Flashback: Moments After Chicago Kicker Loses Game, Eagles Player Meets Him at Mid-Field To Pray
Editor’s Note: Our readers responded strongly to this story when it originally ran; we’re re-posting it here in case you missed it.
Chicago Bears kicker Cody Parkey became the goat of their 16-15 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
And no, we’re not talking about “GOAT” as in the greatest of all time. It’s goat as in the scapegoat of a brutal loss.
Parkey had the ignominious fate of badly missing a potentially game-winning 43-yard field goal with just seconds left against the Eagles.
The worst part of it was that the kick hit the crossbar twice before popping out and costing the Bears the win.
ICYMI: The reigning Super Bowl champs get by the Bears after Cody Parkey’s game-winning FG attempt was tipped, hit the post AND crossbar.
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/vg78mX3GSj
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 7, 2019
Chicago fans, whose sports passion is almost notorious, were not happy with Parkey’s miss.
Some fans booed, which is perfectly understandable even though Parkey had scored 9 points for the team while the rest of the Bears only scored 6. He still missed the potential game-winner.
Cody Parkey gets boo’d #Bears pic.twitter.com/xy2qNXeDTf
— Dianna Russini (@diannaESPN) January 7, 2019
Other fans crossed a veritable line by wishing for Parkey to die.
I hope parkey gets aids and dies
— Logan Walsh (@walsh_logan) January 7, 2019
i just want parkey to die tonight
— Mario Dodevski (@dodevskim) January 7, 2019
It was bad enough that Parkey’s wife allegedly needed armed security to be safely escorted from the stadium.
Incredibly tough scene tonight here at Soldier Field. Fans are beginning to chant “Parkey must die!” as they depart the stadium in hysterical disbelief.. his wife was spotted leaving the premises surrounded by an armed security detail. Crazy stuff. #PHIvsCHI
— Guy Young (@GuyYoungESPN) January 7, 2019
Yes, “fan” is derived from the word fanatic, but sports fans crossing that line should be ashamed of themselves.
Through it all, though, Parkey knew what was most important. It’s his personal faith, not the faith that Bears fans had in him. That was never made more apparent than a beautiful moment captured by Sports Spectrum’s Jason Romano.
Cody Parkey missed the game winning field goal and yet, he was praying at the 50 yard line after the game.
There are so many bigger things than a football game. pic.twitter.com/aNnYGr5WRn
— Jason Romano (@JasonRomano) January 7, 2019
Romano’s image shows Parkey kneeling at the 50-yard line with his teammates and Eagles players to pray after the game. Through the best of times and the worst of times (and Parkey was most definitely experiencing the worst of times), those players understood what mattered most.
To his further credit, Parkey handled the post-game questions like a pro as well.
Cody Parkey answered postgame questions like a true professional ? pic.twitter.com/7VUpTHh8Y8
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 7, 2019
To be perfectly blunt, Parkey will likely not be on the Bears, or possibly even in the NFL, next year. He’s officially joined names like Blair Walsh and Gary Anderson in playoff kicking infamy.
Through it all, however, Parkey seems to understand that his relationship with God is above all else, and that’s far more important than an NFL career.
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