Rosevelt Colvin
A fearsome NFL linebacker whose pass-rushing ferocity with the Bears and Patriots was forged at Purdue, culminating in two Super Bowl rings.
Born 1977 (age 49)·American football player·Birthday: September 5·Generation X
Biography
Rosevelt Colvin's path to professional football glory was one of relentless pressure off the edge. At Purdue, he developed into a defensive terror, setting a school record for sacks that announced his arrival. Drafted by the Chicago Bears, his speed and knack for hunting quarterbacks made him a standout on a formidable defense. A major free-agent move to the New England Patriots in 2003 came with high expectations, but a devastating hip injury in his second game there threatened his career. Colvin's true legacy was written in his arduous, two-year comeback from that injury. He returned to become a vital, if slightly altered, component of the Patriots' linebacker corps, contributing to undefeated regular seasons and, ultimately, two Super Bowl championships. His career is a study in high-impact play and the resilience required to reclaim it.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Rosevelt was born in 1977, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Rosevelt Was Born
The biggest hits of 1977
#1 Movie
Star Wars
Best Picture
Annie Hall
#1 TV Show
Happy Days
Rosevelt's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1977Born
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1982Started school
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1990Became a teenager
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Could drive
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1995Could vote
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Turned 21
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2007Turned 30
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 40
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 49 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won two Super Bowl championships as a member of the New England Patriots (XXXVIII and XXXIX).
- Recorded 10.5 sacks for the Chicago Bears in the 2001 season, establishing himself as a premier pass rusher.
- Set the Purdue Boilermakers' career sack record with 34, a mark that stood for years.
- Started at outside linebacker for the Patriots during their perfect 16-0 regular season in 2007.
Did You Know?
He wore jersey number 59 for most of his NFL career, both with the Bears and Patriots.
Colvin majored in organizational leadership and supervision at Purdue University.
After football, he worked as a sports analyst for Comcast SportsNet New England.
“My job was simple: find the quarterback and introduce myself.”
