Juqua Parker wrote his name into the NFL record book Sunday when he scooped up a Santonio Holmes fumble and returned it 44 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter of the Eagles 45-19 win over the Jets.
That TD, combined with his 55-yard interception return for a touchdown in 2008 and a 56-yard fumble return for a TD earlier this year, made Parker only the second defensive lineman in NFL history with three career returns of 40 yards or more for defensive touchdowns.
The only other defensive lineman to pull off the feat is Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor, who returned a Jake Plummer fumble 85 yards in the Dolphins win over the Broncos in 2005; had a 51-yard interception return after picking off Brad Johnson in the Dolphins win over the Vikings in 2006; and returned a Shonn Greene fumble 48 yards for a TD in Miamis win over the Jets in 2009.
Taylor is also a part-time linebacker, so he might need an asterisk next to his name.
Heres a look at Parkers three big touchdowns:
Oct. 12, 2008, at Candlestick Park: With the Eagles leading 33-26 in the fourth quarter, Parker intercepted 49ers quarterback J.T. OSullivan and returned it 55 yards for a touchdown and a 40-26 Eagles win.
Sept. 11, 2011, at Edward Jones Dome: With the score tied 7-7, Rams quarterback Sam Bradford stumbled and lost the football before he could hand off. Parker ran 56 yards for a touchdown and a 14-7 on the way to a 31-13 Eagles win.
NFL
Sunday, at the Linc: Early in a scoreless game, Kurt Coleman slammed his helmet into the football after Santonio Holmes caught a short pass from Mark Sanchez. Parker picked up the ball and ran 44 yards for a touchdown.
One other defensive lineman did have three returns of 40 yards or more. That was George Martin of the Giants, who had interception returns of 56 yards off Scott Brunner of the Cards in 1985 and 78 yards off John Elway in 1986 and an 83-yard return of a blocked field goal attempt by Fred Steinfort of the Falcons in 1978. Because that TD came on special teams, Martin does not get credit for three long defensive touchdowns.
E-mail Reuben Frank at rfrank@comcastsportsnet.com