Roland Harper

Last updated

Roland Harper
No. 35
Position: Running back
Personal information
Born: (1953-02-28) February 28, 1953 (age 71)
Seguin, Texas, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:208 lb (94 kg)
Career information
High school: Captain Shreve (LA)
College: Louisiana Tech
NFL draft: 1975  / Round: 17 / Pick: 420
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Rushing attempts:757
Rushing yards:3,044
Rushing TDs:15
Player stats at PFR

Roland Harper (born February 28, 1953) is a former professional American football player who played running back for eight seasons for the Chicago Bears. He was selected in the 17th and final round of the 1975 draft from Louisiana Tech. He was a starting fullback known in his playing days as a punishing blocker who opened holes in opposing defenses for star halfback Walter Payton. Harper ranks sixth on the Bears' all-time rushing list with 3,044 yards and 15 TDs on 757 carries in seven seasons. [1] [2] Harper was inducted into the Louisiana Tech University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1986.

Contents

Although he was drafted in the final round of the 1975, Harper wound up as the Bears starting fullback that season. [3] He was joined in the backfield that season by fellow rookie Payton, who was the Bears 1st round draft choice that season. [4] Fellow rookie Bob Avellini, the Bears 6th round draft pick in 1975, also started several games at quarterback that season, giving the Bears an all rookie backfield. [5] Harper, Payton and Avelleni started most of the games for the Bears together from 1976 through 1978. In his rookie season, Harper rushed for 453 yards on 100 carries. [1] His 4.5 yards per rushing attempt ranked 7th in the NFL that season. [1] He also caught 27 passes for 191 yards in 1975. [1]

In 1976, Harper started all 14 games and increased his rushing yards total to 625 on 147 carries, for a 4.3 yards per carry average. He also caught 29 passes for 291 yards. In 1977, Harper rushed for 457 yards on 120 carries, a 3.8 yards per carry average, and caught 19 passes for 142 yards. [1]

Harper's best season was 1978, when he rushed for 992 yards on 240 carries, for a 4.1 yards per carry average. [1] Since Payton rushed for 1,395 yards that season, he fell just eight rushing yards short of making the 1978 Bears the 3rd NFL team and 1st NFC team to have two players with at least 1,000 rushing yards (after the 1972 Miami Dolphins and the 1976 Pittsburgh Steelers). [6] He also caught a career-high 43 passes that season for 340 yards, and set another career high by scoring eight touchdowns (six rushing, two receiving). [1] His 1332 total yards from scrimmage ranked 10th in the NFL that season, and his 240 rushing attempts also ranked 10th in the NFL. [1]

Harper missed the entire 1979 season due to a knee injury. [7] However, he returned in 1980 and started 12 games. In 1980, he rushed for 404 yards on 113 carries for a 3.6 yards per carry average and caught just 7 passes for 31 yards, but his blocking helped Payton run for 1,460 yards. [1] Although Harper played in 15 games in 1981, he was supplanted as the starting fullback for most of the season by Matt Suhey. [8] He rushed for just 106 yards on 34 carries (a 3.1 average) and caught just two passes all year for ten yards. [1] Harper's final season was 1982, when he played in eight games, rushed for seven yards on three carries, and caught one pass for eight yards. [1]

After his playing career ended, Harper continued to live in the Chicago area. [3] Since 1990, he ran Rohar Trucking and Excavating, a company that does snow removal, trucking, transporting construction materials and erecting steel. [3] The company helped build the skyboxes at Soldier Field, the Bears' home field. [3]

In June 2008, Harper pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud. [2] [9] [10] The fraud allowed Monahan Landscape Co.. a white-owned firm, to receive a $1.5 million Chicago Public Schools landscaping contract that was supposed to be reserved for minority-owned firms. [2] The plea also revealed that Rohar was controlled by Monahan. [2] In June 2009 he was sentenced to two years probation, including one year house arrest. [11] [12]

