In 1987, he was the Southwest Conference Defensive Player of the Year, as well as an All-American. In his four years as an Aggie, they compiled a record of 36 wins and just 12 losses: three conference championships; and twice they were victorious in the Cotton Bowl.
Roper, a two-time All-Southwest Conference and a consensus All-American, was at the heart of that success. Before heading to the NFL, he began a tradition that became known all across college football. It was during his career the famed moniker of the “Wrecking Crew” was born.
His career tackles for a loss of 68 while at Texas A&M ranked him 8th in the NCAA at the conclusion of his college football career (currently ranks 14th). In addition, his career sack total of 36 ranked him 9th in the NCAA at the conclusion of his college football career (currently ranks 24th).[1]
He is one of the greatest linebackers in Texas A&M University history and was inducted into the Texas A&M Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009.
His best season came in 1991, when started all 16 games at right outside linebacker, finishing with 90 tackles and 8 sacks (second on the team). A pulled hamstring in the season finale at San Francisco forced him to miss the playoff loss against the Dallas Cowboys. He was also voted NFC player of the week, after registering 11 tackles, 2 sacks and one pass defensed in a 21–20 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The next year, although he started 13 games, his sack production dropped to 2.5 sacks.
It has been mentioned that Dallas Cowboys head coach Jimmy Johnson accepted the trade to help close friend Dave Wannstedt in his new job, with all of the players received eventually being waived.[4]
Roper didn't fit the Cowboys 4–3 defense either, which was the same system that was being implemented in Chicago. He recorded 3 tackles and 2 sacks in three games with the team, playing mainly on special teams.
In Cowboys lore, Roper is known for being cut by Johnson, in order to send the team a message, after he fell asleep during a special teams meeting prior to their October 17 game against the San Francisco 49ers in 1993.[5]
^. Fbsstatistics.com. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
^"1989 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
^Fisher, Mike (August 16, 1993). "Cowboys, Bears swap five players". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved August 8, 2021 – via The Free Lance-Star. Fredericksburg, Virginia.
^Mitchell, Fred (January 21, 1994). . Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
^. Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. October 19, 1993. Archived from the original on July 6, 2017. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
^Mulligan, Kevin (May 5, 1993). . The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016.
^Mulligan, Kevin (November 18, 1993). . The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016.
^Paolantonio, S.A. (June 4, 1994). . The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016.
External linksedit
May 08, 2024
john, roper, american, football, john, alfred, roper, born, october, 1965, american, former, professional, football, player, linebacker, national, football, league, chicago, bears, dallas, cowboys, philadelphia, eagles, played, college, football, texas, aggies. John Alfred Roper born October 4 1965 is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League NFL for the Chicago Bears Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles He played college football for the Texas A amp M Aggies earning consensus All American honors in 1987 Roper was selected in the second round of the 1989 NFL Draft He was on the Cowboys Super Bowl XXVIII championship team that beat the Buffalo Bills John RoperNo 55 56 53Position LinebackerPersonal informationBorn 1965 10 04 October 4 1965 age 58 Houston Texas U S Height 6 ft 4 in 1 93 m Weight 205 lb 93 kg Career informationHigh school Yates Houston College Texas A amp MNFL draft 1989 Round 2 Pick 36Career historyChicago Bears 1989 1992 Dallas Cowboys 1993 Philadelphia Eagles 1993 Career highlights and awardsSuper Bowl champion XXVIII Consensus All American 1987 SWC Defensive Player of the Year 1987 2 All SWC 1987 1988 Career NFL statisticsPlayer stats at NFL com PFR Contents 1 Early years 2 Professional career 2 1 Chicago Bears 2 2 Dallas Cowboys 2 3 Philadelphia Eagles 3 References 4 External linksEarly years editAt Texas A amp M University Roper was one of the best to play defensively in school history according to his coach Jackie Sherrill In 1987 he was the Southwest Conference Defensive Player of the Year as well as an All American In his four years as an Aggie they compiled a record of 36 wins and just 12 losses three conference championships and twice they were victorious in the Cotton Bowl Roper a two time All Southwest Conference and a consensus All American was at the heart of that success Before heading to the NFL he began a tradition that became known all across college football It was during his career the famed moniker of the Wrecking Crew was born His career tackles for a loss of 68 while at Texas A amp M ranked him 8th in the NCAA at the conclusion of his college football career currently ranks 14th In addition his career sack total of 36 ranked him 9th in the NCAA at the conclusion of his college football career currently ranks 24th 1 He is one of the greatest linebackers in Texas A amp M University history and was inducted into the Texas A amp M Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009 Professional career editChicago Bears edit Roper was drafted in the second round 36th overall of the 1989 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears 2 His best season came in 1991 when started all 16 games at right outside linebacker finishing with 90 tackles and 8 sacks second on the team A pulled hamstring in the season finale at San Francisco forced him to miss the playoff loss against the Dallas Cowboys He was also voted NFC player of the week after registering 11 tackles 2 sacks and one pass defensed in a 21 20 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers The next year although he started 13 games his sack production dropped to 2 5 sacks In 1993 former Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dave Wannstedt became the new head coach for the Chicago Bears and implemented a 4 3 defense where Roper and other linebackers already in the roster were no longer a good fit He was eventually traded to the Cowboys along with tight end Kelly Blackwell and safety Markus Paul in exchange for linebacker Vinson Smith Barry Minter and a sixth round draft pick in the 1995 NFL Draft 3 Dallas Cowboys edit It has been mentioned that Dallas Cowboys head coach Jimmy Johnson accepted the trade to help close friend Dave Wannstedt in his new job with all of the players received eventually being waived 4 Roper didn t fit the Cowboys 4 3 defense either which was the same system that was being implemented in Chicago He recorded 3 tackles and 2 sacks in three games with the team playing mainly on special teams In Cowboys lore Roper is known for being cut by Johnson in order to send the team a message after he fell asleep during a special teams meeting prior to their October 17 game against the San Francisco 49ers in 1993 5 Philadelphia Eagles edit The Philadelphia Eagles after previously in the year trying twice to trade for Roper 6 signed him as a free agent on November 17 1993 7 He was waived in a salary cap move on June 3 1994 8 References edit Career Sacks 1980 College Football Statistics Fbsstatistics com Archived from the original on June 12 2018 Retrieved October 17 2011 1989 NFL Draft Listing Pro Football Reference com Retrieved May 26 2023 Fisher Mike August 16 1993 Cowboys Bears swap five players Fort Worth Star Telegram Retrieved August 8 2021 via The Free Lance Star Fredericksburg Virginia Mitchell Fred January 21 1994 Dallas Defense Still Has Mark Of Wannstedt Chicago Tribune Archived from the original on August 8 2014 Retrieved August 8 2021 Cutting Room Floor Roper Released After Snoozing During Film Los Angeles Times Associated Press October 19 1993 Archived from the original on July 6 2017 Retrieved August 8 2021 Mulligan Kevin May 5 1993 Eagles Get The Ok To Talk To Bears LB The Philadelphia Inquirer Archived from the original on March 4 2016 Mulligan Kevin November 18 1993 Eagles Get Real Sleeper Roper Let Go After Dozing Off In Dallas Provides LB Depth The Philadelphia Inquirer Archived from the original on March 4 2016 Paolantonio S A June 4 1994 Eagles Waive Rights To Waters 10 Other Free Agents The Philadelphia Inquirer Archived from the original on March 4 2016 External links editTexas A amp M Athletic Hall of Fame Profile Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Roper American football amp oldid 1171422155, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
