View source for Mike Rozier

{{Short description|American football player (born 1961)}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name           = Mike Rozier
| image          = Mike Rozier.jpg
| alt            =
| caption        = Rozier with the [[Houston Oilers]] in 1987
| number         = 33, 30
| position       = [[Running back]]
| birth_date     = {{Birth date and age|1961|3|1|mf=y}}
| birth_place    = [[Camden, New Jersey]], U.S.
| death_date     = 
| death_place    = 
| height_ft      = 5
| height_in      = 10
| weight_lb      = 209
| high_school    = [[Eastside High School (Camden, New Jersey)|Woodrow Wilson]] (Camden)
| college        = {{ubl|[[Coffeyville Red Ravens|Coffeyville]] (1980)|[[Nebraska Cornhuskers|Nebraska]] (1981–1983)}}
| suppdraftyear  = 1984
| suppdraftround = 1
| suppdraftpick  = 2
| pastteams      =
* [[Pittsburgh Maulers (1984)|Pittsburgh Maulers]] ({{USFL Year|1984}}) 
* [[Jacksonville Bulls]] ({{USFL Year|1985}}) 
* [[Houston Oilers]] ({{NFL Year|1985|1990}})
* [[Atlanta Falcons]] ({{NFL Year|1990|1991}})
| highlights     =
* 2× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1988 Pro Bowl|1987]], [[1989 Pro Bowl|1988]])
* [[Heisman Trophy]] (1983)
* [[Maxwell Award]] (1983)
* [[Walter Camp Award]] (1983)
* [[Chic Harley Award]] (1983)
* [[Sporting News College Football Player of the Year|''SN'' Player of the Year]] (1983)
* [[UPI College Football Player of the Year|UPI Player of the Year]] (1983)
* [[List of unanimous All-Americans in college football|Unanimous All-American]] ([[1983 College Football All-America Team|1983]])
* Consensus [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[1982 College Football All-America Team|1982]])
* 2× [[Big Eight Conference football#Offensive Player of the Year|Big Eight Offensive Player of the Year]] (1982, 1983)
* 3× First-team All-[[Big Eight Conference|Big Eight]] ([[1981 All-Big Eight Conference football team|1981]]–[[1983 All-Big Eight Conference football team|1983]])
* [[Nebraska Cornhuskers football#Retired jerseys|Nebraska Cornhuskers Jersey No. 30]] retired
| statlabel1     = Rushing yards
| statvalue1     = 4,462
| statlabel2     = Rushing average
| statvalue2     = 3.8
| statlabel3     = Rushing [[touchdown]]s
| statvalue3     = 30
| statlabel4     = [[Reception (gridiron football)|Receptions]]
| statvalue4     = 90
| statlabel5     = Receiving yards
| statvalue5     = 715
| statlabel6     = Receiving touchdowns
| statvalue6     = 1
| pfr            = R/RoziMi00
| CollegeHOF     = 2184 
}}

'''Michael M. Rozier''' (born March 1, 1961) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] player who was a [[running back]] in the [[United States Football League]] (USFL) for two seasons and the [[National Football League]] (NFL) for seven seasons from 1985 to 1991. He played [[college football]] for the [[Nebraska Cornhuskers football|Nebraska Cornhuskers]], winning the [[Heisman Trophy]] in 1983.  Afterward, he played for the [[Pittsburgh Maulers (1984)|Pittsburgh Maulers]] and the [[Jacksonville Bulls]] of the USFL, then played for the [[Houston Oilers]] and the [[Atlanta Falcons]] of the NFL. He was inducted into the [[College Football Hall of Fame]] in 2006.

==Early life==
Rozier was born in [[Camden, New Jersey]].
He attended [[Woodrow Wilson High School (Camden, New Jersey)|Woodrow Wilson High School]] in Camden, where he was a standout [[high school football]] player.  Today, the football field bears his name.

==College career==
Rozier went largely unnoticed by most of the major college programs. His recruitment to [[Nebraska Cornhuskers football|Nebraska]] was a complete accident. Former Nebraska head coach [[Frank Solich]], at the time an assistant to head coach [[Tom Osborne]], had been a keen observer of high school game films.  While watching film of [[Pennsauken High School|Pennsauken's]] game against nearby [[Woodrow Wilson High School (New Jersey)|Woodrow Wilson High School]], one player on the opposing team (Rozier) continually caught Solich's eye.

