NFL Player Raised in Iowa Headed to the Hall of Fame

Roger Craig might have been born in Mississippi, but he first made a name for himself on the high school football fields in Iowa. His next big move will be into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Roger Craig Headed to the Pro Football Hall of Fame

247 Sports reports that running back Roger Craig, who won three Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers, has been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The 2026 class will also include Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Adam Vinatieri, and Luke Kuechly. The latest HOF class was introduced during Thursday night's NFL Honors ceremony.

Roger Craig Was a High School Star in Iowa

Roger Craig was born in Preston, Mississippi, but his family would eventually move to Davenport, Iowa. He played his high school football at Central High School in Davenport. The team won a state title in 1976, and Craig was named a High School All-American. Craig also excelled at wrestling and track, setting state records in both the 110 hurdles and 400 hurdles.

Craig Plays for a Legendary Coach in College

After high school, Craig headed to Lincoln to play for the Nebraska Cornhuskers and legendary coach Tom Osborne. He was then a second-round draft pick of the San Francisco 49ers in the 1983 NFL Draft. Craig would go on to win three Super Bowls with the 49ers and became the first player in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards and have 1,000 yards receiving in the same season.

Craig would also play for the Los Angeles Raiders and the Minnesota Vikings during his 11-year NFL career, according to 247 Sports. 

Roger Craig and the Hall of Fame class will be enshrined in Canton, Ohio on August 8th.