Naaman Roosevelt

Roosevelt was raised in the East Side of Buffalo in an area which he described as violent. In that environment, he later said, it was difficult to think past the next day and his peers "didn't think about going to college and things like that." Roosevelt said that outlook changed when he was recruited to attend St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute, a private school in suburban Tonawanda.{{cite news |last1=Hamilton |first1=Ian |title=Naaman Roosevelt is helping to lead the way |url=https://www.riderville.com/2018/07/03/naaman-roosevelt-helping-lead-way/ |access-date=21 November 2022 |publisher=Saskatchewan Roughriders |date=3 July 2018 |language=en}}

At St. Joseph's, Roosevelt played basketball{{cite news |last1=Mills |first1=Peter |title=Roughriders receiver Naaman Roosevelt quiet off the field, explosive on it |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/meet-the-roughriders-naaman-roosevelt-1.4216101 |access-date=21 November 2022 |publisher=CBC |date=July 21, 2017}} and football as a quarterback and kick returner. As a senior in 2005, he threw a Western New York record 35 touchdown passes and was named the Buffalo News' Player of the Year.{{cite news |last1=McShea |first1=Keith |title=The Naaman Game: St. Joe's quarterback Naaman Roosevelt earns Player of the Year |url=https://buffalonews.com/news/the-naaman-game-st-joes-quarterback-naaman-roosevelt-earns-player-of-the-year/article_26d0e342-d170-5fa6-b758-cc44193cda74.html |access-date=21 November 2022 |work=Buffalo News |date=December 3, 2005 |language=en}}

The University at Buffalo was the only school to offer Roosevelt a scholarship to play offense; New Hampshire offered him a scholarship to play cornerback.{{cite news |last1=Bronstein |first1=Jonah |title=UB Football: Rookie Roosevelt is a home-town home run |url=https://www.niagara-gazette.com/sports/ub-football-rookie-roosevelt-is-a-home-town-home-run/article_e3ffaa0d-d393-5afa-b6e2-982c20016597.html |access-date=21 November 2022 |work=Niagara Gazette |date=November 24, 2006 |language=en}} Roosevelt was the first player successfully recruited by new head coach Turner Gill.{{cite news |last1=Lenzi |first1=Rachel |title='I had to finish what I started': How former UB football star Naaman Roosevelt completed his degree at 34 |url=https://buffalonews.com/sports/bills/i-had-to-finish-what-i-started-how-former-ub-football-star-naaman-roosevelt-completed/article_a16e159a-2225-11ed-8e28-2b1687f1fb2e.html |access-date=21 November 2022 |work=Buffalo News |date=August 23, 2022 |language=en}} Roosevelt accepted the offer on the condition that he be allowed to compete for the starting quarterback role.

Roosevelt lost the quarterback job to returning sophomore starter Drew Willy. Roosevelt was converted to wide receiver as a freshman and started seven games, catching 31 passes and 2 touchdowns. In his second year, the wide receiver caught 63 passes and 4 touchdowns. In his junior season, Roosevelt dramatically increased his production, catching 104 passes, primarily from Willy.{{cite web |title=2008 Buffalo Bulls Stats |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/buffalo/2008.html |website=College Football at Sports-Reference.com |access-date=3 March 2023 |language=en}}

On September 13, 2008, Roosevelt caught a Hail Mary pass from quarterback Drew Willy as time expired to beat the Temple Owls at UB Stadium. Also in his junior season, Buffalo won the 2008 MAC Championship Game against Nate Davis and the Ball State Cardinals. Roosevelt's 104 receptions was one short of the MAC Conference record at the time.[http://www.ubathletics.buffalo.edu/football/roster/roosevelt.shtml Naaman Roosevelt] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090804091924/http://www.ubathletics.buffalo.edu/football/roster/roosevelt.shtml |date=August 4, 2009 }} Buffalo Athletics biography His 13 touchdowns in 2008 set a school record.{{cite news |last1=Watson |first1=Graham |title=Watson: Buffalo's Roosevelt quietly racks up records |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/preview09/news/story?id=4409955 |access-date=3 March 2023 |work=ESPN.com |publisher=ESPN |date=19 August 2009 |language=en}}

