Charles Roberts (Canadian football)

Charles Roberts (born April 3, 1979) is an American former professional football running back who played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL). In 2024 he was inducted into the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ Ring of Honour.

Charles Roberts
Born: (1979-04-03) April 3, 1979 (age 45)
Montclair, California, U.S.
Career information
StatusRetired
CFL statusAmerican
Position(s)RB
Height5 ft 6 in (168 cm)
Weight177 lb (80 kg)
CollegeSacramento State
Career history
As player
20012008Winnipeg Blue Bombers
2008BC Lions
Career highlights and awards
CFL All-Star20012007
CFL East All-Star2001, 2006, 2007
CFL West All-Star20022005
Awards2001 - Frank M. Gibson Trophy
Honors2007 - Fan Choice
RecordsWinnipeg Career Rushing Leader (9,987 yards)
Career stats
  • Playing stats at CFL.ca (archive)

College career

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Roberts attended Sacramento State, where he set numerous DI-AA rushing records for the Sac State Hornets football team, including total rushing yards and most yards in a game (409 yards vs Idaho State in 1999). His nickname while with the Hornets was "Choo-Choo Charlie", in reference to the train that would often come by behind the stadium during games and practices. Upon graduation, he went to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada to play for the Canadian Football League team, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Blue Bombers

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In his 8-year tenure he established himself as one of the premier running backs in the Canadian Football League, earning the nickname "Blink" for his amazing quickness and agility.[1] He led the league in rushing yards in 2006 with 1609 yards and 10 touchdowns, earning a nomination as the East's Most Outstanding Player. Off the field he experienced highs and lows. The enigmatic back missed team flights, led the league in all-purpose yards, pondered retirement, led the league in rushing yards, publicly criticized some decisions, and signed a long-term big money deal to remain as the face of the Bombers.

Through the 2006 season, Roberts rushed for 8,091 yards in just six seasons with the Blue Bombers. He also tallied up 2,732 receiving yards and 57 touchdowns.

On September 2, 2007 Roberts passed Leo Lewis to become the Winnipeg Blue Bombers all-time leading rusher. At the time, he was fifth all-time in CFL career rushing totals. Andrew Harris surpassed Charles Roberts for fifth during the CFL's 2023 rendition of the "Touchdown Atlantic" (TDA), an event which only had been played once during the CFL preseason in 2005 when Roberts was still playing.

Roberts was selected in 2005 as one of the 20 All-Time Blue Bomber Greats.

On September 1, 2008, Roberts was traded to the BC Lions for fellow RB Joe Smith.

BC Lions

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On September 13, 2008, in a game against the Roughriders, Roberts ran to surpass 10,000 rushing yards in his CFL career.[2]

On December 3, 2008, the Lions announced that Roberts' 2009 option was not being renewed and as a result he became a free agent.[3] He retired from the game shortly thereafter.

Post-football

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Since retiring as a player, Roberts moved to and now resides in Long Beach, California.

On September 18, 2013, Roberts was inducted into the Blue Bombers' Hall of Fame.[4]

In 2014, he was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.

Statistics

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Year Team Attempts Yards Average Long TD Fumbles Receptions Yards Avg Long TD
2001 WPG 107 620 5.8 22 1 3 27 288 10 43 0
2002 WPG 216 1,162 5.4 70 5 5 55 613 11 59 6
2003 WPG 264 1,554 5.9 51 8 2 51 548 10 47 2
2004 WPG 300 1,522 5.1 49 8 11 53 398 7 26 5
2005 WPG 290 1,624 5.6 69 12 5 49 474 9 32 0
2006 WPG 303 1,609 5.3 - 10 5 42 411 9 32 0
2007 WPG 246 1,379 5.3 - 16 6 47 358 7 35 0
2008 WPG/BC 176 815 4.6 - 9 4 44 306 7 20 0
Totals TOT 1918 10285 5.4 70 69 41 368 3396 9 64 13

References

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  1. ^ Charles Roberts Gone in the Blink of an Eye
  2. ^ "ROBERTS TOPS 10,000 YARD PLATEAU". Archived from the original on February 12, 2012. Retrieved December 4, 2008.
  3. ^ Lions release Clermont, Roberts
  4. ^ "Blue Bombers to induct Charles Roberts into Blue Bomber Hall of Fame". BlueBombers.com. June 25, 2013. Archived from the original on June 29, 2013. Retrieved June 25, 2013.
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