Donald Parham
{{Short description|American football player (born 1997)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Donald Parham
| image = Donald Parham Jr. (48375018702) (cropped).jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Parham with the Washington Redskins in 2019
| current_team = Pittsburgh Steelers
| number = 89
| position = Tight end
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|8|16}}
| birth_place = Lakeland, Florida, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 8
| weight_lbs = 237
| high_school = Lake Gibson (Lakeland)
| college = Stetson (2015–2018)
| undraftedyear = 2019
| pastteams =
- Detroit Lions ({{NFL Year|2019}})*
- Washington Redskins ({{NFL Year|2019}})*
- Arlington Renegades ({{XFL Year|2020}})
- Los Angeles Chargers ({{NFL Year|2020|2023}})
- Denver Broncos ({{NFL Year|2024}})*
- Pittsburgh Steelers ({{NFL Year|2025}}–present)
| status = Reserve/injured
| highlights =
- First-team FCS All-American (2018)
- First-team All-PFL (2018)
- Mid Season All-XFL (2020)
| statweek =
| statseason = 2024
| statlabel1 = Receptions
| statvalue1 = 67
| statlabel2 = Receiving yards
| statvalue2 = 764
| statlabel3 = Receiving touchdowns
| statvalue3 = 11
| pfr = ParhDo00
}}
Donald Durand Parham Jr. (born August 16, 1997) is an American professional football tight end for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Stetson Hatters, and signed with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2019.
Early life and college
Parham grew up in Lakeland, Florida, where he initially excelled playing basketball at Lake Gibson High School. Despite coming from a rich lineage of football players, including his father and four uncles who all played college football, Parham didn’t play football until his senior season. He excelled at wide receiver and defensive end, and committed to play college football at Stetson.https://gohatters.com/sports/football/roster/donald-parham/5256
After seeing minimal action in four games a freshman, Parham took on a large role as a sophomore, converting to tight end and playing in 11 games (6 starts), recording 37 catches for 455 yards and a team-leading six touchdown receptions. As a junior, Parham led Stetson’s pass-catchers with 58 receptions for 817 yards and a touchdown, and was named Honorable Mention All-Conference. During his senior season, he had 85 receptions for 1,319 yards and 13 touchdowns, and was voted FCS First-Team All-American for his efforts.{{Cite web |last=Beasock |first=Ray |date=April 24, 2019 |title=Lake Gibson's Donald Parham has a chance to be taken in the NFL Draft |url=https://www.theledger.com/sports/20190424/lake-gibsons-donald-parham-has-chance-to-be-taken-in-nfl-draft |access-date=June 26, 2019 |website=The Ledger |language=en}}https://gohatters.com/sports/football/roster/donald-parham/5256
Parham finished his career as Stetson’s all-time leading receiver, recording 180 receptions for 2,591 yards and 20 touchdowns. He was selected to participate in the NFLPA Bowl and Senior Bowl upon the conclusion of his college career.https://gohatters.com/sports/football/roster/donald-parham/5256
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 8 3/8
| weight = 240
| dash = 4.68
| ten split = 1.68
| twenty split = 2.75
| shuttle = 4.51
| cone drill = 7.53
| vertical = 38.5
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 5
| bench = 17
| arm span = 36 1/8
| hand span = 10 1/2
| wonderlic =
| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |title=Donald Parham Stats, News and Video - TE |url=https://www.nfl.com/players/donald-parham/ |access-date=October 7, 2021 |website=nfl.com}}{{Cite web |title=Donald Parham, Stetson, TE, 2019 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1028375&DraftYear=2019 |access-date=October 7, 2021 |website=draftscout.com}}{{Cite web |title=Donald Parham, Combine Results, TE - Stetson |url=https://nflcombineresults.com/playerpage.php?f=Donald&l=Parham&i=27799 |access-date=October 7, 2021 |website=nflcombineresults.com}}
}}
= Detroit Lions =
On May 10, 2019, Parham signed with the Detroit Lions after going undrafted in the 2019 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=Lions' Donald Parham: Signs with Detroit |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/lions-donald-parham-signs-with-detroit/ |access-date=June 26, 2019 |website=CBSSports.com |date=May 10, 2019 |language=en}} He was waived on May 12, 2019.{{Cite web |date=May 12, 2019 |title=Lions sign 2 WRs, release 2 TEs following rookie minicamp |url=https://lionswire.usatoday.com/2019/05/12/lions-sign-2-wrs-release-2-tes-following-rookie-minicamp/ |access-date=October 9, 2020 |website=Lions Wire |language=en-US}}
= Washington Redskins =
