Johnny Rodgers

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Johnny Rodgers bigraphy, stories - Player of American and Canadian football

Johnny Rodgers : biography

July 5, 1951 –

Johnny Steven Rodgers (born July 5, 1951) is a former American college football player voted the University of Nebraska’s "Player of the Century" and the winner of the 1972 Heisman Trophy.

Professional career

Although a 1973 first-round draft pick of the San Diego Chargers, Rodgers signed a lucrative contract to play for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League where he was affectionately known as the "ordinary superstar" (a nickname he coined.) Rodgers’s agent for both the CFL and later for the San Diego Chargers was Mike Trope. Always a fan favorite, Rodgers won the CFL’s Most Outstanding Rookie Award in 1973. In his four years with the Alouettes, Rodgers won the Jeff Russel Memorial Trophy twice (Eastern division MVP and CFL runner-up), was either a CFL or Eastern all-star each season, and helped lead his team to a Grey Cup championship in 1974.

In 1977, Rodgers returned to the United States, signing with the Chargers. Michael Trope, still Rodgers’s agent, negotiated Rodgers $925,000-plus contract with the San Diego Chargers. Hamstring injuries kept him out of the game for most of his first NFL season and the following year a freak knee injury sustained during team practice ended his career after only 17 NFL games.

College career

Nicknamed "The Jet" for his rapid acceleration and speed on the field, Rodgers was voted high school athlete of the year as a player for Omaha’s Tech High.

As a player with the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers, Rodgers served as a punt return specialist, pass receiver, and running back. Rodgers broke virtually every offensive team record, was twice named to the College Football All-America Team and won the Walter Camp Award and the Heisman Trophy in 1972 for most outstanding player in college football in the United States.

In his three years with the Cornhuskers, the versatile Rodgers established an all-purpose NCAA yardage record of 5,586. Former Nebraska coach Tom Osborne, who served as Nebraska’s offensive coordinator in the early 1970s, wrote in his 1985 book More Than Winning that Rodgers had the greatest ability to return punts of any player he ever saw. Likewise, College Football News has described him as "the greatest kick returner in college football history." Rodgers returned seven punts for touchdowns (NCAA record at the time) and one kickoff for a touchdown in his college career.

Rodgers was convicted of a gas station robbery while he was a student at the University of Nebraska in 1970. He is the only Heisman winner to be convicted of a Felony before receiving the award.

In 1971, in what has become known as college football’s "Game of the Century," Rodgers returned a punt 72 yards to score the first touchdown which set the tone for his team’s 35-31 victory over the University of Oklahoma Sooners. ESPN describes Rodgers’ performance as "unforgettable." However, some observers consider his greatest single performance to be in the 1973 (post-1972 season) Orange Bowl when he led his team to a 40-6 victory over the University of Notre Dame. Rodgers ran for three touchdowns, caught a 50-yard pass for another touchdown, and threw a 54-yard touchdown pass to a teammate. He did all this before leaving the game with 21 minutes still to play.

Watching the game was 20 year old senior of USC, Michael Trope known as Mike back then, who was so taken with the 72 yard punt return that he decided to become an NFL agent. Trope flew to Lincoln on a student standby ticket and went straight to the Cornhuskers practice field. Trope won over the skeptical Rodgers and eventually landed Rodgers a contract for $1.5 million in Canada.Sue Ellen Jares, People Magazine, June 27, 1977.

Personal life

Rodgers was reported to have become a devotee of Guru Maharaj Ji, head of the Divine Light Mission, in 1974."Rodgers Follows Guru", Associated Press, Winnipeg Free Press, Friday, January 23, 1976