J.D. Roberts, the second head coach in New Orleans Saints history, has died at the age of 88.
He was also an original member of the Saints’ staff in 1967.
Roberts went 7-25-3 in his 2.5 seasons as head coach from 1970-72. He was hired as the interim coach in November 1970 to replace Tom Fears.
Roberts was the first NFL head coach that quarterback Archie Manning played for, and his first game as the interim coach saw Tom Dempsey kick a then-record 63-yard field goal as time expired on Nov. 8, 1970.
It was Roberts’ only stint as a head coach in the NFL.
Roberts was a two-way player under Bud Wilkinson at Oklahoma, where he won the Outland Trophy as the nation’s top lineman in 1953 and was a consensus All-American.
He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1993.
Roberts was drafted in the 17th round by the Green Bay Packers in 1954 but never appeared in a regular season game.
–Field Level Media