Roger Staubach Leadership

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Staubach's leadership was defined by his rivalry with Craig Morton, his former teammate from 1965. After competing for the starting job during the 1970 season where both started roughly half the games, Staubach secured the role permanently following a critical relief performance against San Francisco in the 1972 division playoffs when Morton was struggling. By Super Bowl XII, Staubach faced his old rival one last time. He led an offense that included rookie Tony Dorsett and veteran fullback Robert Newhouse. The game featured a dominant defensive display where the Cowboys forced eight turnovers, allowing only eight completions for 61 yards. Two of these interceptions in the first quarter set up 10 points, establishing control early against the Broncos' Orange Crush Defense.

In Their Own Story

On January 15, 1978, at the Louisiana Superdome, Staubach led the Cowboys to a commanding performance against Denver. The game turned on defensive stops and opportunistic scoring. After forcing two turnovers for first-quarter points, Dallas extended its lead to 20–3 in the third quarter when wide receiver Butch Johnson made a diving catch in the end zone for a 45-yard touchdown reception. While Broncos quarterback Craig Morton struggled, posting a zero passer rating before being replaced by Norris Weese late in the third quarter, Staubach maintained composure. The game was sealed in the fourth quarter not by a pass from Staubach, but when fullback Robert Newhouse threw a 29-yard touchdown pass on a halfback option play to receiver Golden Richards, putting the victory out of reach.

Reader's Guide

To understand Staubach's leadership in this specific context, fans must look at how he managed the game against the Broncos' elite defense. The strategy relied on the 'Doomsday Defense' forcing turnovers rather than a high-scoring aerial battle. Staubach utilized key weapons like Drew Pearson, who was the leading receiver with 48 receptions for 870 yards during the season, and tight end Billy Joe DuPree. However, the game also highlighted the versatility of his offense, as rookie Tony Dorsett led the team in rushing with 1,007 yards despite not starting until the tenth game. The leadership required trusting a running-heavy attack when necessary while exploiting defensive breakdowns, such as Johnson's diving catch and Newhouse's option pass.

Did You Know?

• Staubach joined the Cowboys in 1969 after four years of service in the U.S. Navy.
• In Super Bowl XII, the Cowboys defense allowed only eight pass completions for a total of 61 yards.
• Craig Morton became the only quarterback to post a zero passer rating in a Super Bowl before being replaced by Norris Weese.
• The game was the first Super Bowl played in a domed stadium and the first played in prime time in the Eastern United States.
• Rookie Tony Dorsett led the Cowboys in rushing with 1,007 yards during the regular season despite not becoming a full-time starter until the tenth game.