George Rogers (American football) facts for kids
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Statue of Rogers outside the Williams-Brice Stadium
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| No. 38 | |||||||||||
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| Position: | Running back | ||||||||||
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| Born: | December 8, 1958 Duluth, Georgia, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 228 lb (103 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: | Duluth | ||||||||||
| College: | South Carolina (1977–1980) | ||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1981 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||
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College Football Hall of Fame
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George Washington Rogers Jr. (born December 8, 1958) is a famous American football player. He was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons, from 1981 to 1987. Before joining the NFL, he played college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks. He earned top honors as an All-American and won the prestigious 1980 Heisman Trophy. Rogers was the very first player chosen in the 1981 NFL draft. He played for two teams: the New Orleans Saints and the Washington Redskins.
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College Football Journey
George Rogers was a highly sought-after player when he finished high school. He chose to attend the University of South Carolina. His coach, Jim Carlen, promised him he could play in his first year. Because he was so big, many thought he would play as a fullback. However, two other running backs graduated, so George became the starting tailback halfway through his first year.
Rising Star: Sophomore and Junior Years
In his second year, George rushed for 1,006 yards. He did this even though he only played in eight games and shared playing time with another player. In his third year, he ran for an amazing 1,681 yards. After this great season, he was named an All-American by several sports groups. He also finished seventh in the voting for the Heisman Trophy.
Heisman Trophy Winner
The 1980 season was a big one for the Gamecocks. They had many talented players, and George Rogers was the star. South Carolina finished the season with a strong 8–3 record. George's 1,781 rushing yards were the most in the entire nation that year. This made him a top candidate for the Heisman Trophy.
The Downtown Athletic Club in New York City announced George Rogers as the winner of the 1980 Heisman Trophy. He won against other amazing players, like Hugh Green and Herschel Walker. George was also named to eight different All-America teams, all as a first-team player.
During halftime of South Carolina's last home game in 1980, George Rogers's jersey number 38 was retired. He was the first player from the University of South Carolina to have his jersey retired while still playing for the school.
George Rogers left the Gamecocks as their most successful running back. Many of his records still stand today. His 5,204 career rushing yards are the most by any Gamecock running back. He is also tied for second with 31 rushing touchdowns. He ran for over 100 yards in 27 games, including his last 22 college games in a row.
Professional Football Career
In the 1981 NFL draft, the New Orleans Saints picked George Rogers as the very first player overall. He was chosen one pick before the New York Giants selected Lawrence Taylor. George was the first of five Heisman Trophy winners to be drafted by the Saints.
Rookie of the Year
In his first season with the Saints, George Rogers led the entire league in rushing. He gained 1,674 yards, which set a new record for rookies. This is still the Saints' single-season rushing record. He was chosen to play in the Pro Bowl and was named the NFL Rookie of the Year.
George played his first four seasons in New Orleans. He played alongside quarterback Archie Manning in 1981. Later, he also played with running back Earl Campbell, who joined the team in 1984.
Joining the Redskins
On April 26, 1985, George Rogers was traded to the Washington Redskins. The Saints also sent some draft picks to Washington. In return, the Redskins gave the Saints their first-round pick in the 1985 NFL draft.
George played three more seasons, all for the Washington Redskins. When he arrived in Washington, famous running back John Riggins was ending his career. Coach Joe Gibbs was working to rebuild the team. George had some of his biggest professional successes in Washington.
Super Bowl Champion
He helped the Redskins win a Super Bowl title in 1987. They defeated the Denver Broncos 42–10 in Super Bowl XXII. George Rogers retired after the 1987 season due to nagging injuries. He ended his professional career with a Super Bowl victory. When he left the NFL, George had rushed for 7,176 yards and scored 54 touchdowns in seven seasons. He ranks second all-time for single-season rookie rushing yards, with 1,674 yards. George has mentioned that his playing career caused him to feel pain daily, affecting his shoulder, shins, toes, and thumb.
Honors and Recognition
George Rogers has received many honors for his amazing football career. In 1992, he was named to the All-Century Team at the University of South Carolina. He is a member of many Halls of Fame. These include the University of South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame and the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame. He is also in the South Carolina Football Hall of Fame and the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. Additionally, he is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame.
The road near the north end of Williams-Brice Stadium was renamed in his honor. It is now called George Rogers Boulevard. A statue of George Rogers was put up on this boulevard in 2015. On December 14, 2017, another road was named after him in his hometown of Duluth, Georgia. This road is called George Rogers Avenue.
