"THEY WERE SAINTS": GEORGE ROGERS

5/5/2020
By: Terrill J. Weil
Da Boot Sports!


      The Saints drafted All-American and Heisman Trophy winner George Rogers with the 1st overall pick in the 1981 draft. Rogers didn't disappoint as he would lead the league in rushing with 1,674 yards, which set a record for rookies and is still the single season record for the Saints and scored 13 touchdowns. He earned a trip to the Pro Bowl and was selected as the NFL Rookie of the Year. However Rogers admitted to a drug problem during his rookie season and entered rehab. 
     On April 26, 1985 Rogers was traded to the Washington Redskins together with the Saints' 5th, 10th, and 11th round selections in the 1985 draft in return for the Redskins first-round pick. 
      He finished his Saints career with 4,267 yards rushing, scoring 23 touchdowns. 
     In Washington, Rogers would play for three more seasons having some of his biggest professional success in Washington, including a Super Bowl title in 1987, defeating the Denver Broncos, 42–10, in Super Bowl XXII.  That Super Bowl game would be his final NFL game, has Rogers would retire due to nagging injuries. He would finish his pro career with 7,176 yards with 54 touchdowns in seven seasons. Only Eric Dickerson has rushed for more yardage during their rookie season. 
    He is a member of the University of South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame, South Carolina Football Hall of Fame, the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, and the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame. In 1997, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. 
       Rogers currently works at South Carolina University in public relations and fund-raising.