Cambridge Encyclopedia :: Cambridge Encyclopedia Vol. 64

Roger (Thomas) Staubach - College career, Naval career and Vietnam service, NFL career, Retirement

Player of American football, born in Silverton, Ohio, USA. The 1963 Heisman Trophy winner at the Naval Academy, he fulfilled his naval obligation before turning professional in 1969. Four times National Football League (NFL) passing leader, he quarterbacked the NFL Dallas Cowboys to four conference titles and victories in Super Bowls VI and XII. His ability to bring his team from behind in the closing minutes won him the nickname ‘Captain Comeback’.

Roger Staubach

Roger Staubach on
Sports Illustrated with the Dallas Cowboys
Date of birth February 5, 1942
Place of birth Cincinnati, Ohio
Position(s) QB
College Navy
NFL Draft 1964 / Round 10/ Pick 129
Pro Bowls 6
Awards 1963 Heisman Trophy,
1963 Maxwell Award,
1971 Bert Bell Award,
1972 Super Bowl MVP
Honors Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor,
NFL 1970s All-Decade Team
Statistics Pro Football Reference DatabaseFootball
Team(s)
1969-1979 Dallas Cowboys
College Hall-of-Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame, 1985

Roger Thomas Staubach (born February 5, 1942) is a businessman and former American professional football player. After his graduation from the Naval Academy in 1965, Staubach spent four years as an officer in the United States Navy, including a tour of duty in Vietnam as a naval supply officer.

College career

After one year at New Mexico Military Institute, Staubach played quarterback for the United States Naval Academy. Staubach went on to lead the team to 6 second half touchdown drives, throwing for 99 yards and 2 touchdowns, while running for 88 yards and another score.

For the rest of his college career, Staubach would make a name for himself with his superb scrambling skills and his ability to salvage broken plays.

In 1981, Staubach was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.

Naval career and Vietnam service

He was a 10th round draft pick in 1964 by the Dallas Cowboys, but due to his military commitment, did not begin playing until 1969 as a 27 year old rookie.

After graduating from the Naval Academy, Staubach could have requested an assignment in the States, but he chose to volunteer for a 1-year tour of duty in Vietnam, where he served as a supply officer until 1967.

In 1969, Staubach resigned his commission, just in time to join the Cowboys training camp

NFL career

Staubach served as a backup to quarterback Craig Morton in his first 2 NFL seasons.

In 1971, Staubach assumed the full-time quarterbacking duties for the Cowboys and led them to their first Super Bowl victory, 24-3 over the Miami Dolphins.

Staubach played with the Cowboys until 1979 under Tom Landry. Staubach also lead the Cowboys to Super Bowl appearances in Super Bowl X and Super Bowl XIII, where they lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers both times.

Staubach was one of the most exciting NFL players of the 1970s.

Staubach recorded the highest passer rating in the NFL in 4 different seasons (1971, 1973, 1978, 1979), and led the league with 23 touchdown passes in 1973. In his final NFL season of 1979, Staubach set career highs in completions(267), passing yards(3,586), and touchdown passes(27), with just 11 interceptions.

Retirement

Staubach retired from football in 1979, as the highest rated passer of all time (83.4) (at the time), and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985.

In 1977 he capitalized on his football fame and started a commercial real estate business which has been his primary endeavor since retirement from football as CEO of The Staubach Company.

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