NFL career statistics

Legend
BoldCareer high

Regular season

YearTeamGamesRushingReceiving
GPGSAttYdsAvgLngTDRecYdsAvgLngTD
1975 CHI 13101004534.5321271917.1270
1976 CHI 14141476254.32822929110.0391
1977 CHI 11101204573.8190191427.5340
1978 CHI 16162409924.1316433407.9332
1980 CHI 12121134043.61357314.4160
1981 CHI 152341063.11112105.080
1982 CHI 80372.380188.080
89647573,0444.032151281,0137.9393

Playoffs

YearTeamGamesRushingReceiving
GPGSAttYdsAvgLngTDRecYdsAvgLngTD
1977 CHI 115112.260166.060
115112.260166.060

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Super Bowl XX</span> 1986 Edition of the Super Bowl

Super Bowl XX was an American football game between the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Chicago Bears and the American Football Conference (AFC) champion New England Patriots to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for the 1985 season. The Bears defeated the Patriots by the score of 46–10, capturing their first NFL championship since 1963, three years prior to the birth of the Super Bowl. Super Bowl XX was played on January 26, 1986, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eddie George</span> American football player and coach (born 1973)

Edward Nathan George Jr. is an American football coach and former player who is the current head football coach at Tennessee State University. He played as a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for nine seasons, primarily for the Houston / Tennessee Oilers / Titans franchise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roger Craig (American football)</span> American football player (born 1960)

Roger Timothy Craig is an American former football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Raiders and Minnesota Vikings. Craig went to four Pro Bowls and won three Super Bowls with the 49ers. Craig was the first NFL player to have 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in the same season. Marshall Faulk and Christian McCaffrey are the only other players to have accomplished that feat. He currently works as the VP of Business Development at TIBCO Software.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jarrett Payton</span> American gridiron football player (born 1980)

Jarrett Walter Payton is a former American football running back. He is the son of Walter Payton. Payton was previously signed as an undrafted free agent by the National Football League (NFL)'s Tennessee Titans. Payton also played for the Montreal Alouettes and Toronto Argonauts. Payton hosts his own internet radio show named the Jarrett Payton Show on ChicagolandSportsRadio.com.

Charles Neal Anderson is an American former professional football player who was a running back for eight seasons with the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL) during the 1980s and 1990s. Anderson played college football for the Florida Gators. He was a first-round pick in the 1986 NFL Draft. He was a four-time Pro Bowl selection with the Bears

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Correll Buckhalter</span> American football player (born 1978)

Correll Buckhalter is an American former professional football player who was a running back for eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL). After playing college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, he was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL draft. He played for the Eagles from 2001 to 2008, with three seasons lost due to injury. He played for the Denver Broncos for two seasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adrian Peterson (American football, born 1979)</span> American football player and coach (born 1979)

Adrian Nicholas Peterson is an American former professional football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) and United Football League (UFL). He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the sixth round of the 2002 NFL Draft, playing eight seasons for Chicago. Then he played for the Virginia Destroyers in the UFL. He played college football for the Georgia Southern Eagles, where he set numerous school, Southern Conference, and NCAA Division I-AA records, as well as winning two I-AA National Championships and receiving the Walter Payton Award for most outstanding player in I-AA football. He is currently serving as the director of student-athlete development for Georgia Southern.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lousaka Polite</span> American football player (born 1981)

Lousaka Romon Polite is a former American football fullback in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, and Atlanta Falcons. He played college football at the University of Pittsburgh.

Robert Hayden Avellini was an American professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL), primarily with the Chicago Bears. He played college football for the Maryland Terrapins and was selected by the Bears in the sixth round of the 1975 NFL draft. He finished his career with the New York Jets, for whom he did not appear in a game.

Vincent Tobias Evans is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the USC Trojans and was the most valuable player (MVP) of the 1977 Rose Bowl after the team's 14–6 victory over Michigan. He was selected by the Chicago Bears in the sixth round of the 1977 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walter Payton</span> American football player (1953–1999)

Walter Jerry Payton was an American professional football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons with the Chicago Bears. Nicknamed "Sweetness", he is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1985 Chicago Bears season</span> NFL team season (won Super Bowl)

The 1985 season was the Chicago Bears' 66th in the National Football League (NFL) and their fourth under head coach Mike Ditka.

