Johnny Roland facts for kids
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| No. 23 | |||||||||||||
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| Position: | Running back | ||||||||||||
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| Born: | May 21, 1943 Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 220 lb (100 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Roy Miller (Corpus Christi, Texas) |
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| College: | Missouri (1962, 1964–1965) | ||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1965 / Round: 4 / Pick: 54 | ||||||||||||
| AFL draft: | 1965 / Round: Redshirt 1 / Pick: 4 | ||||||||||||
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College Football Hall of Fame
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Johnny Earl Roland (born May 21, 1943) is a former American football player and coach. He played as a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Giants. Before playing professionally, Johnny was a star college player for the Missouri Tigers. He was even named one of the best college players in the country in 1965.
Johnny Roland was also a key player on the first high school team in Texas to win a state football championship that included players of different races. After his playing career, he became an assistant coach for several NFL teams and at the University of Notre Dame. In 1998, Johnny Roland was honored by being added to the College Football Hall of Fame as a player.
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Johnny Roland's Early Life
Johnny Roland was born on May 21, 1943, in Corpus Christi, Texas. He played high school football at Roy Miller High School in his hometown. In 1960, he helped lead his team to an amazing 13–1 record and win the 4A State Championship. This was a very special win because it was the first time a racially integrated team in Texas won a state high school championship.
On their way to the 1960 championship, Johnny's team, the Buccaneers, won three playoff games. One of these wins was against a strong team led by Jimmy Johnson, who would later become a famous college and NFL coach. In the championship game, they beat Wichita Falls, which was one of the best high school teams in the country at the time. Johnny ran for 103 yards in that final game, including a 37-yard touchdown run, helping his team win 13-6. That year, Johnny rushed for a total of 1,224 yards and scored 90 points.
In 2009, Johnny Roland was honored by being inducted into the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame.
Johnny Roland's College Football Career
Johnny Roland played college football at the University of Missouri. In 1962, he had a fantastic season, rushing for 830 yards, which was the seventh-best total in the nation. He also scored 78 points, ranking ninth nationally. He led his team in both rushing and kickoff returns. Some of his best games included rushing for 155 yards against Oklahoma State University and 104 yards against Iowa State University. His very first varsity game was memorable, as he rushed for 171 yards and scored three touchdowns. That season, Johnny was named to the All-Big Eight Conference team for the first time. His teammates included Andy Russell, who would also go on to play in the NFL.
In 1963, Johnny faced a challenge and was temporarily suspended from the team. It was later found he was not involved in the issue, and his coach, Dan Devine, welcomed him back to the team in 1964. When he returned, he was moved to the defensive back position. He helped his team achieve a 6–3–1 record and was again chosen as an All-Big Eight Conference player. He led the team in punt and kickoff returns in 1964 and in interceptions in 1965.
In 1965, Johnny led the Missouri Tigers to an 8–2–1 record. They also won the 1966 Sugar Bowl against the Florida Gators and their star player, Steve Spurrier, with a score of 20–18. In that game, Johnny even threw a touchdown pass! That season, he was named the team's captain and was voted a College All-American. He was also on the All-Big Eight team again. Being named captain of the 1965 team was a big deal because Johnny Roland was the first African-American to be a captain for any University of Missouri sports team.
After his senior year, Johnny played in several important games, including the Senior Bowl and the Coaches All-America Game.
The University of Missouri honored Johnny by retiring his jersey number, 23. He was inducted into the University of Missouri Hall of Fame in 1990 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 1998. In 2012, he was recognized as a Southeastern Conference Legend.
Johnny Roland's Professional Playing Career
Johnny Roland was chosen in the fourth round of the 1965 NFL draft by the St. Louis Cardinals. He was also drafted by the New York Jets in the 1965 AFL Draft. He decided to sign a three-year contract with the Cardinals.
