RIP - Retired NFL punter Roby dies at 43

[MsRandall]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Punter Reggie Roby, a 16-year NFL veteran and three-time Pro Bowler, died Tuesday morning after being found unconscious at home by his wife. He was 43.

Melissa Roby found her husband with no pulse Tuesday morning at their home. Paramedics tried to resuscitate him at home and in the ambulance, but he was pronounced dead in the emergency room at St. Thomas Hospital at 8:35 a.m. CST, according to a statement released by the family.

The cause of death is unknown, the statement said.

A graduate of Iowa, Roby was a sixth-round pick in 1983 by the Miami Dolphins where he played between 1983 and 1992. He also played for the Washington Redskins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Houston/Tennessee Oilers and San Francisco 49ers where he wrapped up his career with a final season in 1999.

He led the AFC in 1991 with an average punt of 45.7 yards, and he still holds the Pro Bowl record with 10 punts in the 1985 game.

Roby, who had six children, had been the marketing and development director for Backfield in Motion, a nonprofit group mixing athletics and academics to help boys in the inner city.

"Reggie was just a kid at heart," said Michael Brown, Backfield in Motion's chief executive officer. "Reggie was the ultimate package as far as I was concerned. In this type of work that we are in, there is no question that it was his calling."




If a person can have a favorite punter .....Reggie was definately mine...He caught my attention because he was soo big to be a punter. RIP

[nohbdyshero]

black punters aren't all that common either

[jsmithwick]

Sad news.

He's the 2nd veteran NFL'er named Reggie to die recently at age 43...hmmm.

Reggie White, and now Reggie Roby.

Strange.

[icsedge1]

i'm the VP and game watch guru for the NYC iowa alumi group. every week i send out a basketball recap/schedule update. tonight i opened it with this:

First, a reminder that sports is just that; a game, and outside of the highs and lows sports brings us, life goes on.

Reggie Roby, a member of Hayden Fry’s first recruiting class, a two time All-American, and 16 year NFL punter, has died at the age of 43, in Nashville. I clearly remember watching on tv, and hearing Jim Zabel on the radio, detail how Reggie turned a bad situation for the Iowa offense into a tactical advantage for the defense. In fact, he still holds the NCAA record (for punters with more than 40 punts in a career) with his 49.8 yard average in 1981. Reggie was a critical cog in the ascent the Hawks made back up the football charts in the early 80’s, and he will live on in our hearts and minds for his part in putting the Hawkeyes back on the map. He also is the father of 6 children – he lived a life beyond football. Rest in peace, Reggie. Hawk Central’s recap of his life and on field exploits:
http://www.hawkcentral.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050222/HAWKS0104/50222001/1053/HAWKS

all of the Hawks are mourning tonight. godspeed Reggie.

sedge