Guy Roberts
| Date of birth | May 10, 1900 |
|---|---|
| Place of birth | Schaler, Iowa |
| Date of death | 1993 |
| Career information | |
| Position(s) | Fullback, Halfback, Quarterback |
| College | Iowa State |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 1926 | Canton Bulldogs |
| 1926 | Cleveland Bulldogs |
| 1927 | Pottsville Maroons |
| Career stats | |
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Guy Thomas "Zeke" Roberts (May 10, 1900 - 1993) was a professional American football player in the early National Football League and the first American Football League. He played for three pro teams over the course of two years. In 1926 he played with the Canton Bulldogs in the NFL and the Cleveland Panthers in the AFL. He played the following season with the NFL's Pottsville Maroons. Prior to his professional career, Roberts played college football for the Iowa State Cyclones.
Guy played college football at Iowa State. He played alongside Jack Trice, who became the first African-American athlete at the school. He was also on the field during an October 6, 1923 game between Iowa State and University of Minnesota. It was during that game that Trice received several injuries that led to his death two days later.
Roberts also played in a one professional game, under an alias, while still a student at Iowa State. Following the end of the Cyclones 1924 season, Guy and two other players were asked to play a post-season game for which they would be paid. During the game, the Iowa State players realized that some of their opponents were from the University of Iowa. Roberts later stated that he still had one year of eligibility on the men's basketball team and was fearful of being caught.
Roberts played four years at Iowa State, but did not graduate.
In the summer of 1926, Guy was living in Los Angeles. It was then that he received word from the NFL's Pottsville Maroons regarding him playing with the club that upcoming season. Roberts drove from California to Pottsville, Pennsylvania, on a stripped down Model T Ford. While en route to Pottsville he stopped in Cleveland to see his future wife. While in Cleveland, he met with the manager of the Cleveland Panthers, who were a part of the upstart American Football League. The offered Guy $150 to play for them, which was more that what the Maroons were offering, and he accepted.
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