Rozier spent his freshman season at [[Coffeyville Community College|Coffeyville Junior College]] in Kansas, in order to get his grades up. In his one season with the Coffeyville Ravens, he led them to a 9–0 season in 1980, gaining 1157 yards with a gaudy 7.4 yards-per-carry average, and scored ten touchdowns.

As a sophomore in 1981, Rozier first dazzled Husker fans with a 93-yard touchdown run against [[Kansas State Wildcats|Kansas State]]. As the season progressed, Rozier began challenging [[Roger Craig (American football)|Roger Craig]] for the starting position, a job he would eventually win in the fall of 1982 prior to his junior year. Rozier's progress was so pronounced that the talented and established Craig moved to fullback.

During his junior season, Rozier broke Bobby Reynolds's long-standing school record for rushing yards in a single season, with 1,689 yards, and led Nebraska to a second consecutive outright Big 8 title and a 12–1 record, losing only in controversial fashion to eventual national champion [[Penn State Nittany Lions football|Penn State]]. In a performance against [[Missouri Tigers|Missouri]], Rozier came off the bench in the second half to rush for 139 yards on 17 carries to lead Nebraska to a comeback victory despite suffering from a painful hip-pointer injury. Rozier finished the [[1982 College Football All-America Team|1982 season]] a consensus All-American and finished 10th in the Heisman voting.

As a senior, Nebraska's high-octane offense was often unstoppable, averaging 52 points and 401 rushing yards per game. Rozier had a nation's best 2,486 total yards with 2,148 of those coming on the ground and twenty-nine touchdowns scored. His 7.8 yards-per-carry mark on the season stands as the third-highest mark for players with more than 214 carries in a season. Against Kansas, Rozier rushed for 230 yards in the first half and finished with 285 rushing yards total, at that time a school record. Rozier went over 200 yards in each of his last four regular-season games of the 1983 season. His senior season was capped when he was awarded the [[Heisman Trophy]], given to the best individual player in [[college football]] and was again an [[1983 College Football All-America Team|All-American]].

His college career would end in disappointment, losing the [[1984 Orange Bowl]] in which [[Miami Hurricanes football|Miami]] defeated [[Nebraska Cornhuskers football|Nebraska]] 31-30 for the national championship. Rozier had 138 yards on 21 carries at halftime against a Miami Hurricanes team with the second-ranked defense in football, but he had to leave in the third quarter following an ankle injury. Rozier finished the game with 147 yards on 26 carries.

===College statistics===
{|class=wikitable style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Season
! rowspan="2"| Team
! colspan="5"| Rushing
! colspan="5"| Receiving
|-
! Att !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! Att !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD
|-
! 1980
| colspan="11"| ''Attended [[Coffeyville Community College|Coffeyville Junior College]]''
|-
! [[1981 NCAA Division I-A football season|1981]] || [[1981 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team|Nebraska]]
| 166 || 1,018 || 6.1 || 93 || 5 || 4 || 64 || 16.0 || 32 || 0
|-
! [[1982 NCAA Division I-A football season|1982]] || [[1982 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team|Nebraska]]
| 268 || 1,807 || 6.7 || 62 || 15 || 6 || 46 || 7.7 || 14 || 2
|-
! [[1983 NCAA Division I-A football season|1983]] || [[1983 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team|Nebraska]]
| 300 || 2,295 || 7.7 || 71 || 29 || 10 || 106 || 10.6 || 26 || 0
|-
! colspan="2"|[https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/mike-rozier-1.html Career] !! 734 !! 5,120 !! 6.9 !! 93 !! 49 !! 20 !! 216 !! 10.8 !! 32 !! 2
|}

==Professional career==
Rozier was selected by the [[Pittsburgh Maulers (1984)|Pittsburgh Maulers]] first overall in the [[1984 USFL draft]]. He played his first two professional seasons in the [[United States Football League]], in 1984, with the Pittsburgh Maulers, and 1985, with the Jacksonville Bulls.  In 1985 Rozier played for the Jacksonville Bulls in the spring and the Houston Oilers in the fall.

He was drafted by the [[Houston Oilers]] in the 1st round (2nd pick overall) of the [[1984 NFL Supplemental Draft of USFL and CFL Players]], joining them in the fall of 1985.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1984 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1984/draft.htm |access-date=2023-10-10 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> Rozier played six seasons for the Oilers, amassing a total of 900 carries for 3171 yards, including a 1,002-yard rushing season in 1988. While playing for the Oilers, Rozier was elected to the AFC [[Pro Bowl]] squad in both 1987 and 1988.