He signed with the Washington Redskins on June 7, 2019, after a minicamp tryout.{{Cite web |date=June 7, 2019 |title=Redskins sign TE Donald Parham to 90-man roster after minicamp tryout |url=https://riggosrag.com/2019/06/07/redskins-sign-te-donald-parham-to-90-man-roster-after-minicamp-tryout/ |access-date=June 26, 2019 |website=Riggo's Rag |language=en-US}} Parham was waived on August 31, 2019,{{Cite news |last=Carpenter |first=Les |date=August 31, 2019 |title=Josh Doctson highlights list of cuts as Redskins finalize roster |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2019/08/31/redskins-make-first-moves-cutdown-day-path-man-roster/?noredirect=on |access-date=September 2, 2019 |newspaper=The Washington Post}} but re-signed to their practice squad on September 12.{{Cite web |title=Redskins Sign TE Donald Parham To Practice Squad |url=https://www.redskins.com/news/redskins-sign-te-donald-parham-to-practice-squad |access-date=September 13, 2019 |website=redskins.com}} He was released on September 17, 2019.{{Cite web |date=September 17, 2019 |title=washington release TE Donald Parham from practice squad, sign TE Drew Belcher |url=https://riggosrag.com/2019/09/17/washington-release-te-donald-parham-from-practice-squad-sign-te-drew-belcher/ }}{{Dead link|date=February 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
= Arlington Renegades =
Parham was selected by the Arlington Renegades of the XFL in the ninth round of the 2020 XFL Draft.{{Cite web |last=Bender |first=Bill |date=October 21, 2019 |title=XFL Draft picks 2019: Complete results, rosters, players for new football league |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/xfl-draft-tracker-results-picks-list-rosters-football-league/jahz8p84e4i61hb8lajqs4a22 |access-date=October 22, 2019 |website=Sporting News}} In his second game versus the Los Angeles Wildcats, Parham made five catches for 76 yards and a touchdown.{{Cite news |last=Hoyt |first=Joseph |date=February 16, 2020 |title=Despite Landry Jones' subpar debut, defense and run game lead Renegades to 'gritty' first XFL win vs. Wildcats |work=Dallas Morning News |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/other-sports/2020/02/17/despite-landry-jones-subpar-debut-renegades-pull-off-gritty-first-win-as-defense-run-game-answer-the-call/ |access-date=February 16, 2020}} He had his contract terminated when the league suspended operations on April 10, 2020.{{Cite news |last=Condotta, Bob |date=April 10, 2020 |title=XFL suspends operations, terminates all employees, but Jim Zorn says he has hopes league will continue |work=SeattleTimes.com |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/xfl-suspends-operations-terminates-all-employees/ |access-date=July 17, 2020}}
= Los Angeles Chargers =
Parham signed with the Los Angeles Chargers on April 14, 2020.{{Cite news |date=April 14, 2020 |title=Los Angeles Chargers Sign Tight End Donald Parham Jr. |work=Chargers.com |url=https://www.chargers.com/news/los-angeles-chargers-sign-tight-end-donald-parham-jr |access-date=April 15, 2020}}
During his first game in week 4 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Parham recorded his first career reception, a 19-yard touchdown pass from rookie quarterback Justin Herbert, during the 38–31 loss.{{Cite web |last=Edwards |first=Josh |date=October 4, 2020 |title=Buccaneers vs. Chargers final score: Tom Brady rallies Tampa to win over rookie Justin Herbert |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/buccaneers-vs-chargers-score-live-updates-game-stats-highlights-tv-channel-streaming-info-for-week-4/live/ |access-date=October 6, 2020 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}}
While attempting to catch a pass during a week 15 game against the Kansas City Chiefs in 2021, Parham dove for a ball in the back of the end zone. Without contacting an opponent he landed on his elbow and then rolled onto his back, which caused his head to make contact with the ground and go unconscious and demonstrated a fencing pose with rigid arms. After about 10 minutes, with arms still rigid and hands shaking, he was taken to Harbor–UCLA Medical Center and was said to be in stable condition, undergoing tests for a head injury.{{Cite web |date=December 16, 2021 |title=Chargers TE Donald Parham undergoing tests, in stable condition |url=https://chargerswire.usatoday.com/2021/12/16/chargers-injury-update-donald-parham-stable-condition/ |access-date=December 17, 2021}} He was placed on injured reserve on December 25.{{Cite web |date=December 25, 2021 |title=Chargers Announce Moves Before Week 16 |url=https://www.chargers.com/news/chargers-announce-moves-before-week-16-at-houston |website=Chargers.com |access-date=December 26, 2021 |archive-date=December 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211226012002/https://www.chargers.com/news/chargers-announce-moves-before-week-16-at-houston |url-status=dead }}
On November 5, 2022, Parham was placed on injured reserve.{{Cite web |date=November 5, 2022 |title=Los Angeles Chargers Sign Keelan Doss to Active Roster; Place Donald Parham Jr. on Injured Reserve |url=https://www.chargers.com/news/los-angeles-chargers-sign-keelan-doss-active-roster |website=Chargers.com}} He was activated on December 17.
