Roman Harper life and biography

Roman Harper is an American football safety with the New Orleans Saints of the NFL. He was drafted in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Alabama.

NFL CAREER

Rangy and a solid tackler, Harper has been a constant in the secondary over the last four seasons, and the rugged safety has started all 52 games he has been active for in his career. In 2009, he posted a career-high 127 tackles and added 1.5 sacks and two forced fumbles as he was selected to his first Pro Bowl. Harper has forced six fumbles in his career, notched ten games with double-digit tackle totals and has five interceptions, including one he returned for a touchdown in 2007. The former second-round pick was immediately inserted into the starting lineup before suffering a season-ending knee injury five games into his rookie season. Throughout his career Harper has also been a key special teams player on the coverage units, with 27 tackles.

CAREER TRANSACTIONS

Re-signed to a one-year contract (RFA), 6/16/10; Placed on injured reserve, 10/10/06; Agreed to terms on a four-year contract, 7/25/06; Selected in the second round (43rd overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft.

HONORS – 2009: Pro Bowl. 2007: Ed Block Courage Award (vote by teammates).

2009 - Was one of only three defensive players to start all 16 games and finished second on the team with a career-high 127 tackles (87 solo), 1½ sacks, seven pass defenses and two forced fumbles. Also made five tackles on special teams. Was named to the NFC’s roster for the Pro Bowl, the first all-star berth of his four-year career. vs. Detroit (9/13): Started at SS and made a team-leading 10 tackles (six solo), including a stop of RB Kevin Smith behind the line of scrimmage. at Philadelphia (9/20): Made eight tackles (six solo) from his starting SS spot, including a six-yard stop behind the line of QB Kevin Kolb on a draw play. at Buffalo (9/27): Led the team with 10 tackles (seven solo) from his starting SS position. vs. NY Jets (10/4): Started at strong safety and made six tackles. vs. NY Giants (10/18): Led the defensive attack from his starting SS spot with eight tackles (four solo) and knocked the ball away from QB Eli Manning on a sack in the second quarter with the fumble leading to a Saints score. Also had a pass defense and affected Manning’s delivery on a pass that was intercepted by CB Jabari Greer. at Miami (10/25): Made six tackles (four solo) from his starting strong safety position with a pass defense and also forced a fumble from WR Davone Bess that was recovered by Scott Shanle to set up a New Orleans touchdown. vs. Atlanta (11/2): Led the Saints and matched a then career-high with 11 tackles (eight solo) from his starting SS spot. vs. Carolina (11/8): Continued to shine as a tackler, posting a career-best and team-leading 14 tackles with four of them coming behind the line of scrimmage from his starting strong safety position. at St. Louis (11/15): Tied for the team lead with 12 tackles and added a pair of pass defenses as he started at SS. at Tampa Bay (11/22): Made six tackles from his starting strong safety spot, with a pass defense and split a sack of QB Josh Freeman with Leigh Torrence. vs. New England (11/30): Started at strong safety and made eight tackles (six solo) with another stop on special teams. at Washington (12/6): Made seven tackles (six solo) from his starting SS position – matching his career-high of 106 tackles on the season – and recorded two more stops on special teams. at Atlanta (12/13): Registered four solo tackles from his starting strong safety spot and added another stop on special teams. vs. Dallas (12/19): Playing in his 50th career game – all starts – he made five tackles (four solo), with two behind the line of scrimmage and two pass defenses, adding another stop on special teams. vs. Tampa Bay (12/27): Started at SS and made eight tackles (five solo). at Carolina (1/3): Recorded four tackles from his starting strong safety position. vs. Arizona (1/16 – Divisional Playoff): Started at SS and made four tackles (two solo) with another stop on special teams. vs. Minnesota (1/24 – NFC Championship Game): Didn’t start as the team opened in a three-cornerback set but posted five tackles (four solo) with a forced fumble in the win. vs. Indianapolis (2/7 – Super Bowl XLIV): Started at strong safety and made eight tackles (six solo) with a pair of pass defenses in the victory, adding an additional stop in kick coverage. 2008 – Started 15 all 15 games he appeared in at strong safety, inactive at Washington, Sept. 14 with an injured hamstring…Finished third on the team with a career-high 106 tackles (72 solo) and added nine pass defenses and a forced fumble…Also had 12 special teams tackles…Led the secondary with eight stops in the opener vs. Tampa Bay and added two special teams tackles vs. Tampa Bay, Sept. 7…Had 10 tackles (seven solo) vs. San Francisco, Sept. 28, the first of four times he would reach double digits…Posted 10 solo stops and knocked away a pass at Kansas City, Nov. 16…Had two pass defenses and 10 tackles (six solo) vs. Green Bay, Nov. 24…At Tampa Bay, Nov. 30, had a season-high four special teams tackles…Deflected a pass, forced a fumble and posted three tackles at Detroit, Dec. 21…Had 10 tackles (eight solo) vs. Carolina, Dec. 28. 2007 – Started all 16 games at strong safety, posting 96 tackles (63 solo) to tie for third on the team, and added four sacks, three interceptions with 58 return yards and a touchdown, seven pass defenses, two forced fumbles and a pair of tackles for a loss…Sack total led all NFL defensive backs and ranked second on team…Interception total tied with CBs Mike McKenzie and Jason David for team-high…Had six or more tackles in 10 contests…Added 10 stops on special teams…At Seattle, Oct. 14, had eight tackles (seven solo), two sacks on blitzes and a pair of pass defenses…At Carolina, Nov. 25, posted six solo stops, his first career interception and also forced a fumble that was recovered by DE Will Smith to set up a touchdown. Also broke up another pass and added a pair of special teams tackles…Had five tackles (four solo) at Atlanta, Dec. 10, and scored first career touchdown, returning an interception 31 yards…Tied career-high at Chicago, Dec. 30 with two sacks, adding six stops, a pass defense and a forced fumble. 2006 – Started all five games he appeared in at strong safety, notching 32 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble…Tackle total ranked third on the team after five games…Had seven tackles (six solo) and a sack for an eight-yard loss in NFL debut at Cleveland, Sept. 10…Posted a career-high 11 stops (seven solo) and a pass defense at Green Bay, Sept. 17…Notched four tackles, a pass defense and a forced fumble vs. Atlanta, Sept. 25…Six tackles (five solo) vs. Tampa Bay, Oct. 8, before departing in fourth quarter with knee injury. Placed on injured reserve, Oct. 10.

COLLEGE

Four-year letterman at Alabama who became a contributor as a freshman and started his final three seasons for a defense that annually ranked among the nation’s best units…Departed ranked sixth in school history with 302 tackles (189 solo), five interceptions, five forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and 3.5 sacks…First-team All-SEC as a senior, when he had 69 tackles (38 solo), two forced fumbles and an interception…As a junior he moved from strong to free safety and was voted second-team all-conference with 77 tackles (45 solo), three interceptions, pair of fumble recoveries a forced fumble and a sack…Started all season at strong safety in 2003 and recorded a career-high 114 tackles (79 solo), an interception and recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown…As a freshman in 2002 appeared in 12 games with a start and recorded 42 tackles (27 solo) with two sacks…Redshirted in 2001.

PERSONAL

Attended Prattville (Ala.) HS…Played quarterback and free safety as a senior…On defense, he finished the season with 58 tackles and four interceptions in limited playing time because of a broken leg…Graduated in December, 2005 with a degree in management…Held a football camp for local youth with teammate Darren Sharper prior to the start of 2010 training camp...Born Dec. 11, 1982 in Prattville, Ala.

Read more