By, Damon Knight, Tribune Correspondent
Local sports in Michigan has again caught the death bug as another one of its athletes sadly passes away. Former Michigan State and Detroit Lions wide receiver Charles Rogers died on Monday morning due to liver disease. He was 38. Rogers had also been battling cancer. According to, former Saginaw high school football coach Don Durrett and former athletic director/basketball coach Marshall Thomas said, “He had cancer, whether that was related to his liver I don’t know,” former Saginaw High basketball coach and athletic director Marshall Thomas said. “They had given him 30 days to live if he didn’t get a liver transplant.”
During high school, Rogers was a three-sport athlete for the Trojans. He won a state championship in both football and track. Basketball was his third sport. Later on, Rogers signed a letter of intent to Michigan State, where he would set a Spartan record of 27 career touchdowns as well as breaking the NCAA record of 13 consecutive games with a touchdown catch. Rogers would go onto win the Biletnikoff Award for the best receiver in college football. In the 2003 NFL Draft, Rogers went second overall to the Detroit Lions. However, a history of drug use would soon follow. Rogers would only play 15 games in 3 seasons with the Lions, catching 36 passes for 440 yards and four touchdowns.
In a Twitter post, MSU issued their condolences, “We are deeply saddened to learn the news of Charles Rogers passing away. We send our condolences to his family, friends and former teammates during this difficult time.”
The Detroit Lions also issued their’s by saying, “We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Charles Rogers,” a statement released on Monday by the Detroit Lions said, “From Saginaw, to East Lansing, to Detroit, Charles’ connection to the state of Michigan and its football community was felt by many during the course of his life. We extend our heartfelt sympathies and condolences to his friends and family during this difficult time.”