On March 17, 2023, Parham signed a two-year contract with the Chargers worth $2.535 million.{{cite web |url=https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/los-angeles-chargers/donald-parham-29518/transactions/ |website=Spotrac |access-date=22 November 2023 |title=Donald Parham }}
Parham was released by the Chargers as part of final roster cuts on August 27, 2024.{{cite web |title=Los Angeles Chargers Reduce Roster to 53 Players |url=https://www.chargers.com/news/los-angeles-chargers-reduce-roster-to-53-players-2024 |access-date=28 August 2024}}
= Denver Broncos =
On August 28, 2024, Parham was signed to the Denver Broncos practice squad.{{Cite web |last=DiLalla |first=Aric |date=August 29, 2024 |title=Broncos sign TE Donald Parham to practice squad |url=https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/broncos-sign-te-donald-parham-to-practice-squad |access-date=2024-08-30 |website=DenverBroncos.com |language=en-US}}
= Pittsburgh Steelers =
On February 21, 2025, Parham was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers on a one-year deal.{{Cite web |last=Varley |first=Teresa |date=February 21, 2025 |title=Parham Jr. signed to one-year contract |url=https://www.steelers.com/news/parham-jr-signed-to-one-year-contract |access-date=23 February 2025 |website=Steelers.com}}
On June 3rd, 2025, Parham tore his Achilles during OTAs, ending his 2025 season.{{cite web |last1=Florio |first1=Mike |title=Steelers lose TE Donald Parham Jr. to Achilles tear |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/steelers-lose-te-donald-parham-jr-with-acl-tear |website=NBC Sports |access-date=6 June 2025}}
NFL career statistics
| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2"| Legend |
| Bold
| Career high |
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | ||||||||
| rowspan="2" | Year
! rowspan="2" | Team ! colspan="2" | Games ! colspan="5" | Receiving ! colspan="2" | Fumbles | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | FUM | Lost |
| 2020 | LAC
| 13 || 5 || 10 || 159 || 15.9 || 26 || 3 || 0 || 0 | |||||||
| 2021
!LAC |14 |9 |20 |190 |9.5 |22 |3 |0 |0 | ||||||||
| 2022
!LAC |6 |1 |10 |130 |13.0 |24 |1 |0 |0 | ||||||||
| 2023
!LAC |14 |8 |27 |285 |10.6 |24 |4 |0 |0 | ||||||||
| colspan="2" |Total || 47 || 23 || 67 || 764 || 11.4 || 26 || 11 || 0 || 0 |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
{{footballstats|pfr=P/ParhDo00|yahoo=32456|espn=3912092}}
- [https://www.steelers.com/team/players-roster/donald-parham-jr/ Pittsburgh Steelers bio]
- [https://gohatters.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=5256 Stetson Hatters bio]
{{Pittsburgh Steelers roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Parham, Donald}}
Category:American football tight ends
Category:Stetson Hatters football players
Category:Dallas Renegades players
Category:Detroit Lions players
Category:Los Angeles Chargers players
Category:Denver Broncos players
Category:Pittsburgh Steelers players
Category:Players of American football from Lakeland, Florida