Phillippi Duane Sparks (born on April 15, 1969 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) is a former American football player in the National Football League.
Sparks graduated Maryvale High School in Phoenix, Arizona in 1987. He then attended Arizona State University, where he was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. He was drafted by the New York Giants as the 13th pick in the second round of the 1992 NFL Draft. He played opposite Jason Sehorn for 6 years and formed a talented defensive backfield tandem. He played for the New York Giants until 1999. In 2000, he was signed by the Dallas Cowboys, playing starting left cornerback for the team and was #22. He played football for nine seasons. Sparks announced his retirement on August 28, 2001.
He now resides in Glendale, Arizona. He and his wife, Jodi Wiedmann Sparks are real estate agents. He is the father of son Phillippi Jr. and daughter Jordin, the winner of the sixth season of American Idol. His sister-in-law, Shari Wiedmann, is a model, actress and spokesperson.
