George Rogers
COLLEGE: South Carolina
POSITION: Running Back
BORN: December 8, 1958 in Duluth, Georgia
JOINED SAINTS: 1981 / Round: 1 / Pick 1
YEARS WITH SAINTS: 1981-1984
George Rogers' Career Background
Former Saints running back George Rogers was enshrined in the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame in 1992 after spending four seasons of his seven-year career with the Black and Gold.
The Duluth, Ga. native was the first overall selection in the 1981 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints out of South Carolina and the first Heisman Trophy winner to suit up in a game for the Black and Gold. Rogers rose to the top during his rookie campaign, starting all 16 games and leading the league with 378 carries for 1,674 yards, along with 13 touchdowns. His 1,674 rushing yards also set an NFL record for rookies and a single-season record for the Saints that has yet to be broken. That year, Rogers was selected as the Associated Press NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, consensus NFL Rookie of the Year (The Sporting News and PFWA) and AP first-team All-Pro, while earning a trip to the Pro Bowl. Throughout his four seasons with the Saints, Rogers played in 51 games with 49 starts, carrying 995 times for 4,267 yards and 23 touchdowns while adding on 44 receptions for 292 yards. In his seven-year career between New Orleans and Washington, he had four 1,000 yard rushing seasons and combined for a career total of 7,176 rushing yards. He was selected to his second Pro-Bowl in 1982 and in 1986 he led the NFL in rushing touchdowns with 18 while being selected to his third Pro-Bowl. On September 4, 1983, Rogers set the franchise-single game rushing record with 206 yards on the ground in a season-opening victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. Rogers finished out his seven-year NFL career as a Super Bowl XXII champion with Washington in 1987.
After retiring from professional football following the 1987 season, Rogers started working at his alma mater in public relations and fundraising.
George Rogers' College Career
Rogers pro career was built off an equally noteworthy college career at South Carolina, where he lettered four years. During his sophomore campaign, Rogers rushed for 1,066 yards despite splitting time in the eight games he appeared in with a fellow sophomore teammate. As a junior in 1979, he ran for 1,681 yards and earned First-Team All-America honors while finishing seventh in Heisman Trophy voting. Rogers came back to solidify his place in college football in 1980 as a senior, when he led the nation with 1,781 rushing yards, earned consensus All-American honors and won the Heisman Trophy. He was the first player at South Carolina to have his jersey retired while he was still an active player and he still holds the record for career rushing yards by a Gamecocks running back (5,204) while ranking second in career rushing touchdowns (31) and all-time points scored (202).
George Rogers' Career Honors
Super Bowl champion - XXII
1st-Team All-Pro – 1981
Pro Bowl – 1981, 1982, 1986
New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame