Roland Harper
Encyclopedia
Roland Harper is a former professional American football
player who played running back
for eight seasons for the Chicago Bears
. He was selected in the 17th and final round of the 1975 draft from Louisiana Tech. He was a starting fullback
known in his playing days as a punishing blocker who opened holes in opposing defenses for star halfback Walter Payton
. Harper ranks sixth on the Bears' all-time rushing list with 3,044 yards and 15 TDs on 757 carries in seven seasons.
Although he was drafted in the final round of the 1975, Harper wound up as the Bears starting fullback that season. He was joined in the backfield that season by fellow rookie Payton, who was the Bears 1st round draft choice that season. Fellow rookie Bob Avellini
, the Bears 6th round draft pick in 1975, also started several games at quarterback
that season, giving the Bears an all rookie backfield. Harper, Payton and Avelleni started most of the games for the Bears together from 1976 through 1978. In his rookie season, Harper rushed for 453 yards on 100 carries. His 4.5 yards per rushing attempt ranked 7th in the NFL that season. He also caught 27 passes for 191 yards in 1975.
In 1976, Harper started all 14 games and increased his rushing yards total to 625 on 147 carries, for a 4.3 yards per carry average. He also caught 29 passes for 291 yards. In 1977, Harper rushed for 457 yards on 120 carries, a 3.8 yards per carry average, and caught 19 passes for 142 yards.
Harper's best season was 1978, when he rushed for 992 yards on 240 carries, for a 4.1 yards per carry average. Since Payton rushed for 1,395 yards that season, he fell just eight rushing yards short of making the 1978 Bears
the 3rd NFL team and 1st NFC team to have two players with at least 1,000 rushing yards (after the 1972 Miami Dolphins
and the 1976 Pittsburgh Steelers
). He also caught a career high 43 passes that season for 340 yards, and set another career high by scoring eight touchdown
s (six rushing, two receiving). His 1332 total yards from scrimmage ranked 10th in the NFL that season, and his 240 rushing attempts also ranked 10th in the NFL.
Harper missed the entire 1979 season due to a knee injury. However, he returned in 1980 and started 12 games. In 1980, he rushed for 404 yards on 113 carries for a 3.6 yards per carry average and caught just 7 passes for 31 yards, but his blocking helped Payton run for 1,460 yards. Although Harper played in 15 games in 1981, he was supplanted as the starting fullback for most of the season by Matt Suhey
. He rushed for just 106 yards on 34 carries (a 3.1 average) and caught just two passes all year for ten yards. Harper's final season was 1982, when he played in eight games, rushed for seven yards on three carries, and caught one pass for eight yards.
After his playing career ended, Harper continued to live in the Chicago area. Since 1990, he ran Rohar Trucking and Excavating, a company that does snow removal, trucking, transporting construction materials and erecting steel. The company helped build the skybox
es at Soldier Field
, the Bears' home field.
In June 2008, Harper pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud. The fraud allowed Monahan Landscape Co., a white-owned firm owned by Aidan Monahan, to receive a $1.5 million Chicago Public Schools landscaping contract that was supposed to be reserved for minority-owned firms. The plea also revealed that Rohar was controlled by Monahan. In June 2009 he was sentenced to two years probation
, including one year house arrest
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player who played running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
for eight seasons for the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He was selected in the 17th and final round of the 1975 draft from Louisiana Tech. He was a starting fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
known in his playing days as a punishing blocker who opened holes in opposing defenses for star halfback Walter Payton
Walter Payton
Walter Jerry Payton was an American football running back who played for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League for thirteen seasons. Walter Payton was known around the NFL as "Sweetness". He is remembered as one of the most prolific running backs in the history of American football...
. Harper ranks sixth on the Bears' all-time rushing list with 3,044 yards and 15 TDs on 757 carries in seven seasons.
Although he was drafted in the final round of the 1975, Harper wound up as the Bears starting fullback that season. He was joined in the backfield that season by fellow rookie Payton, who was the Bears 1st round draft choice that season. Fellow rookie Bob Avellini
Bob Avellini
Robert Hayden Avellini was a quarterback in the NFL. For most of his career, he played for the Chicago Bears before finishing with the New York Jets. His nickname was "Slow-Mo".-Pro career:...
