Charles Roberts (Canadian football)

Charles Roberts
Born:	April 3, 1979 (age 45); Montclair, California, U.S.
Career information
Status	Retired
CFL status	American
Position(s)	RB
Height	5 ft 6 in (168 cm)
Weight	177 lb (80 kg)
College	Sacramento State
Career history
As player
2001–2008	Winnipeg Blue Bombers
2008	BC Lions
Career highlights and awards
	;
CFL All-Star	2001–2007
CFL East All-Star	2001, 2006, 2007
CFL West All-Star	2002–2005
Awards	2001 - Frank M. Gibson Trophy
Honors	2007 - Fan Choice
Records	Winnipeg Career Rushing Leader (9,987 yards)
Career stats
	Playing stats at CFL.ca (archive);
	Canadian Football Hall of Fame, 2014;

Charles Roberts (born April 3, 1979) is an American former professional football running back who played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL). In 2024 he was inducted into the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ Ring of Honour.

College career

Roberts attended Sacramento State, where he set numerous DI-AA rushing records for the Sac State Hornets football team, including total rushing yards and most yards in a game (409 yards vs Idaho State in 1999). His nickname while with the Hornets was "Choo-Choo Charlie", in reference to the train that would often come by behind the stadium during games and practices. Upon graduation, he went to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada to play for the Canadian Football League team, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Blue Bombers

In his 8-year tenure he established himself as one of the premier running backs in the Canadian Football League, earning the nickname "Blink" for his amazing quickness and agility.^[1] He led the league in rushing yards in 2006 with 1609 yards and 10 touchdowns, earning a nomination as the East's Most Outstanding Player. Off the field he experienced highs and lows. The enigmatic back missed team flights, led the league in all-purpose yards, pondered retirement, led the league in rushing yards, publicly criticized some decisions, and signed a long-term big money deal to remain as the face of the Bombers.

Through the 2006 season, Roberts rushed for 8,091 yards in just six seasons with the Blue Bombers. He also tallied up 2,732 receiving yards and 57 touchdowns.

On September 2, 2007 Roberts passed Leo Lewis to become the Winnipeg Blue Bombers all-time leading rusher. At the time, he was fifth all-time in CFL career rushing totals. Andrew Harris surpassed Charles Roberts for fifth during the CFL's 2023 rendition of the "Touchdown Atlantic" (TDA), an event which only had been played once during the CFL preseason in 2005 when Roberts was still playing.

Roberts was selected in 2005 as one of the 20 All-Time Blue Bomber Greats.

On September 1, 2008, Roberts was traded to the BC Lions for fellow RB Joe Smith.

BC Lions

On September 13, 2008, in a game against the Roughriders, Roberts ran to surpass 10,000 rushing yards in his CFL career.^[2]

On December 3, 2008, the Lions announced that Roberts' 2009 option was not being renewed and as a result he became a free agent.^[3] He retired from the game shortly thereafter.

Post-football

Since retiring as a player, Roberts moved to and now resides in Long Beach, California.

On September 18, 2013, Roberts was inducted into the Blue Bombers' Hall of Fame.^[4]

In 2014, he was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.

Statistics

Year	Team	Attempts	Yards	Average	Long	TD	Fumbles	Receptions	Yards	Avg	Long	TD
2001	WPG	107	620	5.8	22	1	3	27	288	10	43	0
2002	WPG	216	1,162	5.4	70	5	5	55	613	11	59	6
2003	WPG	264	1,554	5.9	51	8	2	51	548	10	47	2
2004	WPG	300	1,522	5.1	49	8	11	53	398	7	26	5
2005	WPG	290	1,624	5.6	69	12	5	49	474	9	32	0
2006	WPG	303	1,609	5.3	-	10	5	42	411	9	32	0
2007	WPG	246	1,379	5.3	-	16	6	47	358	7	35	0
2008	WPG/BC	176	815	4.6	-	9	4	44	306	7	20	0
Totals	TOT	1918	10285	5.4	70	69	41	368	3396	9	64	13

References

^ Charles Roberts Gone in the Blink of an Eye
^ "ROBERTS TOPS 10,000 YARD PLATEAU". Archived from the original on February 12, 2012. Retrieved December 4, 2008.
^ Lions release Clermont, Roberts
^ "Blue Bombers to induct Charles Roberts into Blue Bomber Hall of Fame". BlueBombers.com. June 25, 2013. Archived from the original on June 29, 2013. Retrieved June 25, 2013.

External links

Player Profile on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers' "All-Time Greats" list

[1] Charles Roberts Gone in the Blink of an Eye

[2] "ROBERTS TOPS 10,000 YARD PLATEAU". Archived from the original on February 12, 2012. Retrieved December 4, 2008.

[3] Lions release Clermont, Roberts

[4] "Blue Bombers to induct Charles Roberts into Blue Bomber Hall of Fame". BlueBombers.com. June 25, 2013. Archived from the original on June 29, 2013. Retrieved June 25, 2013.

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