View source for Johnny Rodgers

{{Short description|American gridiron football player (born 1951)}}
{{for-multi|the singer-songwriter|Johnny Rodgers (singer)|other people|Johnny Rogers (disambiguation)}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name        = Johnny Rodgers
| image       =
| alt         = 
| caption     = 
| number      = 20
| position    = [[Running back]] <br> [[Wide receiver]] <br> [[Return specialist]]
| birth_date  = {{birth date and age|1951|7|5}}
| birth_place = [[Omaha, Nebraska]], U.S.
| death_date  = 
| death_place = 
| height_ft   = 5
| height_in   = 10
| weight_lb   = 180
| high_school = [[Technical High School (Omaha, Nebraska)|Technical]] <br> (Omaha, Nebraska)
| college     = [[Nebraska Cornhuskers football|Nebraska]] (1970–1972)
| draftyear   = 1973
| draftround  = 1
| draftpick   = 25
| pastteams   =
* [[Montreal Alouettes]] ({{CFL Year|1973|1976}})
* [[San Diego Chargers]] ({{NFL Year|1977|1978}})
| highlights  =
* [[List of Grey Cup champions|Grey Cup champion]] ([[1974 Grey Cup|1974]])
* 2× [[Jeff Russel Memorial Trophy]] (1974, 1975)
* [[CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award|CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie]] (1973)
* 3× [[CFL All-Star Game|CFL All-Star]] ([[1973 CFL season#1973 CFL All-Stars|1973]]–[[1975 CFL season#1975 CFL All-Stars|1975]])
* 4× CFL Eastern All-Star ([[1973 CFL season#1973 Eastern All-Stars|1973]]–[[1976 CFL season#1976 Eastern All-Stars|1976]])
* 2× [[College football national championships in NCAA Division I FBS|National champion]] ([[1970 NCAA University Division football season|1970]], [[1971 NCAA University Division football season|1971]])
* [[Heisman Trophy]] (1972)
* [[Walter Camp Award]] (1972)
* [[UPI College Football Player of the Year|UPI Player of the Year]] (1972)
* [[Chic Harley Award]] (1972)
* [[List of unanimous All-Americans in college football|Unanimous All-American]] ([[1972 College Football All-America Team|1972]])
* Consensus [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[1971 College Football All-America Team|1971]])
* 2× First-team [[List of All-Big Eight Conference football teams|All-Big Eight]] ([[1971 All-Big Eight Conference football team|1971]], [[1972 All-Big Eight Conference football team|1972]])
* Second-team All-Big Eight ([[1970 All-Big Eight Conference football team|1970]])
* [[Nebraska Cornhuskers football#Retired numbers|Nebraska Cornhuskers No. 20]] retired
| statleague  = CFL
| statlabel1  = [[Reception (gridiron football)|Receptions]]
| statvalue1  = 186
| statlabel2  = Receiving yards
| statvalue2  = 3,463
| statlabel3  = Receiving [[touchdown]]s
| statvalue3  = 28
| statlabel4  = Rushing yards
| statvalue4  = 1,138
| statlabel5  = Rushing average
| statvalue5  = 5.3
| statlabel6  = Rushing touchdowns
| statvalue6  = 7
| statlabel7  = Return yards
| statvalue7  = 1,843
| statlabel8  = Return touchdowns
| statvalue8  = 2
| pfr         = RodgJo00
| CollegeHOF  = 2291 
}}

'''Johnny Steven Rodgers''' (born July 5, 1951) is an American former professional [[Gridiron football|football]] player.  He played [[college football]] for the [[Nebraska Cornhuskers football|Nebraska Cornhuskers]] and won the [[Heisman Trophy]] in 1972.  Rodgers played in the [[Canadian Football League]] (CFL) with the [[Montreal Alouettes]] and in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) with the [[San Diego Chargers]].  He was inducted into the [[College Football Hall of Fame]] in 2000.

==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 [[Technical High School (Omaha, Nebraska)|Tech High]].

