Rod Monroe (American football) facts for kids
| No. 84, 48 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Tight end | ||||
| Personal information | |||||
| Born: | July 31, 1976 Hearne, Texas |
||||
| Died: | May 7, 2017 (aged 40) Houston, Texas |
||||
| Height: | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | ||||
| Weight: | 254 lb (115 kg) | ||||
| Career information | |||||
| High school: | Hearne (TX) | ||||
| College: | Cincinnati | ||||
| NFL Draft: | 1998 / Round: 7 / Pick: 237 | ||||
| Career history | |||||
|
|||||
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||
|
|||||
| Player stats at PFR | |||||
Rodrick Rochelle Monroe (born July 31, 1976 – died May 7, 2017) was a talented American football player. He played as a tight end in the National Football League (NFL). Rodrick played for teams like the Atlanta Falcons and the Cleveland Browns. He was chosen by the Dallas Cowboys in the 1998 NFL Draft. Before playing professionally, he played college football at the University of Cincinnati.
Contents
Early Life and High School Sports
Rodrick Monroe grew up in Hearne, Texas. He went to Hearne High School where he was a great athlete. He was an All-district tight end in football. This means he was one of the best players in his area.
When he was a senior, he was also chosen as a McDonald's All-American in basketball. This is a big honor for high school athletes.
College Basketball Star
Rodrick first attended McLennan Community College. There, he was known as one of the best rebounders in junior college basketball. After two years, he moved to the University of Cincinnati.
At Cincinnati, he played for the basketball team. His coach was Bob Huggins. He played alongside future NBA players Danny Fortson and Ruben Patterson.
During the 1995-96 season, Rodrick helped his team win the Conference USA title. They even reached the NCAA Elite Eight. He was a strong player, known for his amazing strength. He could bench-press 415 pounds and leg-press 1,130 pounds. These were school records for basketball players at the time!
Switching to College Football
In 1997, Rodrick decided to try football again. He joined the football team as a fifth-year senior. He had not played football for four years.
He quickly became a regular starter at tight end. This happened after another player, Josh Anderson, got injured. Rodrick was mainly used as a blocker to help his team. He finished the season with 4 starts. He also caught 2 passes for 33 yards and scored one touchdown.
Professional Football Career
The Dallas Cowboys picked Rodrick in the seventh round of the 1998 NFL Draft. This was the 237th pick overall. However, he was released by the Cowboys in August.
Playing for the Falcons and Jaguars
On September 1, 1998, the Atlanta Falcons signed him. Rodrick was part of the Falcons team that went to Super Bowl XXXIII. But he was not active for that big game. He was released by the Falcons in August 2000.
Later that month, the Jacksonville Jaguars signed him. He was on their practice squad for a short time. Then, the Miami Dolphins signed him to their practice squad in September 2000. He was released by them in October.
Time with the Cleveland Browns
In December 2000, Rodrick joined the Cleveland Browns. He was signed to their practice squad. In the 2001 offseason, he played for the Frankfurt Galaxy. This team was part of NFL Europe. There, he caught 23 passes for 362 yards. He also scored 2 touchdowns.
Rodrick was placed on the injured reserve list in 2002 and 2003. This meant he could not play due to injuries.
Personal Life and Legacy
Rodrick Monroe was the youngest of seven brothers and three sisters. He passed away on May 7, 2017. He was 40 years old. He suffered a heart attack while he was exercising.
