Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach is one of the best NFL players in franchise history, making six Pro Bowls, winning two Super Bowls and being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame across his 11-year football career.
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While he certainly became a superstar and an icon in Dallas football lore, his path to becoming a professional football player was far from standard.
Early Life and College Career
Roger Thomas Staubach was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and grew up in the suburb of Silverton where he attended Purcell Marian High School. While he was a star talent in high school, football wasn't his only goal in life.
He was committed to serving his country, and after graduating high school in 1960, he attended the New Mexico Military Institute for a year.
Staubach then enrolled at the U.S. Naval Academy and would play quarterback for Navy's college football team, where he'd have an exceptional career for the Midshipmen. Staubach won the Heisman Trophy in 1963 after throwing seven touchdown passes and leading the team to a 9-2 record and an appearance in the Cotton Bowl against Texas.
Military Service
Roger Staubach in Vietnam.
He would practice with the #DallasCowboys on his 2 week summer breaks. pic.twitter.com/6nnY5kBw6I— Old Time Football 🏈 (@Ol_TimeFootball) November 29, 2020
Roger Staubach was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the 10th round of the 1964 NFL Draft as a future selection, one year before his college career ended.
However, the American football quarterback wouldn't play for the franchise until 1969 as a 27-year-old rookie due to his four-year military commitment.
After graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy, Staubach requested to serve his tour of duty for the U.S. Navy where he served as a Supply Corps officer in Vietnam, despite having had the option to serve in the United States.
Staubach resigned his naval commission in 1969 in order to attend the Cowboys' offseason training camp and start his career in the National Football League.
NFL Career
Roger Staubach ➡️ Butch Johnson for a 47-yard touchdown.
Watch the @dallascowboys Super Bowl XII victory for FREE on https://t.co/TAuzHhPGvH: https://t.co/03g5AKmZhK pic.twitter.com/fRv2mATBnK
— NFL (@NFL) May 11, 2020
RELATED: Roger Staubach Served in Vietnam, Then Captained America's Team
In 1971, Cowboys head coach Tom Landry inserted Roger Staubach as the starting quarterback in place of Craig Morton midway through the season.
Captain America would lead the team on a 10-game undefeated run which cultivated in a Super Bowl VI victory over the Miami Dolphins and saw Staubach win Super Bowl MVP.
After a Pro Bowl season in 1975, Staubach and the Cowboys played in Super Bowl X against the Pittsburgh Steelers but lost the game 21-17, during which Staubach threw three interceptions and was sacked seven times. The Steelers and Cowboys squared off again in the Super Bowl a few years later, but Dallas was once again thwarted.
Bill Belichick marvels at Roger Staubach's ability to lead a two-minute drill.
📺: #NFL100 All-Time Team on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/3TztLD9PAn
— NFL (@NFL) December 28, 2019
Staubach and the Cowboys had another successful campaign in 1977, cruising through the playoffs and winning Super Bowl XII against the Denver Broncos, the second ring of the quarterback's career.
Staubach retired in 1979, after a career that saw him throw 153 touchdowns, 109 interceptions, and boast a career record of 85-29. He led the league in passer rating in four separate seasons and was named the NFL's Man of the Year in 1978.
Post-NFL Career and Personal Life
At a dinner tonight for the #NFL100 All-Time Team and ran into Roger Staubach and his beautiful wife Marianne. They were married one year after we drafted him with the Cowboys. That's 55 years and 5 great children. pic.twitter.com/fpuTQtMEZr
— Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) January 31, 2020
Roger Staubach has been married to his wife Marianne Staubach since 1965. The couple have five children together: Jeffrey Roger, Michelle Elizabeth, Jennifer Anne, Stephanie Marie, and Amy Lynn.
In 1977, just prior to his retirement, Staubach started a real estate firm, The Staubach Company, in partnership with Robert Holloway Jr., an associate of Henry S. Miller. During his NFL career, Staubach began working as a part-time insurance broker for Miller as a backup plan to support his family in case of injury.
The commercial real estate business became a massive success, and sold in 2008 for $613 million to Jones Lang LaSalle. Staubach remains involved with the Dallas-Fort Worth business, as he now works as the executive chairman of Jones Lang LaSalle.
The American quarterback is also involved in other ventures, including Hall of Fame Racing — a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team — with fellow Cowboys legendary quarterback Troy Aikman.
Roger Staubach Net Worth
If last night's @dallascowboys victory wasn't enough to satisfy your @NFL appetite, check out our @UrbanLandInst Impact Award video honoring #Cowboys legend Roger Staubach. pic.twitter.com/2JNME9dJPy
— DHD Films (@dhd_films) November 12, 2018
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Roger Staubach boasts an estimated net worth of $600 million through his playing career and business ventures in retirement, most notably the fortune he made via real estate.
While having a legendary NFL career tends to make a person extremely wealthy, Staubach made the bulk of his fortune in retirement with his solid business ventures.