As a player at the [[University of Nebraska–Lincoln]], Rodgers served as a [[Punt (gridiron football)|punt return]] specialist, [[forward pass|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.<ref name=Huskers.com>{{cite web|title=Johnny Rodgers Biography|url=http://www.huskers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=100&ATCLID=323861|publisher=Huskers.com|access-date=March 30, 2012}}</ref>

In his three years with the [[Nebraska Cornhuskers football|Cornhuskers]], the versatile Rodgers established an all-purpose [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] yardage record of 5,586.<ref name="Huskers.com" />  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.<ref name=Huskers.com />

Rodgers was, at one time, convicted of a gas station robbery while he was a student at the University of Nebraska in 1970.<ref name=rgsmsn>{{cite news | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Y1xWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CPADAAAAIBAJ&pg=5330%2C4919801 | newspaper=The Spokesman-Review | location=[[Spokane, Washington]] | agency=Associated Press | title=Rogers gets six-month sentence | date=February 26, 1987 | page=C3}}</ref> He is the only Heisman winner who had a then-present felony conviction before receiving the award.<ref>{{cite web|title=Scandal, The Heisman And Nebraska's Johnny Rodgers|url=http://www.lostlettermen.com/feature-scandal-the-heisman-trophy-and-nebraskas-johnny-rodgers/|publisher=LostLetterman|access-date=March 30, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130305141207/http://www.lostlettermen.com/feature-scandal-the-heisman-trophy-and-nebraskas-johnny-rodgers/|archive-date=March 5, 2013}}</ref>  He was pardoned by the Nebraska Board of Pardons, and his conviction was vacated, on November 14, 2013.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/9976772/heisman-trophy-winner-johnny-rodgers-receives-pardon-1970-holdup | title=Johnny Rodgers receives pardon | date=November 14, 2013 | work=ESPN.com | agency=Associated Press | access-date=December 21, 2019}}</ref> He later was charged with assault in 1985 while living in southern California.<ref name=rgsmsn/>

In 1971, in what has become known as college football's "[[1971 Nebraska vs. Oklahoma football game|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 [[1971 Oklahoma Sooners football team|University of Oklahoma]]. [[ESPN]] describes Rodgers' performance as "unforgettable." However, some observers consider his greatest single performance to be in the [[1973 Orange Bowl]] when he led his team to a 40–6 victory over [[1972 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team|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.<ref name=Huskers.com />

*1970: 39 carries for 219 yards with 4 TD. 39 catches for 710 yards with 7 TD.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.totalfootballstats.com/Team_College.asp?id=111&Season=1970|title=Site is undergoing maintenance}}</ref>
*1971: 40 carries for 269 yards with 2 TD. 57 catches for 956 yards with 11 TD.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.totalfootballstats.com/Team_College.asp?id=111&Season=1971|title=Site is undergoing maintenance}}</ref>
*1972: 73 carries for 348 yards with 10 TD. 58 catches for 1013 yards with 9 TD.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.totalfootballstats.com/Team_College.asp?id=111&Season=1972|title=Site is undergoing maintenance}}</ref>

==Professional career==
Although a [[1973 NFL Draft|1973]] first-round draft pick of the [[San Diego Chargers]], Rodgers signed a three-year contract in excess of $100,000 annually to play with the [[Canadian Football League]]'s [[Montreal Alouettes]] on May 24.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1973/05/25/archives/people-in-sports-rodgers-gets-sixfigure-montreal-contract.html "People in Sports: Rodgers Gets Six‐Figure Montreal Contract," ''The New York Times'', Friday, May 25, 1973.] Retrieved December 2, 2021</ref> He had spurned the Chargers who he said was "offering fourth and fifth-round money."<ref name="upi770103m">[https://www.nytimes.com/1977/01/04/archives/rodgers-signed-by-chargers.html "Rodgers Signed by Chargers," ''United Press International'' (UPI), Monday, January 3, 1977.] Retrieved December 2, 2021</ref> Always a fan favorite who was affectionately known as the "''ordinary superstar''" (a nickname he coined), 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 [[Canadian Football League|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.

