Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On July 10, 1960, NFL Pro Bowl Receiver Roger Craig was born in Davenport. A three-time NFL Pro Bowl selection and an NFL Offensive Player of the Year, Craig won three Super Bowls and became the first NFL player to ever record 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving in the same season.
Starring at Davenport Central High School alongside future NFL tight end Jamie Williams, Craig dominated. In 1976, the sophomore running back helped Coach Jim Fox’s Blue Devil team win the Iowa State Championship. As a senior in 1978, Craig captured All-American honors after rushing for 1,565 yards and 27 touchdowns. Craig also showed athletic prowess off the gridiron, qualifying for the Iowa State Championships in track and finishing second in the 110 and 400 hurdles as a senior.
Following in his brother Curtis’s footsteps, Roger Craig headed west to play for the Nebraska Cornhuskers in college. Joined by his high school teammate Williams, Craig continued to shine as a Cornhusker. Craig racked up 2,446 yards and 26 touchdowns and gained All-Big 8 honors in 1977. During a 1981 game against Florida State Craig set a school record when he busted out for a 94-yard run from scrimmage. Selected 49th overall in the 1983 NFL Draft, Craig continued his journey west and joined the San Francisco 49ers.
Craig proved an immediate impact performer in San Francisco. He racked up 12 touchdowns during his rookie season and helped the team reach the NFC Championship. In January 1985, Craig became the first player to score three touchdowns in a Super Bowl as the 49ers defeated the Miami Dolphins 38-16. The next season, Craig scored 1,050 yards on 214 carries, led the NFL with 92 catches for 1,016 yards, and scored a team-high 15 touchdowns. In 1988, Craig was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press. He ran for a career-high 1,502 yards and caught an additional 76 passes for 534 yards. #IowaOTD #IowaHistoryDaily #IowaHistoryCalendar
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