In his first year, the 1966 season, Johnny was named the NFL Rookie of the Year. He was also chosen to play in the Pro Bowl in both 1966 and 1967, which is a big honor for a player. In 1966, Johnny had 1,476 all-purpose yards and scored six touchdowns. In 1967, he rushed for 876 yards and scored 10 touchdowns. However, he suffered a knee injury late in that season, which affected his future playing career. After that injury, he never rushed for more than 498 yards in a full season.
Johnny played for seven seasons with the Cardinals. When he left the team, he was their all-time leading rusher. As of 2024, he is still fourth on their all-time rushing list. After his time with the Cardinals, he played one season with the New York Giants in 1973.
Throughout his 103 NFL games, Johnny Roland rushed for 3,750 yards and 28 touchdowns. He also caught 153 passes for 1,430 yards and six touchdowns. He was a versatile player, returning 49 punts for 452 yards and two touchdowns, and 22 kickoffs for 444 yards. He even completed five passes for 130 yards and one touchdown.
Johnny Roland's Coaching Career
After his playing days, Johnny Roland became a successful football coach.
First Time with Green Bay (1974)
Johnny's former college coach, Dan Devine, hired him as a special assignments coach for the Green Bay Packers in 1974. There, Johnny helped set up some of the first computer programs used by the Packers' coaches. He also scouted college players and helped with coaching.
Notre Dame (1975)
Johnny then followed Coach Devine to the University of Notre Dame, where he was an assistant coach in 1975.
Philadelphia Eagles (1976–1978)
From 1976 to 1978, Johnny Roland was the running backs coach for the Philadelphia Eagles under head coach Dick Vermeil. During his time there, he coached Wilbert Montgomery, who became a star running back and helped the Eagles reach Super Bowl XV. Montgomery is still the Eagles' second all-time leading rusher.
Chicago Bears (1983–1992)
In 1983, Chicago Bears head coach Mike Ditka hired Johnny Roland to coach running back Walter Payton. Payton was close to breaking Jim Brown's NFL rushing record, and he did so in 1984. Johnny also coached Payton's replacement, Neal Anderson, who became the Bears' second all-time leading rusher. Johnny coached in Chicago for 11 seasons, from 1983 to 1992.
During his time with the Bears, the team led the league in rushing four times and finished among the top three in seven of his 11 seasons. From 1984 to 1988, the Bears had an amazing record of 62–17, made the playoffs five years in a row, and won Super Bowl XX!
New York Jets (1993–1994)
Johnny Roland was the running backs coach for the New York Jets from 1993 to 1994.
St. Louis Rams (1995–1996)
Johnny joined the St. Louis Rams in 1995. He coached running back Jerome Bettis during Bettis' last year with the Rams before he went on to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Arizona Cardinals (1997–2003)
Johnny Roland joined the Arizona Cardinals in 1997. In his last season with the Cardinals in 2003, he coached Emmitt Smith, who had just joined the team from the Dallas Cowboys. By coaching Smith, Johnny Roland became the only coach to work with the two all-time leading NFL rushers: Walter Payton and Emmitt Smith!
Second Time with Green Bay (2004)
Johnny returned to the Green Bay Packers in 2004 to coach Ahman Green. Green was the leading rusher in the National Football Conference in 2003 and is the Packers' second all-time leading rusher. Johnny coached in Green Bay for only one season before moving to the New Orleans Saints.
New Orleans Saints (2005)
Johnny Roland joined the New Orleans Saints in the 2005 under head coach Jim Haslett. Coach Haslett was replaced the following season, and Johnny was not kept on the coaching staff.
Johnny Roland's Personal Life
Johnny Roland lives in St. Louis. He has two sons, Johnny Jr. and James, and one daughter, Cynnamon. He used to own part of a radio station in St. Louis and also owns another radio station, WRBZ, in Wetumpka, Alabama.
Johnny Roland has received many honors for his contributions to sports. In 2011, he was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. In 2014, he was inducted into the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame.