In 1990, Rozier only played three games for the Oilers, rushing 10 times for a total of 42 yards, before being released after they found no suitable trade partners.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Luna |first=Richard |date=1990-10-02 |title=Oilers waive Mike Rozier |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/10/02/Oilers-waive-Mike-Rozier/9925654840000/ |access-date=2025-08-03 |website=UPI}}</ref>  He was quickly picked up by the [[National Football Conference|NFC's]] [[Atlanta Falcons]], where he finished the year with 153 carries for 675 yards. His final season in the NFL came the next year with the Falcons. He completed the 1991 season with 361 yards on 96 carries, announcing his retirement during the off-season.

Rozier finished his career with a total of 1159 carries for 4462 yards, having averaged 3.8 yards per carry, and scoring 30 touchdowns.

As of the end of the [[2020 NFL season|2020 season]], Rozier is ranked 172nd on the NFL All-Time Rushing Yards list.

==Career statistics==

=== USFL career ===
{|class=wikitable style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! rowspan="2"| GP
! colspan="4"| Rushing
! colspan="4"| Receiving
|-
! Att !! Yds !! Avg !! TD !! Rec !! Yds !! Avg !! TD
|-
! [[1984 USFL season|1984]] !! [[Pittsburgh Maulers (1984)|Pittsburgh Maulers]]
| 14 || 223 || 792 || 3.6 || 3 || 32 || 259 || 8.1 || 0
|-
! [[1985 USFL season|1985]] !! [[Jacksonville Bulls]]
| 18 || 320 || 1,361 || 4.3 || 12 || 50 || 366 || 7.3 || 3
|-
! colspan="2"| Total !! 32 !! 543 !! 2,153 !! 4.0 !! 15 !! 82 !! 625 !! 7.6 !! 3
|}

=== NFL career ===
{|class=wikitable style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! rowspan="2"| GP
! colspan="5"| Rushing
! colspan="5"| Receiving
|-
! Att !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! Rec !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD
|-
! [[1985 NFL season|1985]] !! [[1985 Houston Oilers season|HOU]]
| 14 || 133 || 462 || 3.5 || 30 || 8 || 9 || 96 || 10.7 || 52 || 0
|-
! [[1986 NFL season|1986]] !! [[1986 Houston Oilers season|HOU]]
| 13 || 199 || 662 || 3.3 || 19 || 4 || 24 || 180 || 7.5 || 23 || 0
|-
! [[1987 NFL season|1987]] !! [[1987 Houston Oilers season|HOU]]
| 11 || 229 || 957 || 4.2 || 41 || 3 || 27 || 192 || 7.1 || 27 || 0
|-
! [[1988 NFL season|1988]] !! [[1988 Houston Oilers season|HOU]]
| 15 || 251 || 1,002 || 4.0 || 28 || 10 || 11 || 99 || 9.0 || 18 || 1
|-
! [[1989 NFL season|1989]] !! [[1989 Houston Oilers season|HOU]]
| 12 || 88 || 301 || 3.4 || 17 || 2 || 4 || 28 || 7.0 || 8 || 0
|-
! rowspan="2"|[[1990 NFL season|1990]] !! [[1990 Houston Oilers season|HOU]]
| 3 || 10 || 42 || 4.2 || 11 || 0 || 5 || 46 || 9.2 || 24 || 0
|-
! [[1990 Atlanta Falcons season|ATL]]
| 13 || 153 || 675 || 4.4 || 67 || 3 || 8 || 59 || 7.4 || 24 || 0
|-
! [[1991 NFL season|1991]] !! [[1991 Atlanta Falcons season|ATL]]
| 11 || 96 || 361 || 3.8 || 19 || 0 || 2 || 15 || 7.5 || 20 || 0
|-
! colspan="2"| Total !! 92 !! 1,159 !! 4,462 !! 3.8 !! 67 !! 30 !! 90 !! 715 !! 7.5 !! 52 !! 1
|}

