{{Short description|American gridiron football player (born 1977)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Jamal Robertson | image = 25, Jamal Robertson.jpg | alt = | caption = Robertson with the BC Lions in 2010 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1977|1|10}} | birth_place = Washington, D.C., U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | number = 22, 25, 42 | status = | position = Running back/Kick returner | height_ft = 5 | height_in = 9 | weight_lb = 216 | college = Ohio Northern | high_school = Stebbins (Riverside, Ohio) | undraftedyear = 2001 | pastteams = * Calgary Stampeders ({{CFL Year|2001}})* * San Francisco 49ers ({{NFL Year|2002|2004}}) * → Rhein Fire ({{NFLE Year|2002}}) * Carolina Panthers ({{NFL Year|2004|2005}}) * Atlanta Falcons ({{NFL Year|2006}}) * Saskatchewan Roughriders ({{CFL Year|2007}})* * Toronto Argonauts ({{CFL Year|2008}}–{{CFL Year|2009}}) * BC Lions ({{CFL Year|2010}}–{{CFL Year|2011}}) | highlights = * Grey Cup champion (2011) * NFL Europe Offensive MVP (2002) * 2× first-team HP Division III All-American (1999–2000) * 2× first-team OAC (1999–2000) * OAC co-Offensive Player of the Year (2000) | statlabel1=Rushing yards | statvalue1=248 | statlabel2=Yards per carry | statvalue2=4.0 | statlabel3=Receptions | statvalue3=4 | statlabel4=Receiving yards | statvalue4=34 | statlabel5=Return yards | statvalue5=1,325 | statlabel6=Total touchdowns | statvalue6=2 | cflstatlabel1=Rushing yards | cflstatvalue1=2,828 | cflstatlabel2=Rushing average | cflstatvalue2=5.3 | cflstatlabel3=Receiving yards | cflstatvalue3=1,297 | cflstatlabel4=Return yards | cflstatvalue4=593 | cflstatlabel5=Total touchdowns | cflstatvalue5=29 | pfr=R/RobeJa00 }} '''Jamal Robertson''' (born January 10, 1977) is an American former professional football running back and kick returner. He played college football at Ohio Northern and played professionally in the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL) from 2001 to 2011.
Originally from Dayton, Ohio, Robertson was a two-time Division III All-American at Ohio Northern. An undrafted free agent in 2001, he began his professional football career on the practice squad of the CFL team Calgary Stampeders. Robertson then played for five seasons in the NFL, primarily as a kick returner. He signed with the NFL's San Francisco 49ers in early 2002 and played for the NFL Europe team Rhein Fire prior to debuting with the 49ers later that year. From 2004 to 2005, Robertson played for the Carolina Panthers, where he helped the 2005 team advance to the NFC Championship.
After playing briefly for the Atlanta Falcons very late in the 2006 season, Robertson returned to the CFL for his later football career. He played for the Toronto Argonauts from 2008 to 2009 and BC Lions from 2010 to 2011. In his final pro football season, Robertson was part of the 2011 BC Lions team that won the 99th Grey Cup.
==Early life== Born in Washington, D. C., Robertson grew up in Dayton, Ohio and graduated from Stebbins High School in nearby Riverside in 1997.<ref name="49ers">{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040803062151/http://www.49ers.com/team/playerinfo.asp?TeamRosterID=149|archive-date=August 3, 2004|title=Jamal Robertson|url=http://www.49ers.com/team/playerinfo.asp?TeamRosterID=149|publisher=San Francisco 49ers|access-date=September 29, 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Dayton Daily News 1998">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/409131300/|title=Stebbins grad is running well|work=Dayton Daily News|page=39|date=April 4, 1998|access-date=September 29, 2020|via=Newspapers.com|url-access=subscription}}</ref> He rushed for 2,029 yards his senior year for Stebbins High School, in 1996.<ref name="Dayton Daily News 1998"/>
==College career== Robertson attended Ohio Northern University and played at running back and kick returner for its NCAA Division III Ohio Northern Polar Bears football team from 1997 to 2000. As a senior in 2000, Robertson led Division III football in all-purpose yards with a school record 2,308 and set a rushing yards record of 1,664.<ref name="49ers"/> At Ohio Northern, in 1999 and 2000, Robertson earned first-team Hewlett-Packard Division III All-American and All-Ohio Athletic Conference honors both seasons.<ref name="49ers"/><ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010221044114/http://onusports.com/Football/Releases/All-America.html|archive-date=February 21, 2001|url=http://onusports.com/Football/Releases/All-America.html|title=Robertson, Cipra named to Hewlett-Packard, Football Gazette All-America teams in football|publisher=Ohio Northern University|work=ONUSports.com|date=December 14, 2000|access-date=September 30, 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref> Following his senior season, Robertson was Ohio Northern's all-time career leader in rushing yards (4,169), all-purpose yards (5,388), and touchdowns (56).<ref name="49ers"/>
==Professional career== ===Early CFL career and NFL Europe (2001–2002)=== After going undrafted in the 2001 NFL draft, Robertson signed with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and spent the 2001 season on the Stampeders' practice squad.<ref name="49ers"/>
On January 23, 2002, Robertson signed with the NFL team San Francisco 49ers, which allocated him to the Rhein Fire of NFL Europa on February 6. On a Fire team that finished runner-up in World Bowl X, Robertson had eight touchdowns, including an NFL Europe record 90-yard touchdown run, and was eventually named NFL Europe's offensive MVP.<ref name="49ers"/>
