Roger Staubach’s incredible military and NFL career, a true Dallas Cowboys legend

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Nowadays, the Dallas Cowboys and football go hand in hand, but they have a former Navy veteran to thank for their emergence as a big-name franchise.

Roger Staubach had an outstanding career as an NFL quarterback, winning countless individual and team awards.

The now 81-year-old, however, had more than just a great NFL career though, also serving in the military.

In both careers, the man now known as “Captain America” overcame tremendous odds.

Here’s a look at his incredible achievements.

What was Roger Staubach’s career before football?

After a successful college career at the New Mexico Military Institute and the Navy, Staubach volunteered for a one-year tour duty in South Vietnam in 1965.

Until 1967, Staubach served as a Supply Corps officer for the Navy at the Chu Lai Base Area, supervising 41 enlisted men.

Despite being colourblind, he still joined the military, becoming the first graduate commissioned directly into the Supply Corps.

In 1996, the U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation awarded Staubach the Lone Sailor Award for his naval service.

Over 20 years later, Staubach received one of the highest honors, claiming the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

He’s one of just four people with ties to American football to receive this distinction, with the others being Alan Page, Earl Blaik and Bear Bryant.

When Roger Staubach was picked in the draft

As a Heisman Trophy winner in 1964, Staubach could’ve been a first overall draft pick in 64 but had four years remaining on his military commitment.

That’s probably why he fell down to the 10th round of the NFL Draft that year before Tom Landry and the Cowboys chose him as a “future” selection.

In 1969, Staubach resigned from the naval commission to join the Cowboys training camp, becoming the full-time starter in week eight of the 1971 season.

The Cowboys won 10 consecutive games with Staubach under centre that year before capturing their first Super Bowl, with Staubach winning MVP of the big game.

How many times times Roger Staubach won the Super Bowl

During his 11-year career in Dallas, the Cowboys only missed the playoffs once (1974), making the Super Bowl four times and winning twice in 1971 and 77.

Staubach is 85-29 as the Cowboys starter in the regular season and 11-6 in the playoffs.

His most famous moment came in the 1975 playoffs with a 50-yard TD pass to Drew Pearson, giving them a dramatic comeback victory over the Minnesota Vikings.

That would become known as the “Hail Mary” pass, a term we still coin today.

Staubach led the league in passer rating four times, with his best mark coming in 1971 (104.8).

He’s a six-time Pro Bowler, leading the NFL in touchdown passes in 1973 (23) and winning the NFL Man of the Year Award in 1978, an award now named after Walter Payton.

When Roger Staubach made the Hall of Fame

In 1985, Staubach was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame four years after his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.

He joined the Cowboys Ring of Honor in 1983.

His #12 is one of six numbers as of 2022 to be kept out of Cowboys circulation, alongside Troy Aikman (8), Bob Hayes and Emmitt Smith (22), Jason Witten (82) and Bob Lily (74).