The 1939 Chicago Bears season was their 20th regular season completed in the National Football League. They finished second in the Western Division with an 8–3 record. The Bears started the season well, winning 4 of their first 5 games. However, two mid-season losses to New York and Detroit cost them the Division to Green Bay. The Packers went on to win the NFL championship.

The 1984 season was the Chicago Bears' 65th in the National Football League the 15th post-season completed in the NFL, and their third under head coach Mike Ditka. The team improved from their 8–8 record from 1983, to a 10–6 record, earning them a spot in the NFL playoffs. The Bears went on to lose in the NFC Championship Game 23–0 to the eventual Super Bowl Champion San Francisco 49ers led by Joe Montana.

Brock L. Forsey is a former American football running back of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Chicago Bears in the sixth round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at Boise State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnny Roland</span> American football player and coach (born 1943)

Johnny Earl Roland is an American former professional football player and coach in the National Football League (NFL). He played as a running back for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1966 to 1972 and the New York Giants in 1973. Roland played college football for the Missouri Tigers, earning consensus All-American honors as a defensive back in 1965. After his playing days, he served as an assistant coach with the number of NFL teams and at the University of Notre Dame. Roland was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a player in 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dante Rosario</span> American football player (born 1984)

Dante Santiago Rosario is a former American football tight end. He was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL draft. He played college football at Oregon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Forte</span> American football player (born 1985)

Matthew Garrett Forte is an American former professional football player who was a running back for ten seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Tulane Green Wave and was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the second round of the 2008 NFL draft. Forte established himself as a dual-threat running back capable of earning yards as a rusher and receiver. He is one of only three players to record at least 1,000 rushing yards and 100 receptions in a single season. Forte spent eight seasons with the Bears before playing for the New York Jets for two seasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Burton (American football)</span> American football player (born 1992)

Michael Burton is an American football fullback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Rutgers, and was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL draft. He has also played for the Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints, Washington Redskins, and Kansas City Chiefs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jordan Howard</span> American football player (born 1994)

Jordan Reginald Howard is an American professional football player who is a free agent running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at UAB and Indiana.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Roland Harper". Pro-Football-Reference.com . Retrieved December 28, 2008.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Former Bears FB Harper pleads guilty in landscape scam". Associated Press. June 18, 2008. Retrieved December 29, 2008.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Catching up with ... Roland Harper". January 19, 2005. Archived from the original on January 19, 2009. Retrieved December 29, 2008.
  4. ↑ "Walter Payton". Pro-Football-Reference.com . Retrieved December 29, 2008.
  5. ↑ "Bob Avellini". Pro-Football-Reference.com . Retrieved December 29, 2008.
  6. ↑ "1978 Chicago Bears". Pro-Football-Reference.com . Retrieved December 28, 2008.
  7. ↑ Neft, D., Cohen, R. & Korch, R. (1995). The Sports Encyclopedia: Pro Football. St. Martin's Press. p. 354. ISBN   0-312-13186-0.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ↑ "1981 Chicago Bears". Pro-Football-Reference.com . Retrieved December 29, 2008.
  9. ↑ Mullins, L. (June 19, 2008). "Ex-Chicago Bears Fullback Admits Fraud". U.S. News & World Report . Retrieved December 29, 2008.
  10. ↑ "Ex-Chicago Bears back Harper pleads guilty". UPI . Retrieved December 29, 2008.
  11. ↑ Hendricks, M. (June 10, 2009). "Roland Harper Trusted Too Much". NBC Chicago. Retrieved March 4, 2010.
  12. ↑ "Ex-Bear Avoids Prison". WBBM 780. June 9, 2009. Retrieved March 4, 2010.[ dead link ]
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.