===San Francisco 49ers (2002–2004)=== After being inactive for the first five weeks of his NFL debut season of 2002, Robertson played in six games for the 49ers on special teams. He returned 11 kickoffs for 242 yards, including a long of 42 yards, and had one special teams tackle.<ref name="49ers"/> Due to a hamstring injury, Robertson was placed on injured reserve on December 30.<ref name="49ers"/> In 2003, Robertson played in nine games off the bench. He had 32 rushing attempts for 136 yards and three special teams tackles.<ref name="pfr">{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RobeJa00.htm|title=Jamal Robertson|publisher=Pro Football Reference|access-date=September 29, 2020}}</ref>
Robertson played in seven games for the 49ers in 2004, with 25 kick returns for 560 yards and 16 carries for 71 yards, including his first NFL touchdown, a one-yard run against the New Orleans Saints on September 19.<ref name="Panthers"/><ref name="pfr"/> Although Robertson's touchdown gave the 49ers a 27–23 lead, Robertson lost a fumble on a later drive, and the Saints scored the game winning touchdown on the resulting drive and won the game 30–27.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200409190nor.htm|title = San Francisco 49ers at New Orleans Saints - September 19th, 2004| website=Pro-Football-Reference.com }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050221092824/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fchronicle%2Farchive%2F2004%2F09%2F20%2FSPG4O8RP071.DTL|archive-date=February 21, 2005|title=Left to mourn on the bayou|last=Lynch|first=Kevin|work=San Francisco Chronicle|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/article/Left-to-mourn-on-the-bayou-49ers-comeback-2723670.php|date=September 20, 2004|access-date=September 30, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> On November 2, the 49ers waived Robertson.<ref name="Panthers">{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060614090312/http://www.panthers.com/team/teamRosterDetails.jsp?id=15972|archive-date=June 14, 2006|title=Jamal Robertson|url=http://www.panthers.com/team/teamRosterDetails.jsp?id=15972|publisher=Carolina Panthers|access-date=September 29, 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===Carolina Panthers (2004–2005)=== On November 13, 2004, Robertson was signed by the Carolina Panthers as a free agent.<ref name="Panthers"/> In five games, Robertson returned six kickoffs for 180 yards and made one special teams tackle.<ref name="pfr"/> Robertson made more appearances at running back in 2005 due to injuries to Stephen Davis, DeShaun Foster, and Nick Goings.<ref>{{cite news|last=Yasinskas|first=Pat|url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F10D3D6378C5CA088|title=Running backs not running|work=The Charlotte Observer|date=October 13, 2005|page=1C|access-date=September 29, 2020|via=NewsBank}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=WORLDNEWS&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F10F37D75029024A8|title=When the Going gets tough, the tough get Goings|last=Yasinskas|first=pat|work=The Charlotte Observer|date=January 17, 2006|page=1C|access-date=September 29, 2020|via=NewsBank}}</ref> Playing seven regular season games that season, Robertson had 14 rushing plays for 41 yards and a touchdown and returned 16 kickoffs for 343 yards.<ref name="pfr"/> Robertson also played in all three of the Panthers' postseason games including the NFC Championship, recording 19 rushing, 27 receiving, and 186 kick return yards.<ref name="pfr"/> Following the preseason, the Panthers cut Robertson on September 2, 2006.<ref name="Falcons">{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070228085443/http://atlantafalcons.com/team/playerBio.jsp?id=17115|archive-date=February 28, 2007|title=Jamal Robertson|url=http://atlantafalcons.com/team/playerBio.jsp?id=17115|publisher=Atlanta Falcons|access-date=September 29, 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===Atlanta Falcons (2006)=== On December 12, 2006, Robertson was signed by the Atlanta Falcons due to injuries to Warrick Dunn and Jerious Norwood.<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061216201821/http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/falcons/stories/2006/12/13/1214newvick.html|archive-date=December 16, 2006|url=http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/falcons/stories/2006/12/13/1214newvick.html|title=Vick at RB? Parcells: 'I wish'|last=Wyche|first=Steve|work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|date=December 14, 2006|access-date=September 29, 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref> Robertson appeared in one game for the Falcons.<ref name="pfr"/> Prior to the preseason, Robertson was released on August 8, 2007.<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070817200643/http://www.atlantafalcons.com/News/2007_Transactions.aspx|archive-date=August 17, 2007|title=Official Transactions|publisher=Atlanta Falcons|url=http://www.atlantafalcons.com/News/2007_Transactions.aspx|access-date=September 29, 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===Later CFL career (2007–2011)=== Due to injuries to running backs Corey Holmes, Wes Cates, and Josh Ranek the Saskatchewan Roughriders signed Robertson on November 14, 2007.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2007/11/15/stress_fracture_for_cates/|title = Stress fracture for Cates|date = 15 November 2007}}</ref>
thumb|left|Robertson (#25) in the backfield in 2009.