Rodgers returned to the United States, signing a $925,000-plus contract with the Chargers on January 3, 1977.<ref name="upi770103m"/> [[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.

==Career statistics==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! rowspan="2"| League
! rowspan="2"| GP
! colspan="5"| Receiving
! colspan="5"| Rushing
! colspan="5"| Punt Returns
|-
! Rec !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! Att !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! Ret !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD
|-
! [[1973 CFL season|1973]] !! [[1973 Montreal Alouettes season|MON]] !! [[Canadian Football League|CFL]]
| 14 || 41 || 841 || 20.5 || 72 || 7 || 55 || 303 || 5.4 || 58 || 0 || — || — || — || — || —
|-
! [[1974 CFL season|1974]] !! [[1974 Montreal Alouettes season|MON]] !! [[Canadian Football League|CFL]]
| 16 || 60 || 1,024 || 17.1 || 70 || 7 || 87 || 402 || 4.6 || 53 || 4 || — || — || — || — || —
|-
! [[1975 CFL season|1975]] !! [[1975 Montreal Alouettes season|MON]] !! [[Canadian Football League|CFL]]
| 15 || 40 || 849 || 21.2 || 70 || 8 || 54 || 293 || 5.4 || 38 || 2 || 60 || 912 || 15.2 || 101 || 2
|-
! [[1976 CFL season|1976]] !! [[1976 Montreal Alouettes season|MON]] !! [[Canadian Football League|CFL]]
| 14 || 45 || 749 || 16.6 || 55 || 6 || 20 || 50 || 2.5 || 41 || 1 || 75 || 931 || 12.5 || 53 || 0
|-
! [[1977 NFL season|1977]] !! [[1977 San Diego Chargers season|SD]] !! [[National Football League|NFL]]
| 11 || 12 || 187 || 15.6 || 43 || 0 || 3 || 44 || 14.7 || 33 || 0 || 15 || 158 || 10.5 || 52 || 0
|-
! [[1978 NFL season|1978]] !! [[1978 San Diego Chargers season|SD]] !! [[National Football League|NFL]]
| 6 || 5 || 47 || 9.4 || 12 || 0 || 1 || 5 || 5.0 || 5 || 0 || 11 || 88 || 8.0 || 15 || 0
|-
! colspan="3"| CFL Totals !! 59 !! 186 !! 3,463 !! 18.6 !! 72 !! 28 !! 216 !! 1,138 !! 5.3 !! 58 !! 7 !! 135 !! 1,843 !! 13.7 !! 101 !! 2
|-
! colspan="3"| NFL Totals !! 17 !! 17 !! 234 !! 13.8 !! 43 !! 0 !! 4 !! 49 !! 12.3 !! 33 !! 0 !! 26 !! 246 !! 9.5 !! 52 !! 0
|}

==Legacy==
In 1999, Rodgers was selected to the Nebraska All-Century Football Team via fan poll and named to the All-Century Nebraska football team by [[Gannett News Service]].  In 2000, he was voted the University of Nebraska's "Player of the Century" by ''[[Sports Illustrated]]''.<ref name=Omaha>{{cite web|title=Omaha Sports Hall of Fame - Johnny Rodgers|url=http://www.omahasportshalloffame.com/jrodgers-profile.php|access-date=March 30, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513083117/http://www.omahasportshalloffame.com/jrodgers-profile.php|archive-date=May 13, 2012|url-status=usurped}}</ref> In 2002, he was named to the Athlon Sports Nebraska All-Time Team.  He is one of only sixteen Cornhuskers to have his jersey retired by the team.

