By Darin Johnny Roland commands the football field as a rare elite weapon who excelled on both sides of the ball for the Missouri Tigers. Few athletes possess the pure football IQ to rank among the nation’s top ten offensive weapons in one season and then transform into an All-American defensive back the next. Roland did exactly that, using his imposing 6’2″ frame and blazing speed to dictate the tempo of every game he played. From his record-setting ground game in Columbia to his stellar professional career, this gridiron icon established a legacy of versatility that very few players have ever matched.
Football Bio
May 21, 1943 – Corpus Christi, Texas – Johnny Roland, the Missouri two-way running back / defensive back from 1962 and 1964 to 1965, arrived in this life.
The FootballFoundation.org says that as a sophomore in 1962, he was a running back. He rushed for 830 yards, seventh best total in the nation, and scored 78 points, ninth in the nation. He rushed for 155 yards against Oklahoma State, 104 against Iowa State. When he returned for his junior year in 1964, Coach Dan Devine moved him to defensive back.
He made All-America at this position in 1965. Roland stood 6-2, weighed 198, and was a power runner. In 1965, Roland also returned 42 punts and kickoffs for 690 yards, averaging 16.4 yards on each. Missouri retired his jersey, No. 23. Johnny Roland’s collegiate football records are celebrated in the College Football Hall of Fame, where he was inducted in 1998.
Johnny had an 8-year career in the pros with the St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Giants. Then came a career as assistant coach — with the Green Bay Packers in 1974, Notre Dame in 1975, and various pro teams after that.
Conclusion
Johnny Roland cements his place in football history by conquering every challenge across a legendary 40-year journey as a player and coach. His rare transition from a top-tier collegiate rusher to an elite secondary defender remains a supreme testament to his physical gifts and athletic adaptability. By securing Rookie of the Year honors in the NFL and later coaching a dominant backfield for the legendary 1985 Chicago Bears, Roland validated his profound understanding of gridiron strategy at every level. He remains a gold standard for the University of Missouri, inspiring future generations to maximize their talent all over the field.
Accolades and Football Accomplishments
- College Football Hall of Fame: Inducted in 1998.
- Consensus First-Team All-American: 1965 (Selected as a defensive back).
- UPI NFL Rookie of the Year: 1966 with the St. Louis Cardinals.
- 2× NFL Pro Bowl Selection: 1966, 1967.
- Super Bowl Champion (Coach): Served as running backs coach for the iconic 1985 Chicago Bears (Super Bowl XX).
- 3× All-Big Eight Conference Selection: 1962 (as a halfback), 1964, 1965 (as a defensive back).
- Retired Jersey: His No. 23 was retired by the University of Missouri Tigers.
- Sugar Bowl Champion: Led Mizzou to a 20-18 victory over Florida in the 1966 Sugar Bowl.
- First Black Team Captain: Served as the first African American team captain in University of Missouri history (1965).
- NFL Second-Team All-Pro: 1967.