Teams
- Dallas Cowboys (1969-1979)
Accolades
- Pro Football Hall of Fame
- 2x Super Bowl Champion (VI, XII)
- Super Bowl MVP (VI)
- NFL 1970s All-Decade Team
- 6x Pro Bowl (1971, 1975-1979)
- Second-Team All-Pro (1971)
- Bert Bell Award (1971)
- Walter Payton Man of the Year Award (1978)
“Life is so short, and there are only so many chances to be in pressure situations. There are only a certain number of opportunities to take your talent and ability and get things accomplished.”
-Roger Staubach (source)
“He was the difference between a good year and an average year.”
-Tom Landry, Hall of Fame Head Coach, Dallas Cowboys (source)
“Roger was simply the best.”
-Texas Earnest “Tex” Schramm Jr., Hall of Fame Executive,
Dallas Cowboys (source)
The original “Captain Comeback”, Roger Staubach turned a special Dallas Cowboys team into “America’s Team”, a moniker they still carry today. He was one of the truly great comeback artists in the game’s history, maybe the greatest. Best known for his intelligent decision-making when stepping back to throw, he was also a vastly underrated scrambler who ran for over 2,200 yards in his career, scoring 20 touchdowns and averaging 5.5 yards a carry. Whether to his benefit or detriment, he also had to wait to play, as the Navy grad adhered to his required military service before joining the NFL. Few quarterbacks have ever accomplished what Roger Staubach did in such a limited period of time.
Roger Staubach came into the 1964 NFL and AFL Drafts as a considerable risk. Not for his ability, which he showed in winning the previous year’s Heisman Trophy, but for his impending military service. The U.S. Naval Academy star volunteered to serve in Vietnam, rather than an assignment in the United States. The Dallas Cowboys would select him at #129 overall in the NFL Draft, while the Kansas City Chiefs took him #122 overall in the AFL Draft. He joined the Cowboys just in time for the 1969 season, a 27-year old rookie playing behind 26-year old first-year starter Craig Morton. Staubach would start one game, a win, for the 11-2-1 Cowboys. With Dallas well behind in their Divisional Playoff Round game (an eventual loss to Cleveland), the Naval grad stepped in and went 4-for-5 for 44 yards and a TD, as well as 22 yards rushing.
The 1970 season was a struggle for Staubach. He would manage three starts, going 2-1, but would throw a mere two TDs to eight INTs. His competitor at the QB position, Craig Morton, would thrive with a passer rating more than twice as high as Staubach’s. Morton would lead the Cowboys to Super Bowl V. With a seven-point lead in the fourth quarter, the Baltimore Colts would mount a comeback, pulling through in the final minute 16-13.
Craig Morton’s start to the 1971 season was mostly a mixed bag. Head Coach Tom Landry decided to gamble, alternating between Morton and the talented-yet-underutilized Staubach. It quickly became apparent who was the superior player in ’71. While the ‘Boys went 1-3 in Morton’s starts, they went 10-0 under Staubach. Morton’s 73.5 passer rating was actually solid, ninth-best in the league. But Staubach would easily lead the NFL with a 104.8 QB rating. He would also lead the league with a 1.9% INT rate, and tied for first with 8.9 yards per attempt. The 11-3 Cowboys would win the NFC East and visit Minnesota in the Divisional Round. Staubach wasn’t dominant, but he was efficient in going 10-for-14 for 99 yards, a TD, and no turnovers. Looking to return to the Super Bowl, the 49ers came to Dallas for a rematch of the previous year’s NFC title game. But Dallas’ “Doomsday Defense” would intercept San Francisco quarterback John Brodie three times. Meanwhile, Roger Staubach would accumulate 158 total yards in a 14-3 win.
The Dallas Cowboys were again a win away from a Championship. They had come so close before. A three-point loss in the previous year’s Super Bowl. A last-minute loss in the “Ice Bowl” in ’67. A 34-27 loss to Green Bay in ’66. This year, they faced a tough up-and-coming Miami Dolphins team with a taut defense, power running game, and smart quarterback in Bob Griese. Their Head Coach, Don Shula, was no slouch either. The Cowboys though, would put together one of the most well-rounded performances in Super Bowl history. They would run for 252 yards (including 19 from their quarterback). Their defense would cause three turnovers and hold Miami to three points. And Roger Staubach would go 12-for-19 for 119 yards and two touchdowns, without turning the ball over, as the Cowboys won Super Bowl VI, 24-3, for their first-ever championship. Their quarterback would be named the game’s MVP.
