A Viterbi traceback processing method, system, and apparatus are provided wherein a first Viterbi traceback processing operation (MUX 514) is performed on a first survivor path metric (TMV1) by selecting, in response to a back track state (INDEX 0), a first output data bit (Ti1) for the first survivor path metric, wherein a plurality of Viterbi traceback processing operations (MUX 512, 513) are performed on respective portions of an additional survivor path metric (TMV2A, TMV2B) by selecting, in response to a shifted back track state (INDEX 1), candidate data bits (Tn1, Tn2) for the additional survivor path metric, wherein a multiplexer (MUX 518) controlled by the first output data bit selects between the candidate data bits to generate an additional output data bit (Ti2) for the additional survivor path metric such that the Viterbi traceback processing operations are performed in parallel to produce the output data bits.