Jeremy Parquet played with Hall of Famers in the NFL, including Willie Roaf – the former New Orleans Saints and Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro was Parquet’s childhood idol.
On his way to the NFL, Parquet’s star shined bright first as Destrehan’s star offensive tackle, then at the University of Southern Mississippi, where Parquet built a legacy that will culminate with his own Hall of Fame induction at the school. Southern Miss recently announced Parquet will be a member of the school’s Class of 2025 “M-Club” Hall inductees.
He will be enshrined alongside Alexis Hall Adams (Women’s Basketball, 1988-91), Deke Adams (Football, 1990-94), Chris Clark (Football, 2003-07), Tracy Lampley (Football, 2009-12), Johnny Vitrano (Baseball, 1967-70 & Men’s Basketball, 1967-70) and Raquel Washington (Women’s Track & Field, 2004-06). Parquet starred for the Eagles from 2001 to 2004, a run that led to him being drafted by the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs in 2005.
At 6-foot-7 and 321 pounds, Parquet stood as a mountain of a man whether he was protecting his quarterback or paving wide open rushing lanes.
“It’s definitely an honor,” said Parquet. “And it’s not something I really thought about growing up … I didn’t think about it playing for Harry Hurst or Destrehan. But it’s humbling. I’m excited, but the big thing for me is I’m just glad that my wife and my kids and my parents and my aunties and uncles and my siblings, you know what I’m saying, all of those who supported me through this process will be able to attend and I have a chance to publicly thank them.”
Parquet shined at several levels of football – and won at the highest level. He is the only player to ever win a Super Bowl championship (2009 with the Pittsburgh Steelers), NFL Europe championship (World Bowl XV with the Hamburg Sea Devils) and a UFL championship (2009 with the Las Vegas Locomotives).
“I just always believe, where I come from, Norco – Norco just raised me, man. Norco just raised me to see things for what they are and work hard for everything. And whatever I receive, to just be thankful, just appreciate it,” Parquet said.
“God is good. I just kept that mindset to not give up and not succumb to peer pressure.”
Scott Martin, who coached Parquet during Martin’s head coaching tenure at Destrehan, called Parquet “a gentle giant” and soft-spoken individual – but that when the Friday Night Lights came on, Parquet was a force to be reckoned with.
“I mean, on the football field, Jeremy took care of business,” said Martin. “His disposition was very, very quiet, but he has that character and that drive. And he was such a great young man from a great family, his mom and dad … that character just made it clear he was raised the right way and he was such a pleasure to coach.”
While today and for many years now, Destrehan is known for its spread offense and attacking down the field, the Wildcats ran the Wing-T option in those days – and Parquet was a great catalyst for dominating the line of scrimmage.
“He was a big human being, but he moved so well also,” Martin said. “And Jeremy was extremely intelligent and very smart. He could pick up on anything you needed him to do. And he always did everything he was supposed to do. He led by example.
“I’m so proud of what he was able to accomplish, not just in high school but in college, the NFL and everywhere else. He was able to win championships wherever he went. And just a fine young man who’s a pillar of his community.”
Parquet most fondly remembers the feeling of seeing his family in the stands at Southern Miss.
“My sister Lisa would always have a sign personalized for me every week,” Parquet said.
In Parquet’s senior year there, the Golden Eagles scored a 21-17 victory over a Nebraska Cornhuskers program that was a perennial ranked power.
“As long as I was able to locate (his family) in the stands, that gave me all the motivation I needed,” Parquet said.
During his NFL days, he had the chance to play with Roaf as they were members of a truly elite Chiefs offensive line unit.
It was a full-circle moment for Parquet – Roaf made a special impression upon a young Parquet several years before.
“My auntie Sharon knew someone that knew Roaf,” Parquet said. “She contacted him and let him know about her nephew – who wears a size 16 shoe. I was around 12 years old and I didn’t have access to the Nikes of the world. So Roaf reached out and he extended me a pair of cleats, man, and some tennis shoes too.
“And then I had a chance to play with him. Just an awesome, awesome experience.”
He also had the chance to play with Will Shields, another Hall of Fame Chiefs star on the offensive line.
“Will Shields, in my opinion, is the best offensive lineman ever,” said Parquet. “He’s not the biggest, not the strongest, not the fastest, but he’s the smartest offensive lineman I’ve played with in my life. I watched him and it’s just his attention to detail. I’d watch him operate, watch him work. And I’m a thief, man – I would watch him prepare and apply those things. I was blessed to go to St. Louis with Orlando Pace, and I took things from his approach too. I stole (methods and techniques) from Willie Roaf. Just so blessed to be able to learn from those greats.”
Today, Parquet and his wife Kristen raise three children, Jeremiah, Joshua and Kai.
“I have an 18-year-old son who’s playing college basketball at the University of Mary Hardin Baylor in Belton, Texas. I have a 17-year-old son who’s a senior basketball player and a honor student as well. And I have an 11-year-old daughter who’s an honor student and she’s bilingual. And my wife is an RN who’s in school now to be a nurse practitioner. I’m very blessed,” Parquet said.
They live in Spring, Texas, where Parquet has answered another calling – he serves as a minister at n The Church of the Nazarene.
“I grew up in church my entire life, at Greater Good Hope Baptist Church. God has always been a staple in my life,” Parquet said. “He was there the entire time for me – it was me who was busy.”
When football was taken away from Parquet, it got his attention. He was cut by the Chiefs and it marked his first time without football as a cornerstone of his life since 1988.
“Kristen was pregnant with our first child, Jeremiah, and the money I’d been making since my rookie year was gone now,” Parquet said.
Parquet looked to return to the game but ultimately walked away from the game after speaking with doctors – head injuries suffered throughout his career meant playing again would bring significant risk.
“I didn’t know what to do,” Parquet said. “My father-in-law told me, man, you’ve gotta pray for clarity.”
It’s what he did. The next morning, he turned on the television and saw a special about brain trauma.
“I felt that was God’s way of saying, ‘There you go, son. It’s time for you to call it.’”
Parquet officially retired – and a different door opened that he never expected to walk through.
“Shortly after that, I’m like, I don’t know what to do, and God starts showing me ministry. I’m like, nah … not me. I stutter. I’m not the most confident speaker. But it’s just being obedient, man. I surrendered my life to Christ in ’06. I answered the call of ministry in 2011,” Parquet said. “If you’re available and obedient, God will do the rest.”
It’s something he wants to be as big a part of his legacy as anything he’s done on the football field.
“I don’t want to be known as a football player when it’s all said and done, but as a man after God’s heart,” Parquet said.
But as for that legacy on the football field, Parquet credits those around him for making it possible.
“I’m thankful, man. Thank everybody who played a role, man. From my mom feeding me to my dad buying me shoes to my sister and my brother. My sister and her husband actually came to the World Bowl championship in Germany. They came to Canada and also came to the Super Bowl, too.
So just have people here in my corner, man, just being there … because a lot of times when we’re in these different countries and cities, man, it’s always good to see a face you know, you know? It always meant so much to me.”