In 2009, he caught 70 passes for 9 touchdowns.{{cite web |title=Naaman Roosevelt College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/naaman-roosevelt-1.html |website=College Football at Sports-Reference.com |access-date=3 March 2023 |language=en}} On September 19, 2009, he threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jesse Rack against Central Florida.{{cite web |title=Buffalo at UCF Box Score, September 19, 2009 |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/boxscores/2009-09-19-central-florida.html |website=College Football at Sports-Reference.com |access-date=3 March 2023 |language=en}} Although a star quarterback in high school, it was the only touchdown pass of his college career.

{{As of|August 2022}}, Roosevelt still held school records for career receiving yards, career receptions, single-season receiving yards and single-season receptions. In February 2023, he was inducted into UB's athletics hall of fame.{{cite news |title=Former Riders receiver, current assistant coach Naaman Roosevelt inducted into University at Buffalo's hall of fame |url=https://3downnation.com/2023/02/25/former-riders-receiver-current-assistant-coach-naaman-roosevelt-inducted-into-university-at-buffalos-hall-of-fame/ |access-date=3 March 2023 |publisher=3DownNation |date=25 February 2023}}

File:Naaman Roosevelt.JPG

Roosevelt went undrafted in the 2010 NFL draft. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Buffalo Bills on April 24.[http://www.wgrz.com/sports/story.aspx?storyid=76303&provider=gnews Roosevelt To Bills] WGRZ.com, April 24, 2010 Roosevelt was cut by the Bills on final cuts on September 4, 2010,{{cite news |last1=Galliford |first1=Brian |title=NFL Roster Cuts: Bills Trim Roster To 53 Players |url=https://www.buffalorumblings.com/2010/9/4/1669205/nfl-roster-cuts-bills-trim-roster |access-date=3 March 2023 |work=Buffalo Rumblings |publisher=SB Nation |date=4 September 2010 |language=en}} but signed to their practice squad on September 5, 2010.{{cite news |last1=Florio |first1=Mike |title=Bills add David Martin, Kraig Urbik |url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/09/05/bills-add-david-martin-kraig-urbik/ |access-date=3 March 2023 |work=ProFootballTalk |date=5 September 2010}} On November 27, 2010, Roosevelt was promoted to the active roster after coach Chan Gailey said he did an "excellent job" on the practice squad.{{cite news |last1=Bronstein |first1=Jonah |title=Bills elevate Roosevelt to active roster |url=https://www.niagara-gazette.com/sports/bills-elevate-roosevelt-to-active-roster/article_d387337d-c6f1-54f4-8b32-21b27f7bb3cc.html |access-date=3 March 2023 |work=Niagara Gazette |date=November 27, 2010 |language=en}} He made his NFL debut the following day in a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The following week, he recorded the only tackle of his NFL career, bringing down Greg Camarillo after a 17-yard punt return.{{cite web |title=Buffalo Bills at Minnesota Vikings - December 5th, 2010 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201012050min.htm |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference |access-date=3 March 2023 |language=en}} On December 19, 2010, he was targeted with and caught the first passes of his NFL career,{{cite web |title=Naaman Roosevelt 2010 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RoosNa00/gamelog/2010/ |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference |access-date=3 March 2023 |language=en}} reeling in two of three throws from Ryan Fitzpatrick for 35 yards.{{cite web |title=Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins - December 19th, 2010 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201012190mia.htm |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference |access-date=3 March 2023 |language=en}} He ended the season with a total of nine receptions for a total of 139 yards, one carry for three yards and two kick returns for 31 yards.

