Bernie Parrish, an All-Pro defensive back for the Cleveland Browns in the 1960s who in retirement tried to organize N.F.L. players into a Teamsters-backed union and wrote a book critical of the league, died on Wednesday at his home in Springfield, Mo. He was 83.
His nephew Marc Parrish said the cause was metastatic prostate cancer.
The Browns were one of the best teams in the National Football League when Parrish signed in 1959. They were led by Jim Brown, arguably the greatest running back in league history. Parrish, a defensive leader, had 29 interceptions in seven full seasons with the Browns.