Rocky Rosema
American football player (1946–2020)
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Roger William "Rocky" Rosema (February 5, 1946 – January 15, 2020) was an American football player. A native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, he played high school football at Grand Rapids Central High School. He next played college football for the University of Michigan, principally as a defensive end and linebacker, from 1965 to 1967. He also played professional football as a linebacker for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1968 to 1971.[1] In 2003, he was inducted into the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame.[2][3] In 2011, Rosema lost a lawsuit against the NFL Players Association alleging that he was owed pension benefits.[4][5]
Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S.
Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S.
Coach Bump Elliott and Rosema (No. 83) from 1968 Michiganensian | |||||||
| No. 34 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Linebacker | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born | February 5, 1946 Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S. | ||||||
| Died | January 15, 2020 (aged 73) Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S. | ||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||
| Listed weight | 230 lb (104 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school | Central (Grand Rapids) | ||||||
| College | Michigan | ||||||
| NFL draft | 1968: 5th round, 123rd overall pick | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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He died of dementia on January 15, 2020, in Grand Rapids, Michigan at age 73.[6] He is one of at least 345 NFL players to be diagnosed after death with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which is caused by repeated hits to the head.[7][8]
