Mason Parris is hoping to parlay his Olympic experience into a future NFL career.
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Parris is fresh off an appearance at the 2024 Summer Olympics and isn't wasting any time as he looks for his next path. The Indiana native received a tryout from the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday.
The 24 year old went through linebacker and defensive end drills, according to WLWT. Parris didn't receive a contract but is optimistic about his football future.
Very cool: Olympic wrestler Mason Parris, fresh off the Paris Summer Games, worked out for the Bengals today.
The former Lawrenceburg H.S. football star & Dan Hodge winner at Michigan went through drills at LB and DE. Said it "went well" & hopes to remain in contact w/ the club. pic.twitter.com/oIlQx5flWz
— Charlie Clifford (@char_cliff) September 2, 2024
Parris, whose father played football at Ball State, last played organized football in high school where he was far from a slouch at Lawrenceburg. He was a three-time All-State linebacker and won the TriState Football Indians Defensive Player of the Year award three times, as well.
Ultimately, Mason Parris opted to attend the University of Michigan on a wrestling scholarship after going 206-1 in high school. His list of accolades is impressive, highlighted by receiving the Dan Hodge Trophy which goes to the best wrestler in the nation in 2023. That year, he was a heavyweight champion with the Wolverines. The Big Ten champion went 124-18 in his collegiate career and secured the third most pins in school history with 45.
Parris hopes to follow in the footsteps of other Olympians who made the leap into the NFL. Nate Ebner jumped from rugby to a spot with the New England Patriots. Lawrence Okoye and Marquise Goodwin also did so in 2012 from track and field. The best Olympian to make the leap, Bob Hayes, went from being a sprinter to earning multiple Pro Bowls with the Cowboys in the 1960s and 1970s.
Mason Parris' run at the 2024 Olympics didn't go as he would have liked. His Olympic debut saw him drop his first match to Munkhtur Lkhagvagerel of Mongolia.
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