Place of birth Dallas, Texas Role American football player Status Retired Height 1.93 m | College Southern Methodist Weight 89 kg Name John Roach | |
Date of birth (1933-03-26) March 26, 1933 (age 82) High school Highland Park High School NFL draft 1956 / Round: 3 / Pick: 31 Education Southern Methodist University Positions Quarterback, Defensive back | ||
John Gipson Roach (born March 26, 1933) is a former American football player, a quarterback and defensive back in the National Football League for the Chicago/St. Louis Cardinals, Green Bay Packers, and Dallas Cowboys.
Born and raised in Dallas, Texas, Roach graduated from Highland Park High School in University Park, which had earlier produced hall of famers Bobby Layne and Doak Walker.
Roach played college football at Southern Methodist University in Dallas and was selected in the third round (31st overall) in the 1956 NFL draft by the Chicago Cardinals. After his rookie season, he spent two years in the U.S. Air Force, and returned to the team in 1959, and started as a defensive back, then as a quarterback late in the season. He was the starting quarterback in 1960, their first season in St. Louis, then was traded in the off season to Cleveland, and again to Green Bay in August.
Roach was on the Packers' 1961 and 1962 NFL championship teams, backing up Bart Starr under head coach Vince Lombardi. When Starr injured his passing hand in October 1963 and was out for 4½ games, Roach was the starter. The Packers were 4–1 with Starr sidelined and finished 11–2–1, but the 26–7 loss to the Chicago Bears in mid-November was critical; it kept them a half game back in the Western Conference final standings and denied Green Bay a chance to win an unprecedented third consecutive NFL championship game.
Roach retired after the season and worked for an investment firm in Dallas. He was acquired by the Dallas Cowboys in 1964 after starting quarterback Don Meredith went down with a minor knee injury in late August and Roach made several starts during the season.