- Roger Wehrli
Infobox NFLretired
|caption=
width=
position=Cornerback
number=22
birthdate=birth date and age|1947|10|26New Point, Missouri
deathdate=
debutyear=1969
finalyear=1982
draftyear=1969
draftround=1
draftpick=19
college=Missouri
teams=
* St. Louis Cardinals (1969-1982)
stat1label=INT
stat1value=40
stat2label=INT yards
stat2value=898
stat3label=Touchdowns
stat3value=9
nfl=WEH553722
highlights=
* 7xPro Bowl selection (1970, 1971, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1979)
* 7xAll-Pro selection (1970, 1971, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1979)
* 7x All-NFC selection (1970, 1971, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1979)
*NFL 1970s All-Decade Team
HOF=250
CollegeHOF=90052Roger Wehrli (born
November 26 ,1947 ) is a Hall of FameNational Football League cornerback who played his entire 14-year career with the St. Louis Cardinals from 1969 until 1982. He was a seven-timePro Bowl er after playing college football at the University of Missouri, where he was a consensusAll-American and a first-round draft choice by the Cardinals in 1969.High school
Wehrli was born in
New Point, Missouri . In 1969, Dan Devine recruited Wehrli fromKing City, Missouri , where he lettered in football, basketball, and track for the Wildkats.College career
Missouri's Roger Wehrli was a fast, hard-hitting defender who had a quick first step to the football. A gifted athlete who was assigned to defense by
University of Missouri coachDan Devine . Despite playing on defense, Wehrli was still able to get his hands on the ball often enough to be an offensive threat. Wehrli was a two-time All-Big 8 player and was the Big 8 Defensive Player of the Year as a senior. That same year, he was a unanimous All-America selection.Roger had ten career interceptions with seven coming in his senior season. He also returned both kickoffs and punts. In 1968, his 40 punt returns and 12-yard return average led the nation. To finish off an 8-3 season, Wehrli had a decisive interception to help lead the Missouri to a 35-10 victory over the
University of Alabama in theGator Bowl .At the time of his College Hall of Fame induction he held school records for career punt returns, punt return yards in a game, season, and career. He played in the
Senior Bowl and was named to the 50-year Anniversary All-Senior Bowl team.Wehrli was a member of the first class of inductees into the
Missouri Sports Hall of Fame , located inSpringfield, Missouri .He was elected to the
College Football Hall of Fame in2003 . Joining him as part of the 2003 College Football Hall of Fame Class include playersRicky Bell (USC), Murry Bowden (Dartmouth), Tom Brown (Minnesota),Jimbo Covert (Pittsburgh),Jerry LeVias (SMU),Billy Neighbors (Alabama),Ron Pritchard (Arizona State), John Rauch (Georgia),Barry Sanders (Oklahoma State) andJoe Theismann (Notre Dame). Also elected as coaches are Doug Dickey and Hayden Fry.Wehrli is the 13th person with ties to the University of Missouri to be inducted into the College Hall of Fame. He will join standouts Bill Roper (Coach, 1951),
Paul Christman (Quarterback, 1960), Don Faurot (Coach, 1961), Bob Steuber (Halfback, 1971), James Phelan (Coach, 1973), Ed “Brick” Travis (Tackle, 1974), Darold Jenkins (Center, 1976),Frank Broyles (Coach, 1983), John Waldorf (Official, 1984),Dan Devine (Coach, 1985),Johnny Roland (Halfback, 1998) andKellen Winslow (Tight End, 2002).In 1990 was voted to be a charter member of the
University of Missouri Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame.NFL career
Wehrli's outstanding attribute was his speed. Originally expected to be taken in the third round, he ran a 4.5
40 yard dash and vaulted into the first round [http://www.ksdk.com/sports/sports_article.aspx?storyid=112156] . Hall of Famequarterback Roger Staubach has called Wehrli the best cornerback he played against, and claims that the term "shutdown corner" originated as a description of Wehrli. [http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/rams/story/B97844A6C3F8B839862572780016DB25?OpenDocument]In his career, Wehrli had 40 career interceptions for 309 yards and recovered 19 fumbles. He was elected to the
Pro Football Hall of Fame in2007 . When voted to thePro Football Hall of Fame he just the second Missouri player to be elected, joining former tight endKellen Winslow , who was enshrined in 1995. Wehrli was inducted into the Cardinals Ring of Honor onOctober 14 ,2007 .An All-Rookie choice in 1969, Wehrli was voted All-Pro by the
Newspaper Enterprise Association NEA [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Media] in 1970 and was a consensus All-NFC selection including being voted to the Pro Bowl. (The NEA poll was the "players' All-Pro team" since it was the only All-Pro team at the time that was voted on by the players.) In 1971, Wehrli was 2nd Team All-Pro by the NEA [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Media] and again was a consensus All-NFC choice and was selected to his second Pro Bowl. In 1972 Wehrli was moved to safety by the Cardinals coaching staff where he played alongside Hall of FamerLarry Wilson . He returned to right cornerback in 1973.In 1974 Wehrli was again All-Pro by NEA [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Media] and 2nd team All-Pro by the AP and PFRA. He made his third Pro Bowl and was a consensus All-NFC selection. The following year, 1975 though 1977, he was a consensus All-pro and consensus All-NFC player and a Pro Bowler. In 1978 Wehrli's only post-season honor was being honorable mention All-NFC by UPI as his Cardinal team struggled under new coach Bud Wilkinson. In 1979 Wehrli had a fine season and was a consensus All-NFC pick and made his seventh Pro Bowl.In 1981, after 12 seasons as right cornerback (except for 1972), Wehrli switched to the left side. In his first start at the other corner, he broke up two passes and made four tackles as the Cards shutout the Buffalo Bills, 24-0.
In his 14 seasons, Wehrli played in 193 games. In addition to his starting defensive back duties, he was the holder on the place-kicks. In that role he scored a touchdown in 1982 on a fake field goal.
External links
*"Pro Football Hall of Fame:" [http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.jsp?player_id=250 Member profile]
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