Roger Staubach

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Staubach joined the Dallas Cowboys in 1969, becoming the team's second major franchise quarterback after the retirement of Don Meredith in 1968. He led the team to the Super Bowl five times, four as the starting quarterback, and to victories in Super Bowl VI and Super Bowl XII. He was named Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl VI, becoming the first of four players to win both the Heisman Trophy and Super Bowl MVP. He was named to the Pro Bowl six times. Upon his retirement, Staubach founded The Staubach Group, a commercial real estate firm that he later sold to Jones Lang LaSalle for $613 million in 2008. He then became executive chairman of the Americas region of Jones Lang LaSalle until his retirement in 2018. That same year, he received a Presidential Medal of Freedom.

In Their Own Story

In January 1972, Staubach faced the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VI, leading Dallas to a 24-3 victory. He was named MVP after completing 12 of 19 passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 18 rushing yards. This win made him the first player to secure both a Heisman Trophy and a Super Bowl MVP award, joining a future elite group including Jim Plunkett, Marcus Allen, and Desmond Howard. His career was not without turbulence; in 1971, coach Tom Landry alternated him with Craig Morton on every play during a loss to the Chicago Bears, resulting in seven turnovers. However, Staubach reclaimed his starting role in week eight, leading ten consecutive victories. In the 1975 divisional playoff against the San Francisco 49ers, he relieved an injured Morton and threw two touchdown passes in the final 90 seconds to overcome a 15-point deficit for a 30-28 win. He capped his career with a second Super Bowl win in 1977 (Super Bowl XII), throwing for 183 yards and one touchdown in a 27-10 victory over the Denver Broncos, before retiring in 1979 to protect his long-term health.

Reader's Guide

Staubach was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, the only child of Elizabeth and Robert Staubach. He grew up in Silverton, Ohio, attended St. John the Evangelist Catholic School, and graduated from Purcell High School in Cincinnati in 1960. He spent a year at New Mexico Military Institute, then entered the U.S. Naval Academy in 1961. He played quarterback for the Midshipmen, winning the Heisman Trophy in 1963. After graduating in 1965, he served as a Supply Corps officer in South Vietnam at the Chu Lai Base Area until 1967. He was a tenth-round 'future' selection in the 1964 NFL draft by the Cowboys and joined the team in 1969. He played his entire career with the Cowboys, retiring after 11 seasons.

Did You Know?

• Staubach is one of ten players to both win the Heisman Trophy and be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and the only quarterback.
• He is the last player from a military academy to win the Heisman Trophy.
• During his junior year at the Naval Academy, his color-blindness was detected, leading to his commission into the Supply Corps.
• He batted .420 as a baseball player at the Naval Academy in 1962 and served as captain of the baseball team in 1965.

College Dominance and Military Service

Staubach's time at the U.S. Naval Academy was historic. In his junior year of 1963, he led college football in completion percentage and won the Heisman Trophy, becoming the last player from a military academy to do so. That season, Navy lost the national championship to the University of Texas in the 1964 Cotton Bowl but had earlier secured a 35-14 victory over Notre Dame, a win not repeated by Navy until 2007. During his three seasons, he completed 292 of 463 passes for 18 touchdowns and 19 interceptions, gaining a school-record 4,253 yards of total offense. His senior year in 1964 was marred by an injured left heel sustained in the opening game against Penn State, causing him to miss four games as Navy finished 3-6-1. The academy retired his jersey number 12 during his graduation ceremony. Following graduation in June 1965, he chose a one-year tour in Vietnam over a stateside assignment, serving until 1967 before returning to the US and playing on service teams.

NFL Career and Super Bowl Legacy

Drafted in the tenth round of the 1964 NFL draft as a future selection, Staubach could not play professionally until 1969 due to his four-year military commitment. He was also drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 1964 AFL draft. After joining the Cowboys, he became their second major franchise quarterback after Don Meredith's 1968 retirement. Staubach led Dallas to five Super Bowls, winning VI and XII. His MVP performance in Super Bowl VI cemented his legacy as a dual Heisman and Super Bowl MVP winner. Over his eleven-year career, he was selected to the Pro Bowl six times. He is one of only ten players to win both the Heisman Trophy and be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and the only quarterback to achieve this distinction. He retired at the end of the 1979 season.

Business Ventures and Real Estate Empire

Upon retiring from football, Staubach founded The Staubach Group, a commercial real estate firm. He successfully grew the company before selling it to Jones Lang LaSalle in 2008 for $613 million. Following the sale, he served as the executive chairman of the Americas region for Jones Lang LaSalle until his retirement from business in 2018. This second career demonstrated his ability to leverage leadership skills beyond the gridiron, establishing a significant presence in the commercial real estate sector for decades after his playing days ended.

National Recognition and Enduring Impact

Staubach's achievements were recognized with some of the nation's highest honors. In 2018, the same year he retired from business, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. His college career was immortalized when the Naval Academy retired his number 12. In 2007, ESPN ranked him No. 9 on its list of Top 25 Players in College Football History. He was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame in 1981 and later in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. A unique historical footnote involves his potential appearance on the cover of Life magazine's November 29, 1963 issue; however, President Kennedy's assassination shifted the publication's focus that week.