Michael Roos life and biography

PRO:
Although he only began playing on the offensive line as a sophomore in college, Michael Roos is one of the NFL’s top linemen and a building block of the Titans’ future. Roos’ size (6-7, 315 pounds), athleticism and intelligence have made him one of the premier young left tackles in the NFL. He has started every game in his first five seasons, 15 games at right tackle and 65 contests at left tackle.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
• Only one other player from the 2005 NFL Draft (Logan Mankins) has started all 80 regular season games since being drafted.
• In 2009, was a member of an offensive line that blocked for the NFL’s second-best rushing attack (162.0 yards per game) and opened holes for Chris Johnson who became just the sixth player in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards. Also, part of an offensive front that allowed just 16 sacks, the second fewest in the NFL.
• In 2008, the Eastern Washington product was selected to his first career Pro Bowl and was named first-team Associated Press All-Pro after helping the offensive line allow an NFL-low 12 sacks.
• Roos began playing football as a high school senior and did not play on the offensive line until his sophomore year in college. He gained notoriety among NFL scouts with his impressive showing at the 2005 Senior Bowl, dominating Division I-A players at both left and right tackle spots. At the NFL Combine, he ran the 40-yard dash in 5.3 seconds, bench pressed 225 pounds 19 times and displayed a 29-inch vertical leap.

TITANS TIDBITS:
• In the offseason, Roos pledged $500,000 toward the Eastern Washington University’s “Red Turf” project at Woodward Field in Cheney, Wash. The red artificial field will be the first of its kind, not just in NCAA Division I football, but in the entire country.
• In June 2010, Roos held the first annual Michael Roos Foundation Fish and Chip event at the Resort in Couer d’ Alene, Idaho. The three-day event featured a night cruise and live auction, bass fishing tournament and golf tournament. The event was attended by current teammates Ahmard Hall, Mike Otto, Jake Scott, David Stewart, Vince Young and NFL legend Dick Butkus.
• Roos became just the second Eastern Washington player in school history to have his jersey number permanently retired with a ceremony on Oct. 24, 2009.
• Roos spent the first 10 years of his life in the former Soviet Republic of Estonia, where his family lived in poverty despite his mother, Mae Bates, teaching violin during the day and working nights at a hotel desk. In 1992, one year after the collapse of the Soviet Union, his mother immigrated with him, his brother and his sister to Vancouver, Wash., where they lived with an aunt. In July 2007, Roos, along with his wife, Katherine, traveled back to Estonia for the first time since leaving the country. Their trip to his native land was part of a larger vacation that took them through England, Scotland and Germany.
• During the 2009 offseason, Roos and Katherine continued to travel the world with a week-long trip to Ireland that included playing golf and a two-week European excursion that included stops in Prague, Vienna, Venice, Monaco, Paris and Munich. In 2008, the couple spent a week in Italy with stops in Milan and Venice, as well as a four-day venture to Iceland and a four-day trip to the Bahamas.
• He earned a scholarship to Eastern Washington after playing one season at tight end in high school. He redshirted as a tight end on the football team and also redshirted on the basketball team for one season before focusing exclusively on football. He spent a year playing on the defensive line before switching to offensive tackle, where he started at left tackle every game for the next three seasons, a total of 35 consecutive contests.
• His mother now teaches English as a second language at an Atlanta, Ga., elementary school.
• Roos’ wife Katherine opened a coffee house, Drinkhaus, in Nashville’s Germantown area in August 2008.
• Roos is believed to be the first Estonian to play in the NFL.
• One of Roos’ college coaches was former Titans offensive lineman Tom Ackerman. In scouting Roos, the team – and particularly offensive line coach Mike Munchak – was able to speak frankly with Ackerman and gain further insight regarding the rookie’s personality and abilities.
• He started the Michael Roos Foundation during his second year in the NFL. The foundation has hosted a fundraiser during the last two offseasons, a sports auction and dinner that raised over $80,000 for children’s charities in Washington. He currently is working on plans for his first fundraiser in Nashville.

CAREER TRANSACTIONS:
• A native of Estonia, Roos was selected by the Titans in the second round (41st overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft.

COLLEGE:

• At Eastern Washington, started 35 consecutive games at left tackle after beginning his career as defensive lineman. Earned numerous accolades, including first-team All-American by The NFL Draft Report, American Football Coaches Association and The Sports Network, second-team AP All-American, Division I-AA Offensive Lineman of the Year by The NFL Draft Report, unanimous first-team All-Big Sky Conference and two-time Big Sky All-Academic selection.
• As senior, started all 13 games at left offensive tackle. Contributed 113 knockdown blocks and 17 blocks that resulted in touchdowns while allowing just two sacks all season.
• As junior, started every game at left tackle for second-consecutive season and earned honorable mention All-Big Sky Conference. Totaled 61 knockdown blocks with seven blocks resulting in touchdowns.
• As sophomore, started all 11 games at left tackle and earned honorable mention All-Big Sky honors.
• As redshirt freshman, played in eight games as defensive end and defensive tackle with two starts and totaled 17 tackles, 1.5 sacks, three tackles for loss, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
• Graduated in March 2005 with double major in finance and economics.

PERSONAL:

• Married to Katherine (7/06), couple resides in Nashville and maintains close connections in Vancouver, Wash.
• Named second-team All-Greater St. Helens League as tight end at Mountain View (Vancouver, Wash.) High School after recording 18 receptions for 306 yards and three touchdowns as senior. Also collected 40 tackles and two sacks as defensive lineman.
• Earned All-League honors for Mountain View basketball team and also threw javelin for track & field team (long throw of 185 feet).
• Earned scholar-athlete honors three times in basketball, twice in track and once in football.
• List of favorites: (movies) “The Dark Knight,” “Anchorman,” “Borat,” “Hitman” and “The 40-Year-Old Virgin”; (TV shows) “Family Guy,” “The Office” and “Seinfeld”; (actor) Will Ferrell; (music artist) Brian McKnight; (video games) Madden NFL Football and Tiger Woods Golf; (school subject) finance; (food) bacon cheeseburgers; and (book) “The Da Vinci Code.”
• Born Mihkel Roos on Oct. 5, 1982 in Tallinn, Estonia.

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