Honor the Heroes of the Game, Preserve Its History, Promote Its Values & Celebrate Excellence Everywhere
T
(Louisiana Tech)...6'5'', 300...William Layton Roaf ... Saints’ first-round pick, first offensive lineman selected in 1993 draft … Started at right tackle as rookie, never missed an offensive snap … Switched to left tackle, 1994 … 11 Pro Bowls … Named first-team All-Pro seven times (four times with New Orleans, three with Kansas City)… All-NFC six times, All-AFC three times … Member of the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1990s and 2000s … Born April 18, 1970 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.
The New Orleans Saints drafted tackle Willie Roaf out of Louisiana Tech in the first round eighth player overall, in the 1993 NFL Draft. He was the first offensive lineman selected in that year’s draft.
Roaf started all 16 games at right tackle and did not miss an offensive snap during his first season and earned All-Rookie honors. The following year he was switched to left tackle and performed at a level that earned him more national accolades. He was voted to the Pro Bowl for the first time, named first-team All-Pro, All-NFC, and honored as the NFLPA’s NFC Offensive Lineman of the Year for the first of two consecutive seasons.
He played nine seasons in New Orleans where he started 131 regular season games. He also started two playoff games including the franchise’s first-ever postseason win, a 31-28 victory over the defending Super Bowl champion St. Louis Rams in the 2000 NFC Wild Card game.
A knee injury shortened Roaf’s 2001 season to just seven games. Then, just prior to the next year’s draft Roaf was traded by the Saints to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for a third-round draft pick. He rebounded from his injury to regain his form. Roaf earned All-Pro honors in three of the four seasons he played with the Chiefs. He was a key part of Kansas City’s offensive line that helped the Chiefs lead the NFL in points scored in 2002 and 2003. The club also led the AFC in total yards in 2003 and the NFL in 2004 and 2005.
The 6’5”, 300-pound Roaf retired after the 2005 season. In all, he played in 189 career games over 13 seasons and was named first-team All-NFL seven times (1994-96, 2000, 2003-05), All-NFC six times, and All-AFC three times. He was also voted to 11 Pro Bowls. The only times he did not receive an invitation to the league’s All-Star game during his career was following his rookie year and his injury-shortened 2001 season.
All-League Teams
All-Pro: 1994 (AP, PFWA, SN) • 1995 (AP, PFWA, SN) • 1996 (PFWA, SN) • 2000 (PFWA) • 2003 (PFWA) • 2004 (AP, PFWA) • 2005 (SN)
All-Pro Second Team: 1996 (AP) • 1997 (AP) • 2000 (AP) • 2002 (AP) • 2003 (AP) • 2005 (AP)
All-NFC: 1994 (UPI, PW) • 1995 (UPI, PW) • 1996 (UPI, PW) • 1997 (PW) • 1999 (PW) • 2000 (PW)
All-AFC: 2003 (PW) • 2004 (PW) • 2005 (PW)
Pro Bowls
(11) – 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999*, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004*, 2005*, 2006*
*Did not play
Awards and Honors
• 1990s NFL All-Decade Team • 1994 NFC Offensive Lineman of the Year (NFLPA) • 1995 Offensive Lineman of the Year (NFL Alumni) • 1995 NFC Offensive Lineman of the Year (NFLPA) • 2000s NFL All-Decade Team
Full Name: William Layton Roaf
Birthdate: April 18, 1970
Birthplace: Pine Bluff, Arkansas
High School: Pine Bluff (AR)
Elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame: February 4, 2012 Enshrined into Pro Football Hall of Fame: August 4, 2012 Presenter: Clifton Roaf, Willie's father Other Members of Class of 2012: Jack Butler, Dermontti Dawson, Chris Doleman, Cortez Kennedy, Curtis Martin,
Pro Career: 13 seasons, 189 games
Drafted: 1st round (8th player overall) in 1993 by New Orleans Saints Uniform: 77