On June 5, 2008, he was traded to the Toronto Argonauts in exchange for Leron Mitchell. The trade came after Argonaut starter Tyler Ebell ruptured his Achilles tendon, necessitating a move for Toronto.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=239825|title=Argos RB Ebell out for season with Achilles tendon injury|date=2008-06-05|publisher=TSN.ca|access-date=2008-08-26}}</ref> Robertson started seven out of 17 games played in 2008, with 548 yards and six touchdowns rushing, 258 yards and one touchdown receiving, and 333 yards on kickoff returns.<ref name="PFA">{{cite web|url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/playerr/robe07250.html|title=Jamal Robertson|publisher=Pro Football Archives|access-date=September 30, 2020|archive-date=September 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929132205/https://www.profootballarchives.com/playerr/robe07250.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2009, Robertson played in 18 games where he rushed for 1,031 yards and nine touchdowns, received for 482 yards and 37 yards, and had 191 kickoff return yards.<ref name="PFA"/>
On March 22, 2010, Robertson signed with the BC Lions.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://bclions.com/article/lions-add-running-back-jamal-robertson-to-offensive-ranks |title=Lions add running back Jamal Robertson to offensive ranks |publisher=BC Lions |date=2010-03-22 |access-date=2016-02-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707221216/http://bclions.com/article/lions-add-running-back-jamal-robertson-to-offensive-ranks |archive-date=2011-07-07 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Starting all 16 games played, Robertson had 953 yards and eight touchdowns on rushing plays and 387 yards and a touchdown as a receiver.
He re-signed with the BC Lions on January 24, 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.straight.com/article-369785/vancouver/bc-lions-sign-running-back-jamal-robertson-contract-extension |title=B.C. Lions sign running back Jamal Robertson to contract extension | Georgia Straight Vancouver's News & Entertainment Weekly |publisher=Straight.com |date=2011-01-24 |access-date=2016-02-05}}</ref> In a season where the Lions won the 99th Grey Cup, Robertson had seven starts in nine games and had 296 rushing yards with three touchdowns, 170 receiving yards with one touchdown, and 69 kickoff return yards.<ref name="PFA"/> On December 1, 2011, Robertson retired from football.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2011/12/01/lions-rb-robertson-announces-retirement/|title=Lions RB Robertson announces retirement|date=2011-12-01|website=CFL.ca|access-date=2016-06-09}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==Further reading== * {{cite news|url=https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/teams/story/?id=241871&hubname=cfl-argonauts|title=Robertson leads Argonauts over Blue Bombers|date=2008-06-28|publisher=TSN.ca}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20100330073334/http://www.jamalrobertson.com/ Official website] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20121010092529/http://www.nfl.com/player/jamalrobertson/2504799/profile NFL.com profile] *[http://www.justsportsstats.com/footballstatsindex.php?player_id=roberjam003&scoresort=6 Stats Crew profile]
{{99th Grey Cup}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Robertson, Jamal}} Category:1977 births Category:Living people Category:American football running backs Category:Atlanta Falcons players Category:Canadian football running backs Category:Carolina Panthers players Category:Ohio Northern Polar Bears football players Category:Rhein Fire players Category:San Francisco 49ers players Category:Saskatchewan Roughriders players Category:Toronto Argonauts players Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen Category:Players of American football from Washington, D.C. Category:Players of American football from Dayton, Ohio Category:Players of Canadian football from Dayton, Ohio Category:Calgary Stampeders players Category:BC Lions players Category:21st-century American sportsmen Category:20th-century American sportsmen