Hall of Fame
J.D. Roberts played football at Jesuit for three years, including the undefeated 1949 season. He was voted Best Blocker all three years and was included on The Dallas Morning News All-Time Area High School All-Star Football Team.
Roberts attended Oklahoma University playing “both-ways” on the football team. He received numerous distinctions during his three-year varsity career including: the Outland Trophy Winner, consensus First Team All-American, Lineman of the Year Award as a senior and All-Time Big Eight Football Team. He was inducted into the Texas High School and College Football Hall of Fame and the State of Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame.
Roberts was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 1954, but signed a contract with the Hamilton Tiger Cats of the Canadian Football League. He began his football coaching career as an assistant at the University of Denver, then at Oklahoma University, defensive coordinator for the U.S. Naval Academy, offensive line coach at Auburn University, and then moved back to Texas and served as an assistant coach for the University of Houston in 1965.
Roberts rejoined the pro ranks as a scout for the New York Jets and as a linebacker coach and scout for the New Orleans Saints in 1967. He was named interim head coach for the Saints during the 1970 season. In his first game, Tom Dempsey kicked an NFL record-breaking 63 yard field goal to defeat the Detroit Lions as time expired. Roberts remained head coach through 1973 and was voted NFC Runner-up Coach of the Year in 1971.
