New Orleans Saints Flashback: Jimmy Rogers

Jimmy Rogers was a running back/kick returner for the New Orleans Saints for five seasons, from 1980-1984.

A native of Forest City, Arkansas, Rogers played his college football for the Oklahoma Sooners, where he rushed for 460 yards and five touchdowns, from 1974-1978.

Rogers was never a starter at Oklahoma, playing behind Billy Sims, the 1978 Heisman Trophy winner.

After going unselected in the 1979 NFL Draft, Rogers was out of football for one season, before making the Saints' roster in 1980.

Granted, the Saints were awful in 1980, going 1-15, but Rogers, who was a 25-year old rookie, led the team in rushing, gaining 366 yards on 80 carries, along with three touchdowns, while catching 27 passes for 267 yards and two scores.

As a returner, Rogers had 41 returns for 930 yards.

The Saints made a coaching change before the 1981 season, dismissing Dick Nolan, and replacing him with Bum Phillips, who promptly selected running back George Rogers, the Heisman Trophy winner from South Carolina.

Still, Rogers, who was 5-foot-10 and 190 pounds, stayed around as a back-up for the next four years, being used as a reserve running back, while also seeing time at kick returner, and on special teams.

In his five years with the Saints, Rogers accumulated 661 rushing yards, along with three touchdowns, on 175 carries, while catching 33 passes for 296 yards and two scores.

Following the 1984 season, Rogers left the Saints, and never played another down in the NFL.

Now 58-years old, Jimmy, who wore #41, will be remembered by fans of the Saints in the early 80's as "the other Rogers" in the backfield.