STAUBACH, ROGER

born Feb. 5, 1942, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. in full Roger Thomas Staubach American collegiate and professional football quarterback, who was important to the establishment of the National Football League (NFL) Dallas Cowboys as a dominant team. Staubach began to play football in the seventh grade, and at the U.S. Naval Academy (Annapolis, Md.) his record as a quarterback was 4,253 yards gained (196265), of which 3,571 yards were by passing, and 18 touchdowns scored. His percentage of passes completed of .631 in one year was a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) record. He was named All-American (1963) and won the Heisman Trophy as the best collegiate player in 1963. He served in the U.S. Naval Reserve (196569). During Staubach's career with the Cowboys (196979), they were in the playoffs every year but one (1974) and played in four Super Bowl games (won 1972, 1978; lost 1976, 1979). Staubach led the league in passing in four seasons (1971, 1973, 197879). With Staubach, the Cowboys won 14 games in which, with two minutes to play, they were either tied or losing. Staubach announced his retirement from football in 1979 and was briefly a sports announcer before establishing a real estate business. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985.