American football legend C.R. Roberts dies as tributes paid to trailblazer

13 July 2023 , 16:10

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C.R. Roberts has died aged 87 but leaves a legacy behind (Image: GETTY)

Legendary fullback and record breaker C.R. Roberts has died aged 87, and has been remembered for his inspiring story.

The former NFL player died of natural causes on Tuesday in Norwalk, Connecticut, the University of Southern California (USC) confirmed. Roberts made 27 appearances for the San Francisco 49ers between 1959-1962, but was best known for his efforts at college level.

"#FightOnForever, C.R. Roberts. The @uscfb legend and @USC_Athletics Hall of Famer was best known for breaking through racist barriers in segregated Texas to run for a record-setting 251 yards and 3 TDs against the Longhorns in 1956," USC posted on Twitter.

Roberts rushing record with just 12 carries helped USC beat Texas 44-20 victory in Austin. His record lasted for 20 years, and it was a game he was told he may not even be able to play in.

Roberts, a black player, was not permitted to stay with his white team-mates in a hotel due to segregation laws in Texas at the time. However, USC stood by Roberts and the team travelled to three hotels before finding one suitable for the entire roster.

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"I was upset that they didn't want me down there," Roberts said in a 2015 USC online article for Black History Month. "Damn right, I had something to prove to them."

Roberts and the team were even told by black housekeepers that he should leave, but the fullback refused in order to make a stance. Black people who lived in the area came by the white-only hotel to greet Roberts once news spread, with some even wearing uniforms to be allowed entry.

"That night, maybe every black person in town must have come by to see us," Roberts added in the article. "They were just so proud to see us in that hotel."

Roberts set a new record against Texas in Austin, and did so with limited time on the field. USC staff pulled him from the game early, as fears grew about rioting with tensions high in the segregated crowd.

But the fullback was given a hero's welcome on his return to USC, and it changed his life around campus too. Roberts had received some backlash for being a black player, but his courage earned him respect throughout the alumni.

Roberts left USC with a degree in business administration, and was then selected in the 14th round of the 1958 NFL draft by the New York Giants. He refused the option and signed with the Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian Football League.

He totalled 595 yards and scored five touchdowns for the Canadian team before later heading back to California. He is survived by daughters Cathy Creasia and Chandra Roberts; son Craig; and four grandchildren.

Joseph McBride