Before the start of the 2011 season, Roosevelt was again cut from the active roster and re-signed to the practice squad. Bills General Manager Buddy Nix said of the move "This year, we cut guys that were good players. We cut Naaman Roosevelt. We like Naaman. It got down to a numbers situation. We had six receivers, we normally have five."{{cite news |last1=Van Wie |first1=Dan |title=Buffalo Bills Tinker with Offensive Line; Buddy Nix Explains Moves |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/838429-buffalo-bills-tinker-with-offensive-line-buddy-nix-explains-moves |access-date=3 March 2023 |publisher=Bleacher Report |date=September 7, 2011 |language=en}} He appeared in his first game in the third week of the 2011 season. He caught at least one pass in each game between the fourth and tenth weeks of the season.{{cite web |title=Naaman Roosevelt 2011 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RoosNa00/gamelog/2011/ |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference |access-date=3 March 2023 |language=en}} On October 16, 2011, Roosevelt caught his first pro touchdown pass, a 60-yard catch-and-run at MetLife Stadium against the New York Giants.{{cite web| url = https://www.espn.com/blog/afceast/post/_/id/22336/shawne-merriman-wont-play-for-buffalo| title = Shawne Merriman won't play for Buffalo - AFC East- ESPN| date = 27 November 2010}} On August 31, 2012, he was cut by the Bills.

On July 23, 2013, he was signed by the Cleveland Browns.{{cite news |title=The Cleveland Browns sign free agent Naaman Roosevelt |url=https://www.cleveland19.com/story/22914247/the-cleveland-browns-on-tuesday-signed-free-agent-naaman-roosevelt-the-club-announced/ |access-date=3 March 2023 |publisher=Cleveland 19 |date=July 23, 2013 |language=en}}

After the 2013 season, he was not re-signed and was signed after a tryout for the Detroit Lions on April 23, 2014.{{cite news |url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/04/25/lions-sign-wr-naaman-roosevelt-c-sherman-carter/ |title=Lions sign WR Naaman Roosevelt, C Sherman Carter |publisher=NBC Sports |date=April 25, 2014 |last=Wilkening |first=Mike |access-date=June 17, 2014}}

After being let go by the Lions, Roosevelt resigned with the Bills on July 21, 2014.{{cite tweet |author=Buffalo Bills |author-link=Buffalo Bills |user=BuffaloBills |number=491258331596873728 |date=July 21, 2014 |title=#Bills bring back WR Naaman Roosevelt, sign DT Landon Cohen http://t.co/oxfZqaAXlC http://t.co/HjQ0mKyY00 |language=en |access-date=January 5, 2021}} The Bills released Roosevelt on August 29, 2014.{{cite web |url=http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-1/Bills-reduce-roster-to-62-ahead-of-53-man-deadline/d6b66a81-39f0-49c7-837b-0c1a366c1ef7?campaign=tw_buf_article |title=Bills reduce roster to 62 ahead of 53-man deadline |access-date=2014-08-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903072436/http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-1/Bills-reduce-roster-to-62-ahead-of-53-man-deadline/d6b66a81-39f0-49c7-837b-0c1a366c1ef7?campaign=tw_buf_article |archive-date=2014-09-03 |url-status=dead }} On October 3, 2014, the Bills re-signed Roosevelt to the practice squad. He was released from the practice squad on October 4, 2014.

