By Darin 
Born on November 26, 1947, in New Point, Missouri, Roger Russell Wehrli emerged from a small-town background to define the role of the modern cornerback. His journey from an overlooked athlete to a Pro Football Hall of Famer is a testament to speed, skill, and consistency.
College Career
Wehrli attended the University of Missouri (1966–1968), where he was initially recruited as a versatile athlete but was assigned to play defensive back. He quickly became a standout, not only as a formidable defender but also as a dangerous return man. By his senior season in 1968, Wehrli was named a Unanimous All-American, the Big Eight Defensive Player of the Year, and an All-Big Eight selection for the second time. That year, he led the entire nation in punt returns, demonstrating his explosive speed and open-field ability. He finished his college career with 10 interceptions, playing in prestigious all-star games like the Senior Bowl. Mizzou later honored his dominance by retiring his No. 23 jersey.
Road to the Pro Game
Wehrli’s exceptional speed, confirmed by a blazing 4.5-second forty-yard dash, convinced scouts he was a first-round talent. In the 1969 NFL Draft, the St. Louis Cardinals selected him with the 19th overall pick. He played his entire 14-year professional career (1969–1982) with the Cardinals organization, establishing a model for defensive back excellence. He earned a starting role immediately and was an All-Rookie selection in his first year.
Football Legacy
Roger Wehrli is widely regarded as one of the best cover cornerbacks of the 1970s, a decade where defensive backs rarely received national attention. His reliable and durable play forced opposing quarterbacks, including Hall of Famers like Roger Staubach, to actively avoid throwing toward his side of the field. This defensive lockdown ability led to Staubach famously calling Wehrli the best cornerback he ever faced and is often credited with popularizing the term “shutdown corner.” He holds the Cardinals franchise record for career fumble recoveries (22) and was a constant force in the St. Louis secondary, earning an induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007.
Accolades, Awards, and Career Stats
- College: Unanimous All-American (1968), Big Eight Defensive Player of the Year (1968), College Football Hall of Fame (2003), Missouri Tigers No. 23 Retired.
- Professional: Pro Football Hall of Fame (2007), 7x Pro Bowl selection (1970, 1971, 1974–1977, 1979), 5x First-team All-Pro (1970, 1974–1977), NFL 1970s All-Decade Team.
- Career Stats: 193 games played, 40 career interceptions (309 yards, 2 touchdowns), 22 fumble recoveries (franchise record).
Big thanks to Pro-Football-Reference.com