Roland Harper
| Date of birth | February 28, 1953 |
|---|---|
| Place of birth | Seguin, Texas |
| Career information | |
| Position(s) | RB |
| College | Louisiana Tech |
| NFL draft | 1975 / Round: 17 / Pick 420 |
| Career history | |
| As player | |
| 1975–1982 | Chicago Bears |
| Career stats | |
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Roland Harper (born February 28, 1953 in Seguin, Texas) 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. Harper was inducted into the Louisiana Tech University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1986.
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 touchdowns (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.
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