In 1999, Rodgers was selected as a receiver by Sports Illustrated in their "NCAA Football All-Century Team". Other receivers selected were [[Jerry Rice]], [[Mike Ditka]], [[Pat Richter]], [[Tim Brown (American football)|Tim Brown]], [[Raghib Ismail]], [[Don Hutson]], [[Bennie Oosterbaan]], [[Howard Twilley]], [[Ted Kwalick]], [[Anthony Carter (American football)|Anthony Carter]], [[Keith Jackson (tight end)|Keith Jackson]] and [[Desmond Howard]].  Rodgers was one of six Nebraska Cornhuskers on this All-Century Team 85 man roster; the others being [[Rich Glover]], [[Dave Rimington]], [[Dean Steinkuhler]], [[Tommie Frazier]] and [[Aaron Taylor (born 1975)|Aaron Taylor]].<ref>{{cite web|title=SI's NCAA Football All-Century Team|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/centurys_best/news/1999/10/06/cfb_allcentury_team/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000824074230/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/centurys_best/news/1999/10/06/cfb_allcentury_team/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 24, 2000|publisher=SI.com|access-date=March 30, 2012}}</ref>

In 1999, Rodgers was selected as a starting receiver to the [[Walter Camp Football Foundation]] College Football All Century Team.  Other receivers selected were [[Fred Biletnikoff]], Tim Brown, Bernie Oosterbaan, [[Larry Kelley]], Raghib Ismail, Don Hutson, Howard Twilley and Keith Jackson.  Rodgers was one of six Nebraska Cornhuskers selected to this 83 man roster; the others being Rimington, Steinkuhler, [[Will Shields]], Frazier and Taylor.<ref>{{cite web|title=Walter Camp All-Century Team |url=http://waltercamp.org/index.php/teams_and_awards/all_century/ |publisher=WalterCamp.org |access-date=March 30, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209021743/http://waltercamp.org/index.php/teams_and_awards/all_century/ |archive-date= February 9, 2012 }}</ref>

On the ''College Football News'' list of the 100 Greatest Players of All-Time, Johnny Rodgers was ranked #44. In 2007, he was ranked #23 on ESPN's Top 25 Players In College Football History list. In 2000 Johnny Rodgers was inducted into the [[College Football Hall of Fame]] and was also voted the "Most Valuable Player" in the history of the [[Big Eight Conference|Big Eight]].

Rodgers also remains a legend north of the border in Montreal. The Alouettes honored him with a special homecoming on September 11, 2011, 35 years since he last wore a Larks uniform.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://en.montrealalouettes.com/article/trailblazing-rodgers-honoured-by-alouettes |title=Trailblazing Rodgers honoured by Alouettes on '''''Montreal Alouettes website''''' |access-date=September 20, 2011 |archive-date=April 1, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401234243/http://en.montrealalouettes.com/article/trailblazing-rodgers-honoured-by-alouettes |url-status=dead }}</ref> He was greeted with a standing ovation.<ref>[http://en.montrealalouettes.com/video/index/id/20445 Half-Time Tribute to Johnny Rodgers on '''''Montreal Alouettes website'''''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401234254/http://en.montrealalouettes.com/video/index/id/20445 |date=April 1, 2012 }}</ref>

In 2011 the [[Jet Award]] was established in Rodgers honor, as a national award given annually to the best return specialist in all of college football. Beginning with the 2012 award ceremony, in addition to being given to the annual award winner, the Jet Award will be presented retroactively one decade at a time, starting with the 1959–1969 winners.

==Personal life==
Rodgers was reported to have become a devotee of [[Prem Rawat|Guru Maharaj Ji]], head of the [[Divine Light Mission]], in 1974.<ref>"Rodgers Follows Guru", [[Associated Press]], ''Winnipeg Free Press'', Friday, January 23, 1976</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=January 23, 1976|title=Grid convert|page=20|work=Vancouver Sun|agency=AP|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/48012470/grid-convert/|url-access=subscription}}</ref> Rodgers met Majaraj Ji for the first time in January 1976 to discuss the guru's international tour, and in an interview at the time stated that he had joined the Divine Light Mission out of a search for deeper meaning in his life.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Frazier|first=Deborah|date=January 27, 1976|title=For Johnny Rodgers, an exciting meeting|page=31|work=Independent-Journal|agency=UPI|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/48013017/for-johnny-rodgers-an-exciting-meeting/|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

