Don Rogers (safety)

Donald Lavert Rogers (September 17, 1962 – June 27, 1986) was an American professional football player who was a safety in the National Football League (NFL) for two seasons during the mid-1980s. His career was cut short when he died of a heart attack caused by cocaine use.

Early life
Rogers was born in Texarkana, Arkansas, and graduated from Norte Del Rio High School in Sacramento, California in 1980. He excelled in football, basketball and baseball, garnering All-City honors in all three sports. His brother Reggie Rogers also played in the NFL.

College career
Rogers played college football for the UCLA Bruins, and, as a senior, was recognized as a consensus All-American.

Two of Rogers most memorable performances came in "The Granddaddy of Them All", the Rose Bowl. In the 1983 game, as a junior, he was Co-Player of the Game for UCLA, along with quarterback Tom Ramsey. The next year, he tied a Rose Bowl record when he intercepted two passes off of Illinois Fighting Illini quarterback Jack Trudeau.

Professional career
Rogers was selected in the first round with the 18th overall pick of the 1984 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. He played two seasons with the Browns from 1984 to 1985. He appeared in 31 regular season games, with two interceptions, one of which he returned 39 yards. In what would turn out to be his final game, a playoff loss to the Miami Dolphins, Rogers picked off hall-of-famer Dan Marino and returned the ball 45 yards.

Death
Rogers died of a heart attack caused by a cocaine overdose on June 27, 1986, the day before his wedding. He was 23 years old. His death came only eight days after that of Len Bias, an NBA draft pick who also died of cocaine abuse, prompting a national discussion about the relationship between illegal drugs and athletes.