==Personal life==
Mike has been married to his wife Rochelle, an attorney, since 2005. They reside in the [[Sicklerville, New Jersey|Sicklerville]] section of [[Winslow Township, New Jersey]] and together they have one son, Michael Guy Pacheco Rozier.<ref>Anastasia, Phil. [https://www.inquirer.com/philly/sports/high_school/new_jersey/mike-rozier-woodrow-wilson-football-nebraska-cornhuskers-heisman-trophy-hall-of-fame-20180209.html "Former Woodrow Wilson football star Mike Rozier: Old school as ever"], ''[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]'', February 9, 2018. Accessed December 8, 2023. "Rozier lives in Sicklerville with his wife, Rochelle, an attorney, and their teenage son, Michael."</ref> He has two other children, Amber and JaMichael Rozier, who reside in Houston, Texas.

In 1996, he was shot in his hometown of Camden, New Jersey.<ref>Herbert Lowe", [https://web.archive.org/web/20120917071945/http://articles.philly.com/1996-12-15/sports/25642559_1_hospital-bed-mike-rozier-heisman-trophy  Rozier, Wounds Healing, Glad To Join The Heisman Scene]", ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' (December 15, 1996).  Retrieved September 24, 2011.  "As Mike Rozier readily autographed footballs and miniature helmets in the lobby of the Downtown Athletic Club yesterday, a woman looked at the bandage on his right hand and asked, 'What happened to you?' 'I got shot,' the 1983 Heisman Trophy winner&mdash;who set rushing records at the University of Nebraska and at Woodrow Wilson High School in Camden&mdash;said matter-of-factly."</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://journalstar.com/sports/huskers/football/report-man-who-allegedly-shot-nebraska-heisman-trophy-winner-mike-rozier-released-from-prison-after/article_336eda16-9ca5-55c1-96b7-20d3bef591b2.html | title=Report: Man who allegedly shot Nebraska Heisman Trophy winner Mike Rozier released from prison after serving 20 years | date=May 7, 2020 }}</ref>

Rozier, along with his wife and three other family members, appeared on the October 22, 2013 episode of ''[[Family Feud]]'' as the anchor to his team.<ref>{{cite web|last=Biancolli|first=Amy|title=Albany couple to appear Tuesday on 'Family Feud'|url=http://blog.timesunion.com/localarts/albany-couple-to-appear-on-family-feud/30311/|work=Albany Times-Union|date=October 21, 2013 |access-date=October 22, 2013}}</ref>

Rozier was called one of the most stylish dressers in the history of the Heisman Trophy by SBNation.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2014/12/13/7388799/mike-rozier-heisman-trophy-suit | title=Mike Rozier's amazing Heisman suit | date=December 13, 2014 }}</ref>

On April 9, 2024, Rozier was honored in his hometown of Camden, New Jersey, with a street dedication. Additionally, a sign was erected in the city proclaiming it the home of the renowned former Nebraska, USFL, and NFL running back.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://huskercorner.com/posts/nebraska-football-legend-mike-rozier-street | title=Nebraska Football legend gets new hometown honor | date=April 12, 2024 }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of NCAA Division I FBS players with at least 50 career rushing touchdowns]]
* [[List of NCAA major college football yearly rushing leaders]]
* [[List of NCAA major college football yearly scoring leaders]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{College Football HoF|2184}}
* {{Heisman|mike-rozier}}
* {{Footballstats |nfl=mike-rozier |espn= |cbs= |yahoo= |fox= |si= |pfr=R/RoziMi00 |rotoworld= }}

{{Walter Camp Alumni of the Year}}
{{1982 NCAA Division I-A College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{1983 NCAA Division I-A College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{Heisman Winners}}
{{Maxwell Award Winners}}
{{Walter Camp Award}}
{{Sporting News College Football Player of the Year}}
{{UPI College Football Player of the Year}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rozier, Mike}}
[[Category:1961 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:All-American college football players]]
[[Category:American Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:American football running backs]]
[[Category:Atlanta Falcons players]]
[[Category:Coffeyville Red Ravens football players]]
[[Category:College Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Heisman Trophy winners]]
[[Category:Houston Oilers players]]
[[Category:Jacksonville Bulls players]]
[[Category:Nebraska Cornhuskers football players]]
[[Category:People from Winslow Township, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Pittsburgh Maulers players]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Camden, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Eastside High School (Camden, New Jersey) alumni]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:Walter Camp Award winners]]
[[Category:Maxwell Award winners]]
[[Category:21st-century American sportsmen]]