Meet this week’s “Special Person of the Week:John Rogan
By Frank Santangelo
John Rogan is a life long resident of Somerville who once signed three pro contracts as a quarterback. The Patriots, Ottawa Rough Riders, C.E.L, and the Boston Breakers of the U.S.F.L.
John in his career had letters and tryouts for the new York Giants, Dallas Cowboys, Cincinnati Bengals of the NFL.
He was 1980 new England College football player of the year at the Gridiron Club in New York City and first team all American for two years.
John broke eight all time new England passing records which Doug Flutie broke many of them and was all New England three years in a row.
He was named top ten quarterback in the country by the Sporting News Pre Draft (with the Pat’s and the Boston Breakers). He also judged a beauty contest as well being introduced right after Bobby Orr at the Genesis Fund Dinner at the Hyatt Regency.
When John was with the Boston Breakers, he was in Central Florida University where he had training camp with the New Jersey Genrals – with Doug Flutie and Hershal Walker as well as the owners of the Genrals was new President Trump were next to US in camp.
When John was in college, he was also one on one with a New England Basketball team for 4 years. He was also a New England Basketball champ for two years and played at the Boston Garden at half time where he beat the kid from Boston College. He was 6ft 7” Tommy Heinsine ran the event for Miller Lite (Celtic great player and coach and now commentator.
John also played for the American Legion Baseball team that went 24-1. He led the team in all offensive categories. Then he went to the New England finals out of Somerville.
Later on John coached football at Somerville High for one year. John also during his time at Somerville High, he coached the mayor’s of Somerville, Joe Curtatone at the time as well.
John is also remembered by hitting four homeruns in one game in high school, and a triple. He went 5 for 5. He also got the winning touchdown on Thanksgiving day as a tight end against Arlington Spy Ponders 15-14 in 1976.
John also had a small part in a movie at Walpole State prison which stared Ellene barkin. John’s agent was the same as the starting quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, Danny White who was from the Berkshires
On January 28, 2016, John suffered many injuries when a car hit him from behind by a driver who was on his phone texting at the time. John suffered a concussion, neck, and lower back developing sciatica in his left leg. The next morning when he woke up, he started stuttering with memory loss and headaches.
Our hats are off to his true Somerville spirit!
We here at the Somerville News Weekly salute you for everything that you do to make Somerville a better place.
Congratulations!