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Roger Staubach

Birthday
Birthplace
CincinnatiOhio
Height
191 cm · 6′3″
Weight
89 kg · 196 lbs

Roger Staubach is an American former professional football quarterback known for leading the Dallas Cowboys to victories in Super Bowl VI and Super Bowl XII and winning the 1963 Heisman Trophy. Nicknamed "Captain Comeback" and "Roger the Dodger", he spent his entire 11-season NFL career with the Cowboys, earning six Pro Bowl selections and induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Personal life

Staubach married his wife, Marianne, on September 4, 1965. The couple made their long-term home in Dallas, Texas, and raised five children together. Over the years, their family grew to include numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Throughout his athletic career and retirement, Staubach remained active in civic and charitable organizations. In 1978, he received the NFL Man of the Year Award in recognition of his public service. He later served as the president of the philanthropic organization No Greater Love in 1981.

Collegiate career at Navy

Staubach grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, and attended Purcell High School, where he switched to quarterback during his sophomore year. To prepare for collegiate service, he attended the New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell for a year before entering the United States Naval Academy in 1961.

At Annapolis, Staubach competed in football, baseball, and basketball. During the 1963 season, he led the Midshipmen to a 9-1 regular season record, a number-two national ranking, and an appearance in the Cotton Bowl. He won the Heisman Trophy, the Maxwell Award, and the Walter Camp Memorial Trophy as a junior. Navy retired his uniform number 12 upon his graduation, and he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1981.

Naval service and entrance to the NFL

The Dallas Cowboys drafted Staubach in the tenth round of the 1964 NFL draft as a future selection, while the Kansas City Chiefs selected him in the 16th round of the American Football League draft. Because of his four-year military obligation, he could not join the NFL immediately after college.

Commissioned into the Navy Supply Corps due to color-blindness, Staubach volunteered for a one-year tour of duty in South Vietnam, serving at the Chu Lai Base Area until 1967. Upon returning stateside, he played for service teams, including the Pensacola Navy Goshawks, while reviewing the Cowboys playbook during his military leaves. He completed his naval commission in 1969 to join the Cowboys training camp as a 27-year-old rookie.

Dallas Cowboys and Super Bowl championships

Staubach began his professional career backing up Craig Morton before securing the permanent starting role midway through the 1971 season. He led Dallas to ten consecutive victories to finish the campaign, culminating in a 24-3 victory over the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VI, where he was named Most Valuable Player. He later guided the Cowboys to another title in Super Bowl XII, defeating the Denver Broncos 27-10.

Known for his mobility and late-game heroics, Staubach led Dallas to 23 fourth-quarter comebacks and game-winning drives. In a 1975 playoff matchup against the Minnesota Vikings, he popularized the term "Hail Mary pass" after throwing a 50-yard game-winning touchdown to Drew Pearson in the final seconds. Staubach led the NFL in passer rating across four seasons and retired after the 1979 season to safeguard his health following multiple concussions. He entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985.

Commercial real estate and later ventures

Staubach began working in commercial real estate during off-seasons in the 1970s to prepare for his post-football career. In 1977, he established The Staubach Company, which expanded nationwide by focusing on corporate tenant representation. He served as the company's chief executive officer until 2007, and the firm subsequently merged with Jones Lang LaSalle in 2008, where he served as executive chairman of the Americas region until his retirement in 2018.

Beyond real estate, Staubach partnered with Troy Aikman to co-own the NASCAR racing team Hall of Fame Racing, which debuted in 2006. In 2007, he served as chairman of the North Texas Super Bowl XLV Bid Committee, helping bring the 2011 championship game to Arlington. In November 2018, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Quick facts

  • Staubach is the last player from a military academy to win the Heisman Trophy.
  • He volunteered for a one-year tour of duty in South Vietnam, serving as a Navy Supply Corps officer at Chu Lai Base Area.
  • Due to his mandatory four-year military service commitment, he did not make his NFL debut until he was 27 years old.
  • He was the first of only four players to win both the Heisman Trophy and the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award.
  • He coined the term "Hail Mary pass" after throwing a 50-yard game-winning touchdown to Drew Pearson against the Minnesota Vikings in 1975.
  • Staubach retired from professional football following the 1979 season after suffering 20 career concussions.
  • At the time of his retirement in March 1980, he held the highest career passer rating in NFL history at 83.4.
  • He co-owned the NASCAR Cup Series team Hall of Fame Racing alongside fellow Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman.
  • He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in November 2018.
  • In 1978, he was named the NFL Man of the Year for his off-field leadership and community service.
  • He chaired the North Texas bid committee that successfully brought Super Bowl XLV to the Dallas-Fort Worth area in 2011.

FAQs about Roger Staubach

Where does Roger Staubach live today?

Staubach resides in Dallas, Texas, where he has lived since playing for the Dallas Cowboys.

How many children did Roger Staubach have?

Staubach and his wife, Marianne, had five children together.

Why did Roger Staubach retire so early?

Staubach retired after the 1979 NFL season on medical advice to protect his long-term health after suffering 20 concussions during his football career.

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