Longtime agent Eugene Parker dead at age 60

Longtime agent Eugene Parker died on Thursday night at the age of 60. He represented multiple Gold Jackets (living Hall of Famers) including Deion Sanders, Emmitt Smith, Rod Woodson, Walter Jones and Curtis Martin. Parker served as Sanders’ presenter in 2011.

Sanders shared these sentiments during this Enshrinement speech that year, “Special people, Eugene (Parker), I love you, man. You've been there. You've been straight up. You've been forward. I've never heard you use profanity. I've never seen you out of character. You've always been a blessing and told me the right things, not just a yes man. I love you for that. I really, really do.”

Former head coach Tony Dungy, who will be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this August, was also saddened by the news.

Parker believed that his clients’ success on the field could translate to success off the field. He showed them how they can use their athletic talents as a vehicle to gain an economic advantage in society.

Parker played college basketball at Purdue University and was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs. He decided he was better suited for a life outside of basketball and decided to attend law school at Valparaiso University and graduated with a J.D. in 1982. He went on to work at Relativity Sports and represent a long list of athletes.