Roosevelt signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League on March 14, 2015.{{cite web|url=https://leaderpost.com/sports/Receivers+added+roster/10889196/story.html |title=Receivers added to roster |publisher=leaderpost.com |date=March 14, 2015 |access-date=March 14, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150314184327/http://www.leaderpost.com/sports/Receivers+added+roster/10889196/story.html |archive-date=March 14, 2015 }} Roosevelt had a breakout year for the Roughriders in his second season in the CFL. He played in the first 11 games of the season before being placed on the six-game injured list.{{cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2016/09/17/report-roosevelt-among-riders-added-to-6-game/|title=Report: Roosevelt among Riders added to 6-game|date=2016-09-17|website=CFL.ca|access-date=2016-11-03}} Following the season he was named the Riders Most Outstanding Player despite missing 7 games. Additionally, he accepted a two-year contract extension from the Riders.{{cite news|url=https://www.tsn.ca/riders-sign-wr-roosevelt-to-extension-1.599550|title=Riders sign WR Roosevelt to extension|date=2016-11-03|newspaper=TSN|access-date=2016-11-03}} Roosevelt finished the 2016 season with 1,095 receiving yards, the ninth-highest total in the league.{{cite web|title=Stats - CFL.ca|url=https://www.cfl.ca/stats/?stat_category=receiving&season=2016|website=CFL.ca|publisher=Canadian Football League|access-date=26 December 2016}} In Week 14 of the 2017 season Roosevelt took a helmet-to-helmet hit from Calgary's Tunde Adeleke and was placed on the team's six-game injured list. At the time of the injury Roosevelt was the Riders leading receiver, and had the fifth most receiving yards in the league with 923.{{cite news|url=https://www.tsn.ca/riders-place-roosevelt-on-six-game-il-1.869836|title=Riders place Roosevelt on six-game IL - Article - TSN|date=2017-09-28|work=TSN|access-date=2017-09-30}} Roosevelt was named a divisional All-Star for 2017 after another 1,000 yard season and 8 touchdown catches, but had a down year in 2018 with injuries to both himself, as well as several injuries to new starting quarterback Zach Collaros.{{cite web | url=https://3downnation.com/2018/09/08/riders-qb-zach-collaros-suffers-another-head-injury-concussion-protocol/ | title=Riders QB Zach Collaros suffers another head injury, in concussion protocol | date=8 September 2018 }} The Roughriders offense had already taken hits prior to and during the regular season with the release of experienced pass catchers such as Rob Bagg, Chad Owens, Bakari Grant,{{cite web |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/football/cfl/veteran-receivers-bagg-grant-owens-among-roughriders-final-cuts/ |title=Veteran receivers Bagg, Grant and Owens among Roughriders' final cuts |publisher=Sportsnet.ca |date=2018-06-09 |accessdate=2022-05-26}} and Duron Carter.{{cite news| url = https://www.thestar.com/sports/football/2018/08/13/questions-linger-after-riders-cut-duron-carter.html| title = Questions linger after Riders cut Duron Carter {{!}} The Star| website = Toronto Star| date = 13 August 2018}} Several days into free agency for 2019, Roosevelt turned down an offer from rival Winnipeg to sign a one-year extension with the Roughriders for roughly Can$160,000, as well as performance incentives to increase earnings.{{cite web | url=https://3downnation.com/2019/02/14/naaman-roosevelt-agrees-to-terms-with-riders/ | title=Naaman Roosevelt agrees to terms with Riders | date=14 February 2019 }} Roosevelt rewarded the Riders with a bounce-back year; he played his first season of all 18 games, and despite only one touchdown catch, he caught 77 passes for 946 yards, with which Roosevelt surpassed the 4,000 yard mark for his career, as well as making his 300th catch. Following the season he was not re-signed by the Riders and became a free agent on February 11, 2020.

On February 22, 2020, Roosevelt signed with the Montreal Alouettes.{{cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2020/02/22/report-als-agree-one-year-deal-naaman-roosevelt/|title=Report: Als agree to one-year deal with Naaman Roosevelt|date=2020-02-22|website=CFL.ca|language=en|access-date=2020-02-22}} He signed a contract extension with the team on December 18, 2020.{{cite news |title=Roosevelt, Matte, Reid headline long list of Als extensions |url=https://www.cfl.ca/2020/12/18/roosevelt-matte-reid-headline-long-list-als-extensions/ |website=CFL.ca |date=December 18, 2020 |access-date=December 18, 2020}} He was released on July 26, 2021.{{cite news |title=07/26: Alouettes Transactions |url=https://en.montrealalouettes.com/2021/07/26/07-26-transactions-des-alouettes/ |website=MontrealAlouettes.com |date=July 26, 2021 |access-date=July 27, 2021}}

