Bill Roe (American football)

William Oliver Roe II (February 6, 1958 – September 13, 2003) is a former professional American football linebacker in the National Football League and the United States Football League. He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the 3rd round (78th overall) of the 1980 NFL Draft. He also played for the New Orleans Saints, Boston Breakers, Memphis Showboats and the Birmingham Stallions.

Early years

Roe attended Thornwood High School before moving on to the University of Colorado Boulder. He became a starter at inside linebacker as a junior and received honorable mention All-Big Eight honors.^[1] As a senior he received All-Big Eight honors, after leading the conference in tackles (162) and the team in interceptions (3).^[2] He had 10 or more tackles in seven games and became the first player to win Big Eight Defensive Player of the Week honors two weeks in a row (Nov. 17 and Nov. 24). His best game came against Kansas State University, when he registered 24 tackles (second most in school history) and 2 interceptions.^[3]

Professional career

Dallas Cowboys

After the Dallas Cowboys entered the 1980 NFL Draft without their first and second round draft choices (traded to the Baltimore Colts for John Dutton), the team made Roe their first selection in the third round (78th overall). As a rookie he played mainly on special teams.

The Cowboys placed him on the injured reserve list on August 24, 1981.^[4] He was released on September 3, 1982.^[5]

Boston Breakers (USFL)

On January 1983, he signed with the Denver Gold of the United States Football League, which traded him to the Boston Breakers in February.^[6] The Breakers named him their starting inside linebacker.

Memphis Showboats (USFL)

In 1984, he was the Memphis Showboats starting inside linebacker, before being traded during the season to the Birmingham Stallions.

Birmingham Stallions (USFL)

With the Birmingham Stallions he was a standout linebacker on the league's top defense, before the United States Football League folded.

New Orleans Saints

After the players went on a strike on the third week of the 1987 season, those games were canceled (reducing the 16 game season to 15) and the NFL decided that the games would be played with replacement players. Roe was signed to be a part of the New Orleans Saints replacement team, that was given the mock name "Saint Elsewheres" by the media. He went on to start all three games at linebacker, before being released once the strike ended.

Personal life

He died on September 13, 2003.

References