Will Parks

Will Parks's Biography

Will Parks, born on July 29, 1994, is an esteemed professional football player in the United States who plays as a safety and is currently a free agent. Originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Parks embarked on his Journey with the NFL when he was selected by the Denver Broncos in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL draft, making him the 17th safety pick of that year. This move led him to teams such as the Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins, and the New York Jets reflecting his wide impact on American football.

Parks, whose passion for football was ignited early, played college football for the Arizona Wildcats, where he gave stellar performances that paved the way for his selection in the 2016 draft. On May 13, 2016, Parks signed a contract with the Broncos for four years which was worth $2.44 million. The contract included a handsome signing bonus of $100,356.

Parks was put through rigorous training as he competed for the role of backup strong safety against veteran Shiloh Keo. Eventually, he proved his mettle when he was named as backup to T. J. Ward by head coach Gary Kubiac as the regular season commenced.

His NFL debut arrived in the Broncos’ inaugural match of the season against the Carolina Panthers, which they won. By Week 3, Parks had made two solo tackles, deflected two passes, and executed his first career interception. Parks’ illustrious career was marked by several milestone moments. One such incident was in November 2016, wherein he returned a blocked field goal for a two-point score after Justin Simmons leaped over the offensive line and blocked an attempt. This feat led to their victory against the New Orleans Saints with a score of 25-23.

However, Parks’ journey was not without struggles. Despite scoring 22 combined tackles, four pass deflections, a fumble recovery, and a touchdown, the Broncos finished third in the season AFC West with a 9-7 record during his rookie season. After head coach Gary Kubiak retired due to health issues, Vance Joseph replaced him and Joe Woods assumed the role as the new defensive coordinator.

In October 2017, Parks earned his first career start and went on to achieve commendable milestones including recording a season-high seven combined tackles and scoring an interception. Despite these achievements, Parks experienced a downfall when he was placed on injured reserve by the Eagles, from which he was activated only a month later. In a span of a year, he had been claimed by the Broncos, signed with the Chiefs, and released in August 2021.

On November 3, 2021, he was signed to the practice squad of the San Francisco 49ers. Not even a month had passed when he was signed by the Miami Dolphins off the 49ers practice squad.

Turbulence continued to cloud Parks’ career as he was claimed off waivers by the New York Jets on December 21, 2021, only to be released in December 2022. After being released, he was signed to the practice squad and got promoted to the active roster on January 7, 2023. He completed the 2022 season with the Jets, participating in a total of 14 games where he had 17 tackles.

Off the field, Parks had a brush with law enforcement when he was arrested for harassment and non-physical domestic violence charges involving an ex-girlfriend in 2017. However, the charges were dismissed the following year. Despite hurdles and setbacks, Will Parks has portrayed himself as a resilient sportsperson, always coming back with more force and determination.