Anthony Lawrence Parker (born November 21, 1989) is a former professional

Canadian football Canadian football () is a team sport, sport played in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed oval-shaped ball into the opposing team's sco ...

wide receiver. He was drafted by the

Calgary Stampeders The Calgary Stampeders are a professional Canadian football team based in Calgary, Alberta. The Stampeders compete in the West Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL). The club plays its home games at McMahon Stadium and are the third-old ...

and played with that organization for seven years, winning a

Grey Cup The Grey Cup (french: Coupe Grey) is both the championship game of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and the trophy awarded to the victorious team playing in the namesake championship of professional Canadian football. The game is contested be ...

championship in

2014 File:2014 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Stocking up supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) for the Western African Ebola virus epidemic; Citizens examining the ruins after the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping; Bundles of wat ...

. He played

CIS football U Sports football is the highest level of amateur play of Canadian football and operates under the auspices of U Sports (formerly Canadian Interuniversity Sport). Twenty-seven teams from Canadian universities are divided into four athletic confer ...

for the

Calgary Dinos The Calgary Dinos are the athletic teams that represent the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada. They were known as the "Dinosaurs" but usually referred to as the "Dinos" until 1999, when the name was officially shortened. Some of its venue ...

University career

Parker played for the

from 2007 to 2010, being named a Canada West All-Star twice and a CIS Second Team All-Canadian in 2009. In the CFL's Amateur Scouting Bureau final rankings, he was ranked as the second best player for players eligible in the

2011 CFL Draft The 2011 CFL Draft took place on Sunday, May 8, 2011 at 12:30 PM ET on TSN. 47 players were chosen from among eligible players from Canadian Universities across the country, as well as Canadian players playing in the NCAA. The Toronto Argonauts, ...

, and first by players in the

CIS Cis or cis- may refer to: Places * Cis, Trentino, in Italy * In Poland: ** Cis, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, south-central ** Cis, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, north Math, science and biology * cis (mathematics) (cis(''θ'')), a trigonome ...

. On December 17, 2010, it was announced that Parker was one of two CIS players to be named to the

East–West Shrine Game East West (or East and West) may refer to: *East–West dichotomy, the contrast between Eastern and Western society or culture Arts and entertainment Books, journals and magazines *'' East, West'', an anthology of short stories written by Salm ...

Professional career

Calgary Stampeders

Parker was drafted 3rd overall in the first round of the

by the

after Calgary traded up to be in a position to draft him. He was later signed to a contract with the Stampeders on May 20, 2011. He earned a spot on the active roster and dressed in his first game on July 1, 2011, against the

Toronto Argonauts The Toronto Argonauts (officially the Toronto Argonaut Football Club and colloquially known as the Argos) are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL), based in Toronto, Ontario ...

. Parker recorded his first reception on August 6, 2011, against the

Hamilton Tiger-Cats The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a professional Canadian football team based in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. They are currently members of the East Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL). The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Tim Hortons Fiel ...

. He also recorded his first interception against the

BC Lions The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team based in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Lions compete in the West Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL), and play their home games at BC Place. The Lions played their first season ...

on September 17, 2011, while on special teams defending a fake-punt play. His first touchdown came two years later after he caught a pass from

Bo Levi Mitchell Bo Levi Mitchell (born March 3, 1990)Official Eastern Washingto ...

on July 26, 2013, against the

Winnipeg Blue Bombers The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a professional Canadian football team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Blue Bombers compete in the Canadian Football League (CFL) as a member club of the league's West division. They play their home games at IG Fiel ...

. He won his first

championship game in

as a member of the Stampeders' winning team. Overall, he played in 108 games for the Stampeders until he was released following 2018 training camp on June 10, 2018. Over his career with Calgary, he recorded 178 catches for 2245 receiving yards and 15 receiving touchdowns, 35 carries for 326 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown, 13 punt returns for 121 yards, 21 kickoff returns for 425 yards, and nine special teams tackles.

BC Lions

On September 1, 2018, Parker signed with the

to their practice roster and was added to the active roster on September 6, 2018. In 9 games, Parker caught 7 passes for 99 yards, and was also used as a returner; in week 18 against Calgary, Parker's 79-yard punt return nearly scored a touchdown against his former team, but came up just short.

Edmonton Eskimos

Early in free agency for 2019, Parker signed with the

Edmonton Eskimos The Edmonton Elks are a professional Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. The club competes in the Canadian Football League (CFL) as a member of the league's West Division and plays their home games at the Brick Field at Commo ...

alongside a large number of other players in a remake of the roster. Despite being the leading receiver in Edmonton's first preseason game, Parker suffered a non-contact ruptured Achilles tendon injury early in the second preseason game, and was ruled out for the season. He signed a contract extension through the 2021 season on January 11, 2021. He retired from football on June 25, 2021.

Personal life

Parker was born to parents Anthony and Pamela while his father was playing for the BC Lions (1986–1989). His father played for the Calgary Stampeders in 1990 and he was raised in Alberta.Calgary Dinos bio
/ref> His uncle, Andy Jonassen, also played for the Stampeders from 1976 to 1980.

References

External links

BC Lions bioCalgary Stampeders bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Parker, Anthony 1989 births Living people Players of Canadian football from British Columbia Canadian football wide receivers Calgary Dinos football players Calgary Stampeders players Sportspeople from Vancouver BC Lions players Edmonton Elks players