In 1987, Rodgers was sentenced to six months in jail for wielding a gun at a cable TV employee when the employee visited his home to retrieve equipment due to Rodgers' lack of payment.  He was also stopped at the US-Mexico border in 1985 and found to be in possession of methamphetamine.<ref name=rgsmsn/>

Today, Rodgers is a businessman in [[Omaha, Nebraska]], where he operates a sports marketing company and bedding products manufacturer. He also works with his [[alma mater]] to encourage athletes who dropped out of school to return and complete their educations.<ref name=Omaha />

Rodgers has also authored a book entitled ''An Era of Greatness'' about the University of Nebraska football team during his playing days.

Rodgers was president of the [[Malcolm X Foundation|Malcolm X Memorial Foundation]] from 1995 to 2005.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://thejetaward.com/jonnyrodgers/ |title=Johnny "The Jet" Rogers |website=The Jet Award |access-date=July 25, 2021 }}</ref>

In 2007 Rodgers was a brief partner in a sports bar located in midtown Omaha bearing his name. In less than one year the partnership fell apart and dueling lawsuits ensued.

He is currently creating a mentoring program for children with other football and sport professionals.

In May 2014, Rodgers was hired as vice president of new business development at [[RFD-TV|Rural Media Group]].<ref>"[http://www.agrimarketing.com/s/89114 HEISMAN TROPHY WINNER JOHNNY RODGERS JOINS RURAL MEDIA GROUP AS VP]", ''AgriMarketing Magazine'', May 22, 2014</ref>

In November 2021, Rodgers was hospitalized at the [[University of Nebraska Medical Center]] with COVID-19 but was released two weeks later.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Associated Press |title=Heisman winner, Nebraska football legend Johnny Rodgers in ICU with COVID-19 |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/32804904/heisman-winner-nebraska-football-legend-johnny-rodgers-icu-covid-19 |website=ESPN.com |publisher=ESPN |access-date=19 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Associated Press |title=Nebraska football legend Johnny Rodgers says he'll get vaccinated after COVID-19 put him in hospital |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/32869721/nebraska-football-legend-johnny-rodgers-says-get-vaccinated-covid-19-put-hospital |website=ESPN.com |publisher=ESPN |access-date=19 May 2022}}</ref>

His daughter is [[Jewel Rodgers]], poet laureate of Nebraska.<ref name=Sanderford2025>{{cite news |title=Nebraska's next state poet is a Jewel, first African American to fill role |first=Aaron |last=Sanderford |date=January 6, 2025 |work=Nebraska Examiner |url=https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/01/06/nebraskas-next-state-poet-is-a-jewel/ }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{College Football HoF|2291}}
* {{Heisman|johnny-rodgers}}
* {{Footballstats |nfl=johnny-rodgers |espn= |cbs= |yahoo= |fox= |si= |pfr=R/RodgJo00 |rotoworld= }}

{{1970 Nebraska Cornhuskers football navbox}}
{{1971 Nebraska Cornhuskers football navbox}}
{{62nd Grey Cup}}
{{Heisman Winners}}
{{Walter Camp Award}}
{{UPI College Football Player of the Year}}
{{1971 NCAA Division I FBS College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{1972 College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{ChargersFirstPick}}
{{San Diego Chargers 1973 draft navbox}}
{{1973 NFL Draft}}
{{CFL receiving yardage leaders}}
{{CFL MORs}}
{{CFL MOPs East}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rodgers, Johnny}}
[[Category:1951 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American football running backs]]
[[Category:Canadian football running backs]]
[[Category:Canadian football wide receivers]]
[[Category:Montreal Alouettes players]]
[[Category:Nebraska Cornhuskers football players]]
[[Category:San Diego Chargers players]]
[[Category:All-American college football players]]
[[Category:Canadian Football League Rookie of the Year Award winners]]
[[Category:College Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Heisman Trophy winners]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Omaha, Nebraska]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:Technical High School (Omaha, Nebraska) alumni]]
[[Category:Walter Camp Award winners]]