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| Position: | Running back | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | (1962-10-18)October 18, 1962 (age 62) Elizabeth City, North Carolina, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 220 lb (100 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Walter H. Page (Greensboro, North Carolina) | ||||||||
| College: | Colorado (1981–1984) | ||||||||
| NFL draft: | 1985: 8th round, 213th pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Cecil Lee Rouson (born October 18, 1962) is an American former professionalfootballrunning back. He played a total of seven seasons for theNational Football League (NFL)New York Giants andCleveland Browns. He was selected as the NFLSpecial Teams Player of the Year in 1986.
Rouson was born inElizabeth City, North Carolina.[1] His family later moved toGreensboro, North Carolina where he attendedPage High School[2] and was an older football teammate of former NFL wide receiverHaywood Jeffires. After high school Rouson attended theUniversity of Colorado. While playing for the Buffaloes he earnedFreshman All Big Eight team honors in 1981, was an honorable mention All Big Eight Player of the Year, and participated in theBlue–Gray Football Classic. Rouson is 4th on the list of Buffaloes all-time leading rushers.[3]
Lee Rouson was drafted in the eighth round of the1985 NFL draft by theNew York Giants, the #213th player taken overall.[4] Rouson saw little playing time his first year, appearing in only two games rushing for one yard on one attempt.[5] The next season, he would see considerably more playing time, appearing in 14 games. Serving on special teams and backing up Giants running backJoe Morris, Rouson had 54 carries for 179 yards and two touchdowns, plus eight receptions for 121 yards and a third touchdown.[5] He played a notable role in the Giants 39–20 win over theDenver Broncos inSuper Bowl XXI, primarily returning kicks but also rushing for 22 yards on three carries plus a 23-yard reception from quarterback Phil Simms in the third quarter.[6] Rouson continued as a solid player for the Giants through the 1990 season, capping it with a second Super Bowl ring as New York edged theBuffalo Bills 20–19 inSuper Bowl XXV. Lee Rouson's final season in the NFL was spent as a tight end and fullback for the Cleveland Browns before suffering a career-ending ankle injury.[7]
Rouson credits former football coaches Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick and Bill McCartney for his success.[8]
Lee Rouson works as a motivational speaker for Sports World Ministries, travelling to schools and churches around the United States. Rouson is also an associate pastor at New Horizon Community Church and has served as northern New Jersey director for theFellowship of Christian Athletes.[7] He lives inFlanders section ofMount Olive Township, New Jersey. Rouson and wife Lisa, a Registered Nurse and Director of Oncology, are the parents of four children; two boys, two girls. In the early 2000's Rouson started coaching Football atMount Olive High School,Mount Olive Township School District.[9]
He was a mentor at Mount Olive High School and Chester M. Stephens Elementary School.[9]Rouson's son, Jas Lee Rouson was a running back forTowson University.[3]