Roland Nabors

Roland Richard "Tuffy" Nabors (July 22, 1924 – December 3, 1999) was an American professional football player who played at the linebacker and center positions. He played college football for Texas Tech and professional football for the New York Yankees.

Early life Nabors was born in 1924 in Meadow, Texas. He attended Lubbock High School.

College football and military service Nabors played college football at Texas Tech in 1942, 1946, and 1947. He was selected for the All-Border Conference team. He also lettered in basketball at Texas Tech.

Professional football Nabors was selected by the New York Yankees in the seventh round (55th overall pick) of the 1947 AFCA Draft. He played for the Yankees during their 1948 season. He appeared in a total of 10 AAFC games.

Later life In August 1949, he was hired as the line coach for the Texas Western Miners (later renamed UTEP) football program. Nabors served as the line coach at Texas Western for three years, ultimately resigning in January 1953 to enter private business. In June 1953, he opened the 'Tuffy' Nabors Service Station in Lubbock. He later worked for 20 years at the Texas State Comptroller's Office. He later operated a Coors beer distributorship in San Antonio.

Nabors' son, Rick Nabors, later played college football for the Texas Longhorns.

Nabors died in 1999 in Beaumont, Texas, at age 75.