Craig Roh was a star defensive end at the University of Michigan who went on to play with the Carolina Panthers in the NFL and several teams in the Canadian Football League (CFL).
- Died: February 26, 2024 (Who else died on February 26?)
- Details of death: Died of colon cancer at the age of 33.
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Craig Roh’s legacy
Roh was a standout athlete at Chaparral High School in Scottsdale, Arizona – he was named Gatorade Player of the Year in Arizona during his senior year, and he earned a Scholar-Athlete Award from the College Football Hall of Fame. He was recruited by the University of Michigan and was a quick success, being named Defensive Player of the Game in just his third game. He was an All-Big Ten second-team selection and got Academic All-Big Ten honors his senior year.
Roh signed as a free agent with the Carolina Panthers in 2013, then in 2015 moved to the Canadian Football League. He played with the BC Lions for three years before moving to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Toronto Argonauts. He left football after the 2021 season. Roh was diagnosed with stage VI colon cancer in 2022, but he kept the diagnosis secret from the public. After football, he went into technology and developed an online coaching business.
Craig Roh on pressures to play during the pandemic
“You’re taught from a very young age in football ‘You will die for this.’ You would sacrifice almost anything in your life for football.”—from a 2020 interview for Wolverine Digest
Tributes to Craig Roh
Full obituary: Arizona Republic
