Reggie Roby

Reginald Henry "Reggie" Roby (July 30, 1961 – February 22, 2005) was an American football punter in the National Football League and a three-time Pro Bowler. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the sixth round of the 1983 NFL Draft out of the University of Iowa. He also played for the Washington Redskins, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Houston/Tennessee Oilers, and the San Francisco 49ers, retiring in 1999 after 16 seasons. Roby, who was also a standout pitcher on the Waterloo East High School team, was drafted by Major League Baseball's Cincinnati Reds. Roby instead chose to attend college. Despite the fact that he had experience at quarterback and possessed a strong arm, Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Hayden Fry made the 6'-4", 250 pound Roby a punter and kick off specialist, also using him for long range field goals.

Roby helped popularize the now-standard two-step approach and often wore a watch to gauge his hangtime.

He was one of a handful of African American kickers in National Football League history.

Reggie Roby died of unrevealed causes at his Nashville home.

College career

Before Reggie Roby arrived, the University of Iowa football team had not had a winning season in twenty years. With Roby, the 1981 team earned its first Rose Bowl invitation in twenty-three years on the strength of a 6-2 conference record (8-4 overall) and co-Big Ten championship with Ohio......
Read More