He was called Roger The Dodger for his scrambling abilities, Captain America as quarterback of America’s Team, and for his fourth-quarter game-winning heroics, Captain Comeback was added to his repertoire.Īt the end of his pro career, Staubach compiled 1,685 completions for 22,700 yards and 153 touchdowns, with 109 interceptions.
He was also a five-time All-NFC choice and earned an NFL MVP and six Pro Bowl selections (1971, 1975–1979).ĭuring his playing days, he earned a number of nicknames for his playing style and skills and was recognized as one of the most famous NFL players of the ’70s. Coming behind him are Jim Plunkett,, and Desmond Howard. Meanwhile, he won an MVP in the 1972 game, becoming the first of the four to win Heisman and Super Bowl MVP. Staubach led the Dallas Cowboys to a pair of Super Bowl victories in five appearances Super Bowl VI in 1972 and Super Bowl XII in 1977. Navy Memorial Foundation’s Lone Sailor Award, this was in 1996. Nearly three decades after his service in the navy, Staubach was awarded the U.S. He eventually joined the Cowboys in 1969 as a rookie. He had been drafted prior, though as a future draft choice by the Dallas Cowboys in 1964 in the 10th round. A year after graduation, he volunteered for a tour of duty in Vietnam where he commanded 41 enlisted men.Īfter he returned in 1967, he played football on various service teams to prep him for his future career in the National Football League while he completes his commission. Roger Staubach was commissioned directly into Supply Corps, the Academy’s first graduate to be commissioned directly, owing to detection of his color blindness in his junior year. In all, he garnered a school record of 4,253 yards of total offense.ĭuring his graduation in June 1965, the Academy retired his jersey number (12) and nearly two decades later (in 1981), he was inducted in the College Football Hall of Fame to mark his excellent career. Roger finished his career completing 292 of 463 passes with 18 touchdowns and 19 interceptions. The same year, he also clinched the Maxwell Award, the Walter Camp Memorial Trophy, and also led his team to the No. He won the Heisman Trophy in his junior year, becoming the last player from a military academy to win the trophy. Naval Academy in 1961 where he played quarterback for the Midshipmen. He spent the next year in New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell before proceeding to the U.S. John the Evangelist Catholic School and then graduated from Purcell High School (now Purcell Marian High School) in 1960. Named Roger Thomas Staubach, the football icon was born on the 5th day of February 1942 in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Elizabeth (née Smyth) and Robert Staubach but grew up in Silverton on North Berkley Avenue.