Reggie Roby facts for kids
Roby in 1989
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| Position: | Punter | ||||||||
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| Born: | July 30, 1961 Waterloo, Iowa |
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| Died: | February 22, 2005 (aged 43) Nashville, Tennessee |
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| Career information | |||||||||
| College: | Iowa | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1983 / Round: 6 / Pick: 167 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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Reginald Henry Roby (born July 30, 1961 – died February 22, 2005) was an American football player. He was a punter in the National Football League (NFL) for 16 seasons. He played during the 1980s and 1990s.
Reggie Roby played college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes. He was chosen as an All-American player. He then played professionally for several NFL teams. These included the Miami Dolphins, Washington Redskins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Houston/Tennessee Oilers, and San Francisco 49ers. Reggie Roby passed away at his home in Nashville in 2005.
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Early Life and Talents
Reggie Roby was born in Waterloo, Iowa. When he was in high school, he was a great football player. He was also a talented pitcher on the baseball team at Waterloo East High School. The Major League Baseball team, the Cincinnati Reds, even drafted him to play for them. However, Reggie chose to go to college instead.
College Football Career
Reggie Roby went to the University of Iowa. He played for the Hawkeyes football team from 1979 to 1982. Even though he had played quarterback and had a very strong arm, his coach, Hayden Fry, decided to make him a punter. Reggie was 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighed 250 pounds. He also handled kick-offs and tried long-range field goals.
Before Roby joined the team, the Hawkeyes had not had a winning season in 20 years. With Reggie on the team, the 1981 Hawkeyes had a great season. They earned their first invitation to the Rose Bowl in 23 years. They won 6 out of 8 conference games and shared the Big Ten championship with Ohio State.
Reggie Roby set an NCAA record in 1981. He had an amazing 49.8-yard average for his punts that season. In 1982, he led the entire nation with a 48.1-yard average. His career average of 45.4 yards is still one of the best in college football history. It remains a school record for the Hawkeyes.
Reggie also handled kick-off duties for Iowa. He often kicked the ball through the uprights, doing so 26 times. He also made 28 out of 34 extra points and 11 out of 27 field goal attempts, mostly from very far away.
Professional Football Career
As a professional player, Reggie Roby was known for his powerful punts. In 1986, his net average of 38.7 yards led the league. In 1991, his average of 45.7 yards per punt was the best in the NFL. He even set a Pro Bowl record in the 1985 game with 10 punts.
On September 28, 1986, Reggie set a Miami Dolphins team record. He had a 58.5-yard average in a single game. He once punted the ball 77 yards, which was another team record. Reggie was also selected as a punter for the NFL's 1980s All-Decade Team. This means he was considered one of the best punters of that entire decade.
In a 1992 playoff game, the Dolphins beat the San Diego Chargers 31–0. Roby placed 4 of his 8 punts inside the Chargers' 20-yard line. Three of those punts landed inside the 7-yard line, which is very close to the opponent's goal line.
Reggie Roby played in Super Bowl XIX with the Dolphins. He later said it was "the worst game of my life" because he felt he didn't punt well. However, it's important to remember that he still made the Pro Bowl that year. This shows how talented he was, even when he felt he wasn't at his best.
Reggie Roby played 16 seasons in the NFL. He made 992 punts for a total of 42,951 yards. His average punt distance was 43.3 yards. He was known for his two-step approach to punting, which is now common. He was also one of the few African American kickers in NFL history. He was also one of the only kickers who could punt the ball without jumping.
In 1993, Reggie Roby faced some financial difficulties. The Miami Dolphins decided to let him go after the 1992 season. However, he continued to play professionally until 1998. After retiring from football, he worked for a non-profit group called Backfield in Motion. This group helps inner-city boys by combining sports and schoolwork.
Later Life and Passing
Reggie Roby passed away on February 22, 2005, at his home in Nashville. His son, Julian, found him. The cause of his death was believed to be a heart attack. He was 43 years old and left behind his wife, Melissa, and four children.
After his passing, his former coach, Don Shula, spoke highly of him. Coach Shula said that Reggie Roby's powerful kicks often helped the Dolphins win games by giving them a better starting position on the field.
