Willie Roaf | New Orleans Saints Ring of Honor | NewOrleansSaints.com
New Orleans Saints left tackle
1993-2001
SAINTS RING OF HONOR - WILLIE ROAF
Willie Roaf's Career
Willie Roaf was elected to 11 Pro Bowls during his 13-year NFL career, tying Cincinnati's T Anthony Munoz (Class of 1998) and Baltimore's T Jonathan Ogden for most selections by an offensive tackle. In 2012, Roaf was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
As a member of the Saints from 1993-2001, Roaf was named to seven Pro Bowls, occurring from 1994-2000, with him being named as a starter each time. No Saint has been selected to the Pro Bowl as many times as Roaf. He received Associated Press first team All-Pro recognition four times during his NFL career, twice as a Saint in 1994 and 1995. In recognition of him being one of the most dominant players during his era, he was named to the 1990s and 2000s All-Decade Teams, as selected by members of the Hall of Fame selection committee. He was a first team selection for the 1990s squad and a second-team member for the roster covering the 2000s.
Roaf entered the NFL out of Louisiana Tech as the club's first-round draft choice in 1993 (eighth overall). He immediately entered the starting lineup at right tackle. In 1994, he moved over to the left side, where he would play for the remainder of his career and earned his first of seven consecutive Pro Bowl starting berths as the New Orleans offense improved in the NFL rankings from 21st to 12th, ranking eighth in passing yards per game, ninth in points per game and surrendering only 24 sacks. In 1995, Roaf became the first Saints offensive lineman to be voted to the All-Star game more than once as the line gave up only 28 takedowns. In 1996, he anchored a line that gave up only 22 sacks, tied for third-fewest in the league. In 2000, Roaf was a member of a Saints squad that won the first playoff game in franchise history and was ranked 10th in the NFL in yards per game and points per game. He was a key to a resurgent rushing offense that ranked eighth in the league and featured the club's first 1,000-yard runner since 1989.
Roaf would start 131 regular season games and two playoff contests in his career as a Saint. After spending the final four seasons of his career in Kansas City, he retired having started 189 regular season games and three postseason games.
"When I played for the Saints I used to look up and see Rickey and Archie's legacies in the (Mercedes-Benz) Superdome and quite honestly, I aspired to be like them and that helped motivate and drive me. When I was told that this was happening, it was incredible," Roaf said. "Obviously it's been a nice run recently with the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction. It's something I'm very thankful for, heartwarming to be 100% honest. I went to school in Louisiana, I know the legacy of incredible athletes that have played in Saints uniforms but I also know that incredible moments that have shaped the history of the (Mercedes-Benz) Superdome. I thought of Jim Finks when I was told of this honor and how he changed my life. This is a chance for me to once again thank the Saints fans for what they've meant to me."
