Parker made his NFL debut with the Seahawks on August 31, 1997, at the age of 25, in a 41–3 loss against the New York Jets.[9] During his rookie season, he served as the team's reserve defensive lineman,[10][11] playing in 12 games and recording three tackles.[1] He then posted seven tackles and one sack in 8 games during the 1998 season,[1] having fended off a challenge from Carl Hansen for the franchise's number 4 defensive tackle.[12] Regarded as small for a player in his position,[13][14] Parker increased his weight from 274 pounds (124 kg) to 300 pounds (140 kg) in 1999.[15] He subsequently had a breakthrough year, starting all 16 games for the Seahawks during the 2000 season and recording a career-best 48 tackles.[1][6] In the ninth game of the season on October 29, 2000, he made a career-high nine tackles in a 24–19 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.[16][17]
Parker became a free agent after the 2000 season and signed with the New England Patriots on June 5 of the following year.[6][18] He won his only Super Bowl ring when the Patriots emerged victorious in the Super Bowl XXXVI.[3][19] However, he did not play in the championship game.[1][20] Parker spent his last two years in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens.[1] He signed with the San Francisco 49ers on August 7, 2004,[21][22] but retired after being released the following month.[3][23]
^ abcdefg"Riddick Parker Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on December 23, 2021. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
^"Johnson Defends Green Decision". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. July 11, 1996. Archived from the original on August 20, 2022. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
^"Riddick Parker 1997 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
^"Seattle". Sporting News. Vol. 222, no. 33. St. Louis. August 17, 1998. p. 23. ProQuest221355326. Archived from the original on August 21, 2022. Retrieved August 19, 2022 – via ProQuest.
^"Riddick Parker 2000 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved August 20, 2022.