On August 30, 2021, Roosevelt signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.{{cite web |title=Bombers sign veteran WR Naaman Roosevelt |url=https://www.cfl.ca/2021/08/30/bombers-sign-veteran-wr-naaman-roosevelt/ |website=cfl.ca |date=30 August 2021 |access-date=30 August 2021}} He was released by the Bombers' practice roster on November 19, 2021, without having appeared in a game for the team.{{cite web|agency=The Canadian Press|date=2021-11-19|title=Bombers release veteran WR Roosevelt from practice roster - TSN.ca|url=https://www.tsn.ca/winnipeg-blue-bombers-release-veteran-cfl-receiver-roosevelt-from-the-practice-roster-1.1723354|access-date=2021-11-22|website=TSN|language=en}}

Roosevelt served as a "guest coach" at Roughriders training camp in 2022 and was hired as an offensive assistant coach prior to the 2023 season.{{cite news |last1=McCormick |first1=Murray |title=Naaman Roosevelt returns to Riders as offensive assistant |url=https://leaderpost.com/sports/football/cfl/saskatchewan-roughriders/naaman-roosevelt-returns-to-riders-as-offensive-assistant |access-date=3 March 2023 |work=Regina Leader-Post |date=February 8, 2023 |language=en-CA}}

On February 2, 2024, it was announced that Roosevelt had joined the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL to serve as the team's receivers coach.{{cite news |url=https://ticats.ca/article/tiger-cats-announce-2024-coaching-staff |title=Tiger-Cats announce 2024 coaching staff |publisher=Hamilton Tiger-Cats |date=February 2, 2024 |access-date=February 2, 2024 |archive-date=February 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240202180014/https://ticats.ca/article/tiger-cats-announce-2024-coaching-staff |url-status=dead }}

Roosevelt returned to UB and finished his bachelor's degree in sociology in 2022. He said he completed his degree as part of a larger goal of becoming a college football coach.

{{reflist|30em}}

{{commons category}}

• [http://www.nfl.com/players/profile?id=ROO670292 NFL profile]
• [https://www.cfl.ca/players/naaman-roosevelt/ CFL profile]
• [http://www.buffalobills.com/team/roster/Naaman-Roosevelt/e0c1cd6c-e9ff-4524-bc91-d90d60b86e97 Buffalo Bills bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101223111611/http://www.buffalobills.com/team/roster/naaman-roosevelt/e0c1cd6c-e9ff-4524-bc91-d90d60b86e97 |date=December 23, 2010 }}
• [http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/article-1/Browns-sign-Naaman-Roosevelt/bc4a228d-f908-4157-b2bc-370a8b3f2b29 Browns sign Naaman Roosevelt] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130726194044/http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/article-1/Browns-sign-Naaman-Roosevelt/bc4a228d-f908-4157-b2bc-370a8b3f2b29 |date=July 26, 2013 }}
• [http://www.detroitlions.com/team/roster/Naaman-Roosevelt/a6f18783-d36f-4a3d-8d05-cc3202751912 Detroit Lions bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426200945/http://www.detroitlions.com/team/roster/Naaman-Roosevelt/a6f18783-d36f-4a3d-8d05-cc3202751912 |date=April 26, 2014 }}
• [https://www.bluebombers.com/players/naaman-roosevelt/156296/ Winnipeg Blue Bombers bio]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Roosevelt, Naaman}}

Category:1987 births

Category:Living people

Category:Sportspeople from Buffalo, New York

Category:Players of American football from Buffalo, New York

Category:American football wide receivers

Category:Canadian football wide receivers

Category:Buffalo Bulls football players

Category:Buffalo Bills players

Category:Cleveland Browns players

Category:Detroit Lions players

Category:Saskatchewan Roughriders players

Category:St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute alumni

Category:Montreal Alouettes players

Category:Winnipeg Blue Bombers players

Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen

Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen

Category:Hamilton Tiger-Cats coaches

Category:Saskatchewan Roughriders coaches

Category:African-American coaches of Canadian football

Category:Players of Canadian football from New York (state)