Roman Oben

Roman Dissake Oben (born October 9, 1972 in Cameroon) is a former professional American football player. He played college football at the University of Louisville before being drafted by the New York Giants in 1996. Oben spent 12 years as an offensive tackle in the National Football League playing for the Cleveland Browns, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the San Diego Chargers. He was a starting offensive lineman on the Buccaneers Super Bowl XXXVII Championship team. Oben currently co-hosts New York Giants shows on MSG and CBS Local sports.

Early Years
At the age of four he moved with his mother from Cameroon to the United States and settled in Washington, D.C.. He attended Gonzaga College High School and spent one year at Fork Union Military Academy where he set a FUMA discus record at 175’ 10” that stood for 21 years (the record was broken in 2012).

College Career
A two-sport college athlete, Oben played college football at the University of Louisville, and was a four-year letterman in football and three-year letterman in track and field. In football, he was an All-National Independent first team selection as a junior. In track and field, he placed at the Metro Conference Championship in the shot put.

While at the University of Louisville, Oben became a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and was Vice President of the Alpha Pi Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha. Oben earned his bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Louisville in 1995.

NFL Career
Selected in the 3rd round (66th overall) by the New York Giants in the 1996 NFL Draft, Oben was the first Cameroonian born NFL player drafted. Oben started in over 90% of the games in his 12-year career at left tackle. He played for the New York Giants (’96-’99), Cleveland Browns (’00-’01), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (’02-’03), and San Diego Chargers (’04-’07).

New York Giants
Oben spent four seasons (1996-99) as a member of the New York Giants where he started 48 of 50 games.

Cleveland Browns
Oben joined the Browns as an unrestricted free agent prior to the 2000 season and registered 29 starts at left tackle during his two-year tenure in Cleveland.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Oben was the starting left tackle for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their Super Bowl victory in 2002, leading an offensive line that allowed only one sack in 100 passing situations during the postseason, and earning a Super Bowl XXXVII championship ring in the process.

San Diego Chargers
In 2004, the Chargers traded a fifth round pick in the 2005 NFL Draft to the Buccaneers for Oben. The move was made with the pick obtained from the Giants in the Rivers-Manning trade. Oben quickly became a fixture at the left tackle position and after bouncing back from a career threatening foot injury, he spent the 2007 season as a player-mentor on the Charger's young offensive line.

Off The Field
While serving as the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) team representative for three teams over seven years, Oben was integral in drafting a resolution that ensures NFL Player Programs pay for continued education for retired players and as an active team representative. Oben was a charter member of the NFLPA Benefits Committee that ensured future medical coverage for all NFL players.

Education
Oben earned a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Louisville in 1995. He took graduate courses each NFL off-season towards a master's degree in public administration which he earned from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 2001 while playing for the Cleveland Browns.

Hall of Fame Honors

 * University of Louisville Football Ring of Honor, 2006
 * University of Louisville Athletic Hall of Fame, 2009
 * Gonzaga College High School Athletic Hall of Fame, 2009
 * Fork Union Military Academy Sports Hall of Fame, 2009
 * Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame, 2013

Awards
Oben has been honored for his outstanding work with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America in San Diego where he was recognized as the 2007 Man of the Year.

Post Football Career
After retiring from football in 2008, Oben went on to hold a number of corporate positions and began building his career in broadcast media. Oben joined CBS Outdoor as an Account Executive and was Vice President of Development for The Corporate Playbook, an on-line job board that matches former college and pro athletes with top companies for employment.

He is the Founder and Executive Director of Oben Flag Football while still being actively involved in many charity, community, and civic organizations including the 2009 appointment to serve as chairman for the local Democratic Party in Kinnelon, New Jersey and the National Football League Alumni Association (NFLAA) where he currently serves as the Vice President of the NY/NJ Chapter.

Oben currently co-hosts the New York Giants pre and post-game shows for MSG and My9 News in New York. He is a football analyst for CBS Local Sports and frequently makes guest appearances on a number of sports and news shows. Oben most recently appeared on the Melissa Harris-Perry Show on MSNBC for a special Super Bowl segment which aired on February 3, 2013 and in a segment discussing American conceptions of masculinity which aired on February 23, 2013.

Broadcasting
2012 Fall Season
 * CBS Local: Co-Host “Cover3″ and “Sports Verdict” shows
 * MSG Networks “Giants Opening Drive Live” show: Studio analyst
 * MSG Networks “Giants Press Conference Live” show: Co-host
 * “Giants Post-Game Live” show on Channel 9: Studio Analyst
 * MSG Varsity Network: Color Analyst
 * New York Giants Radio Broadcast: Color Analyst for Giants Pre-season games

2011 Fall Season
 * New York Giants Radio Broadcast: Color Analyst for Giants Pre-season games
 * New York Giants Radio Broadcast: Giants Pre & Post-game Co-Host
 * MSG Varsity Network: Color analyst

2010 & 2009 Fall Seasons
 * SNY Network: ”Big East” show College Football Studio Analyst & Co-Host
 * New York Giants Radio Broadcast: Color Analyst for Giants Pre-season games
 * New York Giants Radio Broadcast: Giants Pre & Post-game Co-Host
 * Sports USA Radio: NFL & College Sideline reporter

2008 Fall Season
 * New York Giants Radio Broadcast: Giants preseason sideline reporter
 * New York Giants Radio Broadcast: Giants Pre & Post Game Co-Host