| No. 9, 7 | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Placekicker | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born: | (1960-12-17)December 17, 1960 (age 64) San Francisco, California, U.S. | ||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 185 lb (84 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: | South San Francisco (CA) El Camino | ||||||||||
| College: | Weber State | ||||||||||
| Undrafted: | 1983 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
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| Stats at ArenaFan.com | |||||||||||
Roger Brian Ruzek (born December 17, 1960) is a formerAmerican footballplacekicker in theNational Football League (NFL) for theDallas Cowboys and thePhiladelphia Eagles. He also was a member of theNew Jersey Generals in theUnited States Football League (USFL). He playedcollege football atWeber State University.
Ruzek attendedEl Camino High School, where he played football,soccer andbaseball.
He accepted a football scholarship atWeber State University, where he became a four-year starter and received All-Big Sky honors in every season. As a senior, he set a school record and led theNCAA Division I-AA in field goal accuracy (16-19, 84.2%).
His 46 career field goals, and 221 career extra points wereNCAA Division I-AA records. He also set different school records: 4 field goals in a game, 30 consecutive extra points, which at the time were the best in school history. He made a 51 yard field goal, which was the second longest in school history at the time.
Ruzek was signed as anundrafted free agent by theCleveland Browns after the1983 NFL draft. On August 17, he was waived after he couldn't unseat the incumbentkickerMatt Bahr.
After being out offootball for a year, he received a tryout invitation from theNew Jersey Generals of theUnited States Football League, performing well enough to be named the starterkicker for the1984 season.[1] His first field goal was a 51-yarder. In1986, the team folded along with the rest of the league.
In two seasons, he made 34 of 48 (70.8%) field goal attempts and 100 of 105 extra point attempts (95.2%) for 202 points.
In November1986, theDallas Cowboys gave him a tryout. In1987 he was signed as afree agent, to compete for the kicker position afterRafael Septien was released. Intraining camp, he was the first Cowboys player to be cut on August 6, after struggling with a right ankle injury. On August 19, He was re-signed and eventually won the kicking competition.[2] He made 22 of 25 (88%) field goal attempts, ranking second in theNFL and breaking a franchise record. His 92 points tied for fourth in the league among kickers. Against theNew York Giants he tied anNFL record with 4field goals made in one quarter (the most ever made in a fourth quarter).[3] Against theLos Angeles Rams, he set a franchise mark with 5 field goals made (tied byEddie Murray in1993).
In1988, he had a contract holdout during the preseason and was replaced byLuis Zendejas in the first two games of the season.[4] He rejoined the team on September 13.[5] He struggled to regain his form, finishing with 12-of-22 (54.5%) field goal attempts.
In1989, he made only 5-of-11field goals (45.5%), before being released on November 7.[6] He was replaced with Zendejas.
On November 22,1989, Ruzek signed as afree agent with thePhiladelphia Eagles to replace a strugglingSteve DeLine.[7] He made 8-of 11 (72.7%) field goals.
In1990, he hit 21-of-29 (72.4%) field goals and made a 53-yardfield goal, which at the time was the third-longest in franchise history. He also made 45-of-48(93.8%) extra points.
In1991, he made 28-of-33 (84.8%) field goals, with a long of 51 yards and 27-of-29(93.1%) extra points.
In1993, the team signedMatt Bahr after Ruzek strained his right hamstring, while making a game-winning 30-yard field goal with time running out against theGreen Bay Packers.[8] He was released two weeks later on September 24, when the team decided to replace him with Bahr.[9] He was re-signed on December 14, after Bahr struggled missing 5 of his last 8 field goal attempts.[10][11] He finished making 8-of-10 (80%) in field goals and 13-of-16 (81.3%) extra points, including a game winner against theSan Francisco 49ers.[12]
On July 28,1994, he was released to make room for veteran kickerEddie Murray.
In1994, he was signed by theSan Francisco 49ers. On July 28, he was cut after the team decided to keep rookie third round draft choiceDoug Brien.[13]
In1996, Ruzek signed with theSan Jose SaberCats of theArena Football League, making 3 out of 8field goals and 11 out of 12extra points.[14]
In1996, he played with theLondon Monarchs of theWorld League of American Football, making 8 of 11field goals (72.7%).
Ruzek was given the classic nickname "Who Framed Roger Ruzek" (after the movieWho Framed Roger Rabbit) by sportscasterChris Berman. He was a teammate ofHerschel Walker with three different teams (Generals, Cowboys and Eagles).