A number of people have represented the Acadiana area in the National Football League.

All summer long, we’re going to spotlight the fantastic athletes from the area, people that were actually born in one of the Acadiana parishes, that went on to play football at the highest level, the NFL.

Yesterday, we profiled New Iberia native Kermit Alexander.

Today, we spotlight Ross Brupbacher.

Born on April 7, 1948 in Lafayette, Brupbacher attended Lafayette High School.

Following his high school years, Brupbacher to college at Texas A&M, where he excelled in not only on defense, but played on the offensive side of the ball as well, racking up 104 rushing yards, to go along with 418 receiving yards over his time in College Station.

The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Brupbacher was selected by the Chicago Bears in the 4th round of the 1970 NFL Draft.

Brupbacher made his NFL debut with the Bears in 1970, at the age of 22, appearing in all 14 games, intercepting two passes.

The next two seasons, 1971 and 1972, Brupbacher was one of Chicago's starter at linebacker, compiling three interceptions and four fumble recoveries.

Following the 1972 season, Brupbacher left the NFL, joining the Birmingham Americans of the World Football League, where he played for two seasons, leading that team to the 1974 World Bowl championship game, in which they defeated the Florida Blazers, 22-21.

After the World Football League folded following the 1975 season, Brupbacher returned to the NFL, and to the Bears, for the 1976 campaign, starting at linebacker in his final season of professional football.

In 4 NFL seasons, all with the Bears, Brupbacher appeared in 56 games, including 40 as a starter, accumulating 12 interceptions and 7 fumble recoveries, with one for a touchdown.

Brupbacher, who has been a successful attorney in Lafayette for many years following his playing days, has a son, Ross Brupbacher, who was a standout defensive player for the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns during the early years of the new century.

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