] Parker played basketball at Fordham, which did not have a college football team at the time.
[5] Despite not having played football since high school, Parker was selected in the 16th round of the 1968 NFL/AFL Draft by the New York Giants.
[6][7] Parker made the Giants active roster in 1970, and eventually became a starter at cornerback due to injuries.