How long was roger staubach in the navy

When football recruiters broached the subject to his mother, she threw them out of her house! Staubach used his military leave to attend the Cowboys rookie camp and began his professional football career as a 27 year old rookie. However, he believes that the leadership lessons acquired in the Navy contributed to his success as a quarterback. Having already suffered 20 concussions, Staubach declined a two year extension with the Dallas Cowboys and began a successful career in real estate.

Roger Staubach has also dedicated himself to charitable works, both with his Staubach Family Foundation and the Allies In Service nonprofit. My surprise revelation from this interview? For Staubach, much of the season was marred by a shoulder injury he suffered in the pre-season. After surgery and a lengthy recuperation, he did return to the team late in the season.

In a first-round playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers, the Cowboys were trailing when Staubach led the team to two touchdowns in the final two minutes of the game for a victory over San Francisco. This come-from-behind victory earned Staubach the nickname "Captain Comeback.

In the second half of the s, Staubach led the Cowboys to the Super Bowl three times—, , and In two of those Super Bowl appearances, Dallas was overpowered by the Pittsburgh Steelers, but in Staubach led the Cowboys to a lopsided victory, , over the Denver Broncos.

Morton was raised in Campbell, California. Staubach went on to lead Navy to six touchdowns, throwing for 99 yards and two touchdowns while running for 88 yards and another score as Navy won 41—0. A few weeks later, Staubach started again in the famed Army—Navy game, which featured president John F.

Kennedy himself a former Naval officer , who just 37 days earlier had negotiated the end of the Cuban Missile Crisis , performing the coin toss. Staubach led the team to a upset over Army, throwing for two touchdowns and running for another.

In his second class junior season of , he won the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award and the Walter Camp Memorial Trophy [3] while leading the Midshipmen to a 9—1 record and a final ranking of 2 in the nation. That season, Staubach led Navy to victory in its annual rivalry with Notre Dame. Navy did not beat Notre Dame again until In his three seasons at Navy, he completed of passes with 18 touchdowns and 19 interceptions, while gaining a school record 4, yards of total offense.

Staubach is the last player from a military academy to win the Heisman Trophy. The Naval Academy retired Staubach's jersey number 12 during his graduation ceremony after his senior season. During his junior year at the Naval Academy, Staubach's color-blindness was detected. He was permitted to become the Naval Academy's first graduate to be commissioned directly into the Supply Corps, which did not necessitate being able to tell the difference between red port and green starboard lights or to discern the color differences in electrical circuitry.

After graduating from the Naval Academy, Staubach could have requested an assignment in the States, but he chose to volunteer for a one-year tour of duty in Vietnam. Staubach commanded 41 enlisted men. He spent the rest of his Naval career in the United States, playing football on various Naval service teams to prepare for his future career in the National Football League. The National Football League allowed the Cowboys to draft him one year before his college eligibility was over, although due to his military commitment, he would not begin playing professionally until as a year-old rookie.

In , Craig Morton began the season as the starter, but after a loss to the New Orleans Saints, Staubach assumed the role. However, in a game against the Chicago Bears in the seventh week of that season, coach Tom Landry alternated Staubach and Morton on each play, sending in the quarterbacks with the play call from the sideline. Dallas gained almost yards of offense but committed seven turnovers that led to a loss to a mediocre Bears squad that dropped the Cowboys to on the season, two games behind the Washington Redskins in the NFC East race.

Staubach assumed the full-time quarterbacking duties in a week eight victory over the St. Louis Cardinals and led the Cowboys to 10 consecutive victories, including their first Super Bowl victory, over the Miami Dolphins. In , he missed most of the season with a separated shoulder , but he relieved Morton in a divisional playoff against the San Francisco 49ers and threw two touchdown passes in the last 90 seconds to win the game 30— With that performance, he won back his regular job and did not relinquish it again during his career.

Staubach led the Cowboys to a second Super Bowl win in the season. Dorsett, Hayes and Wright are in the Hall of Fame, as are Alworth, Ditka and Smith although those three were all with the Cowboys at the end of their careers.

In his final NFL season of , Staubach set career highs in completions , passing yards 3, and touchdown passes 27 , with just 11 interceptions. Staubach retired at the conclusion of the season, as he declined the Cowboys' offer for two more seasons in order to protect his long-term health. He suffered 20 concussions in his playing career, including six in which he said he was "knocked out. Overall, Staubach finished his 11 NFL seasons with 1, completions for 22, yards and touchdowns, with interceptions.

He also gained 2, rushing yards and scored 21 touchdowns on carries.