Roman Harper

Roman Harper

refer to caption

Harper in 2012
No. 41 New Orleans Saints
Position: Strong safety
Personal information
Date of birth: (1982-12-11) December 11, 1982
Place of birth: Prattville, Alabama
Height: 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight: 205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school: Prattville (AL)
College: Alabama
NFL Draft: 2006 / Round: 2 / Pick: 43
Career history
Roster status: Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 11, 2016
Tackles: 798
Quarterback sacks: 18.0
Interceptions: 11
Forced fumbles: 15
Player stats at NFL.com

Roman Harper (born December 11, 1982) is an American football safety for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama, and was drafted by the Saints in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft. In 2009, Harper earned his first Pro Bowl invitation and helped lead the Saints to Super Bowl XLIV, and again in 2016 with the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50.

Early years

Harper was born and went to high school in Prattville, Alabama, where he was a quarterback, safety, and returner for Prattville High School. He led the Lions to a 9-2 record his senior season. Harper was a first Team All State performer and was also selected to the Alabama-Mississippi All Star Game.

College career

Harper attended the University of Alabama, and played for the Alabama Crimson Tide football team. He was a four-year letterman and a three-year starter and finished his college football career with 302 tackles, 5 interceptions, 5 forced fumbles, 4 fumble recoveries, and 3.5 sacks. As a sophomore, he totaled 114 tackles (second most on the team) and also had an interception and a fumble recovery. As a junior, he was a second team All-Southeastern Conference selection. As a senior, he was a first team All-Southeastern Conference selection.[1]

Professional career

New Orleans Saints

Harper celebrating the Saints' win of Super Bowl XLIV.

Drafted in the second round by the Saints, Harper started five games in 2006 but was put on injured reserve on October 10. He started 16 games in 2007 and 15 games in 2008. In 2009, Harper earned his first Pro Bowl berth and helped lead the Saints to their first Super Bowl win in franchise history. In Super Bowl XLIV, he led the Saints with 8 tackles and defeated the Indianapolis Colts 31-17.

Harper was released by the Saints on February 12, 2014 after 8 years with the team.[2]

Carolina Panthers

On March 15, 2014, Harper was signed by the Carolina Panthers.[3] During his debut performance for the Panthers against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Harper recorded 2 tackles, 1 pass deflection, and 1 interception.[4] During the Panthers week 5 win over the Chicago Bears, Harper recorded his second interception of the season against Jay Cutler.[5] Harper won NFC defensive player of the week for his performance in week 17 against division rival Atlanta Falcons. Harper recorded 6 tackles, 1 pass defended, and a 31-yard pick six. In Harper's second season with the team, The Panthers finished the season with a team record 15 wins. They went on to beat the Seahawks and Cardinals to reach Super Bowl 50. In the Super Bowl, Harper had 2 tackles, but the Panthers lost 24-10 to the Denver Broncos.

New Orleans Saints (second stint)

On June 7, 2016, Harper agreed to return to the Saints, where he is expected to play a role in the leadership of the defense while serving as a backup to the Saints' younger safeties. He signed a one-year, $1.065 million contract with the Saints. [6]

Awards and championships

NFL stats

Year Team GP COMB TOTAL AST SACK FF FR FR YDS INT IR YDS AVG IR LNG TD PD
2006 NO 5 27 25 2 1.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3
2007 NO 16 90 75 15 4.0 2 0 0 3 58 19 31 1 8
2008 NO 15 89 82 7 0.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9
2009 NO 16 102 84 18 1.5 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5
2010 NO 15 98 76 22 3.0 6 1 0 1 6 6 6 0 8
2011 NO 16 95 73 22 7.5 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 7
2012 NO 16 115 88 27 0.0 0 0 0 2 41 21 41 0 11
2013 NO 9 39 27 12 0.0 0 1 19 1 0 0 0 0 1
2014 CAR 16 62 39 23 1.0 1 0 0 4 43 11 31 1 10
2015 CAR 16 73 46 27 0.0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 5
Career 140 790 615 175 18.0 15 5 0 11 148 13 41 2 67

[7]

Key

Community work

Harper and his mother, Princess Harper, founded the Harper's Hope Foundation in 2009. The primary goal of the foundation has been, “to strengthen families and enhance their emotional, social, and spiritual health through educational programs, enrichment activities, and economic development.”

In July 2010 the foundation hosted its first annual "A Sainted Weekend" Celebrity Golf Tournament and Silent Auction. He also trains and teaches his cousin Jordan Harper (a young up and coming high school football player) during the summer. He currently attends Alief Elsik High School.

Harper became a member of School of the Legends (SOTL) in 2010.[8]

References

  1. ↑ New Orleans Saints bio for Roman Harper (accessed December 27, 2010).
  2. ↑ Patra, Kevin (February 12, 2014). "Saints release Jabari Greer, Roman Harper, Will Smith". NFL.com.
  3. ↑ "Panthers sign safety Harper". www.panthers.com. Retrieved 2016-06-07.
  4. ↑ "Carolina at Tampa Bay | 2014-09-07 | National Football League | Yahoo! Sports". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved 2016-06-07.
  5. ↑ "Roman Harper | Carolina Panthers | National Football League | Yahoo! Sports". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved 2016-06-07.
  6. ↑ Nick Underhill, "Veteran safety Roman Harper to return to New Orleans Saints, agency says", The New Orleans Advocate, June 7, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Roman Harper Stats". ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
  8. ↑ "Veteran Running Backs Offer Rookies Advice in Exclusive School of the Legends Interview". Business Wire. 2011-06-03. Retrieved 2011-12-06.
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