Manhattan Beach Native, Dallas Cowboy Jeff Rohrer Unveils Online Gallery

MANHATTAN BEACH, CA — Manhattan Beach native, artist and former NFL linebacker Jeff Rohrer on Tuesday unveiled an online collection of his oil paintings.

The site, BadCowboyOils.com, includes his "Psychodellic" series, as well as an eclectic range of portraits spanning Douglas MacArthur, Sigmund Freud, Andy Warhol and Kent State football hero Jack Lambert. Rohrer played for the Dallas Cowboys from '82-'90 for legendary coach Tom Landry, who was also a subject of one of Rohrer's painting.

"Jeff was a legendary linebacker at Yale and for the Cowboys in the NFL — what made him legendary was his love and deep knowledge of art and literature," said Robert Farris Thompson, the Colonel Trumbull Professor Emeritus of the History of Art at Yale University, Rohrer's alma mater. "He would hang out with the guys but also dig a play by Shakespeare or a modern art show at a museum. He has become a hell of an artist himself; note his control of powerful colors and dynamic shifting shapes of a sample image from his work."

Rohrer was born and raised Manhattan Beach. At 14, he began working as a metal sculptor for local artist Greg Quale selling many of his whimsical pieces on the commercial market. By 16, still heavily involved in welding three-dimensional abstract art, he added pottery to his repertoire. By the end of high school, Rohrer was considered a master potter, winning several awards for his highly skilled technique and unique creativity.

At Yale, Rohrer focused on academics and on playing for the Bulldogs. He graduated in 1982 and was drafted in the second round by the Dallas Cowboys. After retiring from football in 1990, Rohrer enjoyed a prolific career as a global commercial producer.

Rohrer's production career reinforced his love of art. Applying his bold imagination to oil on canvas, he was consumed by the medium. Rohrer concentrated his early efforts on portrait subjects; his Landry portrait is on display at the Baylor Tom Landry Health & Wellness Center in Dallas.

"This has been a really prolific period," said Rohrer. "I'm so excited to be sharing this work on a broader scale."

Image courtesy of Jeff Rohrer.