, the Bears 6th round draft pick in 1975, also started several games at quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
that season, giving the Bears an all rookie backfield. Harper, Payton and Avelleni started most of the games for the Bears together from 1976 through 1978. In his rookie season, Harper rushed for 453 yards on 100 carries. His 4.5 yards per rushing attempt ranked 7th in the NFL that season. He also caught 27 passes for 191 yards in 1975.
In 1976, Harper started all 14 games and increased his rushing yards total to 625 on 147 carries, for a 4.3 yards per carry average. He also caught 29 passes for 291 yards. In 1977, Harper rushed for 457 yards on 120 carries, a 3.8 yards per carry average, and caught 19 passes for 142 yards.
Harper's best season was 1978, when he rushed for 992 yards on 240 carries, for a 4.1 yards per carry average. Since Payton rushed for 1,395 yards that season, he fell just eight rushing yards short of making the 1978 Bears
1978 Chicago Bears season
The 1978 Chicago Bears season was their 59th regular season completed in the National Football League. The club posted a 7-9 record in the first year of Coach Neill Armstrong, yet another below .500 record in the 1970s.-Schedule:-Standings:...
the 3rd NFL team and 1st NFC team to have two players with at least 1,000 rushing yards (after the 1972 Miami Dolphins
1972 Miami Dolphins season
The 1972 Miami Dolphins are the only National Football League team to win the Super Bowl with a perfect season. The undefeated campaign was led by coach Don Shula and notable players Bob Griese, Earl Morrall, and Larry Csonka...
and the 1976 Pittsburgh Steelers
1976 Pittsburgh Steelers season
The 1976 Pittsburgh Steelers started the season looking to become the first team in the Super Bowl era to win three-straight league championships...
). He also caught a career high 43 passes that season for 340 yards, and set another career high by scoring eight touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s (six rushing, two receiving). His 1332 total yards from scrimmage ranked 10th in the NFL that season, and his 240 rushing attempts also ranked 10th in the NFL.
Harper missed the entire 1979 season due to a knee injury. However, he returned in 1980 and started 12 games. In 1980, he rushed for 404 yards on 113 carries for a 3.6 yards per carry average and caught just 7 passes for 31 yards, but his blocking helped Payton run for 1,460 yards. Although Harper played in 15 games in 1981, he was supplanted as the starting fullback for most of the season by Matt Suhey
Matt Suhey
Matthew Jerome Suhey is a former professional American football player, playing fullback/running back for ten seasons in the National Football League for the Chicago Bears...
. He rushed for just 106 yards on 34 carries (a 3.1 average) and caught just two passes all year for ten yards. Harper's final season was 1982, when he played in eight games, rushed for seven yards on three carries, and caught one pass for eight yards.
After his playing career ended, Harper continued to live in the Chicago area. Since 1990, he ran Rohar Trucking and Excavating, a company that does snow removal, trucking, transporting construction materials and erecting steel. The company helped build the skybox
Skybox
Skybox may refer to:* a luxury box at a sports arena or stadium* the Digibox satellite decoder* Skybox , an American indie pop band* SkyBox International, a trading card company...
es at Soldier Field
Soldier Field
Soldier Field is located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois, United States, in the Near South Side. It is home to the NFL's Chicago Bears...
, the Bears' home field.
In June 2008, Harper pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud. The fraud allowed Monahan Landscape Co., a white-owned firm owned by Aidan Monahan, to receive a $1.5 million Chicago Public Schools landscaping contract that was supposed to be reserved for minority-owned firms. The plea also revealed that Rohar was controlled by Monahan. In June 2009 he was sentenced to two years probation
Probation
Probation literally means testing of behaviour or abilities. In a legal sense, an offender on probation is ordered to follow certain conditions set forth by the court, often under the supervision of a probation officer...
, including one year house arrest
House arrest
In justice and law, house arrest is a measure by which a person is confined by the authorities to his or her residence. Travel is usually restricted, if allowed at all...
.