Former NFL player Roger LeClerc became a high school math teacher

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Once former NFL player Roger LeClerc concluded his career in football, he taught high school mathematics for 30 years. Photo credit The Republican Obituaries

Many times talented athletes go on to become accomplished coaches and teachers. One of these is Roger LeClerc, an NFL football player who also coached football at the college level and then taught high school math for many years.

Roger was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, on Oct. 1, 1936. As a young man, he graduated from Agawam High School in 1954. He then enrolled in Trinity College, a private liberal arts college located in Hartford, Connecticut, where he played both football and baseball. He earned his Bachelor’s degree there in 1960.

Roger became part of the draft for the National Football League (NFL) in 1959. He was drafted by and played for the Chicago Bears for the next seven seasons, from 1960 to 1966. During this time, he earned 377 points, making him the second highest scorer in team history. In fact, he was one of the members of the team that took the NFL championship in 1963. As a football player, Roger served most often as the team’s place kicker, but at 6’3″ and  235 pounds, he also played center and linebacker. In 1967, Roger transferred to the Denver Broncos, where he played one season in the American Football League. He also played amateur baseball in Massachusetts during the football off-seasons. He was a catcher for the Holyoke Orioles in the Tri-County League for several years.

Once his NFL career was concluded, Roger accepted a position as Head Football Coach at Westfield State University in Westfield, Massachusetts. His tenure there lasted one season. That was in 1982.

Next, Roger returned to his home town of Agawam, Massachusetts, where he taught eighth grade and ninth grade algebra and geometry. He also coached football there. His career as an educator and coach spanned 30 years. After his retirement from teaching, he worked at Southwick Community College.

For his work as an athlete and an educator, Roger was inducted into the Agawam High School Hall of Fame in 2016. In addition, he was one of the first 11 individuals inducted into the Trinity College Athletics Hall of Fame in 2019.

Sadly, Roger passed away on Jan. 22, 2021. He was 84 years of age.