John Roper

John Alfred Roper (born October 4, 1965) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles. He played college football for the Texas A&M Aggies, earning consensus All-American honors in 1987. Roper was selected in the second round of the 1989 NFL Draft. He was on the Cowboys' Super Bowl XXVIII championship team that beat the Buffalo Bills. Early years At Texas A&M University, Roper was one of the best to play defensively in school history according to his coach, Jackie Sherrill. In 1987, he was the Southwest Conference Defensive Player of the Year, as well as an All-American. In his four years as an Aggie, they compiled a record of 36 wins and just 12 losses: three conference championships; and twice they were victorious in the Cotton Bowl. Roper, a two-time All-Southwest Conference and a consensus All-American, was at the heart of that success. Before heading to the NFL, he began a tradition that became known all across college football. It was during his career the famed moniker of the “Wrecking Crew” was born.