The Houston Texans signed defensive end Derek Parish on Tuesday, according to Aaron Wilson.
Derek Parish is six foot one and weighs 241 pounds. The 27-year-old from Pearland, Texas, signed with the D.C. Defenders on January 31, 2026. In 2026, Parish made 23 tackles (10 solos, 13 assists), four tackles for loss, three sacks, and one forced fumble in 10 games. In the UFL playoffs, Parish made three tackles (2 solos, 1 assist) as the Defenders appeared in the United Bowl championship game against the Louisville Kings.
The Jacksonville Jaguars drafted Parish in the seventh round (240th pick) of the 2023 NFL Draft. In 2023, he was a two-way player playing tight end and defensive end. He was targeted one time in three preseason games. The Jaguars released him on October 16, 2023.
The Toronto Argonauts signed Parish on January 22, 2024. In 2024, he made 21 tackles, five tackles on special teams, and six sacks in 18 games, helping the Argonauts win the 111th Grey Cup over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Parish re-signed with the Argonauts on February 10, 2025. In 2025, he made 32 tackles and five sacks in 16 games. The Argonauts released him on January 26, 2026.
Collegiately, Parish played five seasons at Houston (2018-22) with 158 tackles (80 solos, 78 assists), 33.5 tackles for loss, 17 sacks, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries in 51 games for the Cougars. He was named Second Team All-AAC in 2021.
