Alfredo Roberts facts for kids

Alfredo Roberts, born on March 17, 1965, is a well-known American football coach. He used to play as a tight end in the National Football League (NFL). Today, he coaches the tight ends for the Pittsburgh Steelers. During his playing career, he was part of the Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys. He also played college football for the Miami Hurricanes.

Early Life and Sports Talents

Alfredo Roberts grew up with a love for sports. He attended South Plantation High School.

Football Achievements in High School

As a senior, Roberts played as a tight end. He was recognized for his skills, earning "All-city" honors. He also made the "second-team All-state" list. His strong play helped his team win two city championships in a row.

Baseball Skills in High School

Roberts was also a talented baseball player. He played as a catcher and first baseman. In his senior year, he was named "second-team All-state" in baseball. He was the top hitter on his team for two of his three seasons.

College Football Career

Roberts received a scholarship to play football at the University of Miami. He joined the Miami Hurricanes team.

Starting His College Journey

In 1983, Roberts was "redshirted." This means he practiced with the team but did not play in games. This allowed him to gain experience without using a year of his college eligibility. That year, his team won a National Championship.

Developing as a Tight End

As a freshman, he was a backup tight end. The next year, he was the third-string tight end. He worked hard to improve his skills.

By his junior year, Roberts became a backup blocking tight end. He helped his team by blocking for runners. He also started catching more passes. He had 10 receptions for 105 yards and two touchdowns.

Winning Another National Championship

In 1987, as a senior, Roberts shared the starting tight end spot. He caught 13 passes for 137 yards and one touchdown. His team had an amazing 12-0 undefeated season. They won another National Championship.

Roberts finished his college career with 29 receptions for 296 yards. He also scored four touchdowns. He played in three major bowl games during his time at Miami.

Professional Football Career

After college, Alfredo Roberts entered the NFL. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs.

Playing for the Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs picked Roberts in the eighth round of the 1988 NFL draft. As a rookie, he started the first seven games. However, a shoulder injury limited his playing time. He needed surgery after the season.

In 1989, he was a backup tight end. He caught eight passes for 55 yards and one touchdown. In 1990, he started 13 games. He recorded 11 receptions for 119 yards that season.

Joining the Dallas Cowboys

In 1991, Roberts signed with the Dallas Cowboys. This reunited him with his former college coach, Jimmy Johnson. He played as a blocking tight end. He helped star running back Emmit Smith lead the league in rushing yards.

In 1992, Roberts continued to help the Cowboys' running game. Emmit Smith again led the league in rushing yards and touchdowns. Roberts missed the playoffs that year due to a knee injury. He was not able to play in Super Bowl XXVII.

In 1993, Roberts suffered a foot injury during training camp. He was placed on the injured reserve list. This meant he could not play for the season. He was released by the Cowboys in 1994. This was because he could not fully recover from his foot injury.