The 1972 season would start out miserably for Staubach and the Cowboys, as he would go down for the year with a separated shoulder. Fortunately for Dallas, Craig Morton was more than capable, and he, along with outstanding years from running backs Calvin Hill and Walt Garrison, would guide the Cowboys’ offense en route to a 10-4 record. At Candlestick Park, San Francisco would finally exact postseason revenge against the Cowboys, leading 28-16 late in the fourth quarter. That was until Coach Landry pulled Morton for the recovering Staubach. In 90 seconds, Staubach would lead Dallas on two touchdowns drives in one of the most shocking comebacks in NFL history. In abbreviated duty, Captain Comeback achieved 197 total yards and two touchdowns as Dallas stunned the hometown San Francisco 49ers, 30-28. There would be no repeat NFL title however, as the Cowboys would be shut down by quarterback Billy Kilmer and the Washington Redskins, on both offense and defense, 28-3 in the NFC Championship Game. Although he managed to not turn the ball over, Staubach also failed to score in his 157 total yard effort. The Redskins would go on to lose to an undefeated Miami Dolphins team in Super Bowl VII.
Coming into 1973, it was clear that Roger Staubach was the favored son in Dallas. While Craig Morton languished on the bench, “Roger the Dodger” would start all 14 regular season games, piling up nearly 2,700 total yards and 26 all-purpose TDs. He would lead the NFL with a 94.6 QB rating, 8.5 yards per attempt, and tie Roman Gabriel for the league lead with 23 TD passes. His 62.6% completion percentage trailed Ken Stabler by one-tenth of a percent for the best rate among QBs. The Cowboys would go 10-4 to win the NFC East.
Facing quarterback John Hadl and the L.A. Rams in the Divisional Round, the ‘Boys would let a 17-0 lead slip to 17-16 in the fourth quarter. However, Staubach would put the Rams’ comeback out of reach with an 83-yard TD pass to Drew Pearson. Dallas would win 27-16 behind their quarterback’s 210 total yards, two touchdowns, and two INTs. Back in the NFC Championship for the fourth straight year, they would be completely stuffed by the Minnesota Vikings’ “Purple People Eaters” defense and their quarterback, Fran Tarkenton. The Vikings would force Staubach into four interceptions and only 119 yards of offense in winning the NFC by a 27-10 margin. They would eventually fall to the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VIII.
Knowing that he was permanently relegated to second-string status, Craig Morton requested, and was granted, a trade during the 1974 season. For the Cowboys, ending up with an 8-6 mark on the season was a big disappointment. They would fail to make the postseason for the first time since 1965, due mainly to a 1-4 start. And Staubach would see a significant drop in production, throwing only 11 touchdowns to 15 interceptions. However, in the offseason, Dallas would use their first-round pick from the Craig Morton trade to draft future Hall of Fame defensive tackle Randy White with the #2 overall pick. A resurgence was right around the corner.
Staubach wouldn’t have his best season in 1975, but it was a vast improvement over ’74. His 2,666 passing yards was third in the NFL, and in 13 games he threw 17 touchdowns to 16 interceptions. Finishing 10-4, the Cowboys would win the Wild Card slot and visit back-to-back NFC champs Minnesota in the Divisional Round. The Vikings pulled ahead in the fourth, 14-10, and with the Purple People Eaters shutting down the Dallas offense, all seemed lost. That was until Captain Comeback would coin the term “Hail Mary” with a miraculous 50-yard bomb to Drew Pearson for the winning score in the waning moments. The Cowboys would advance in a 17-14 upset. There would be no such drama one week later. In destroying the Rams 37-7, Staubach would account for 274 yards of offense and four touchdowns to a lone interception. He had redeemed an otherwise mediocre season, but there was still one more game left on the schedule.
Super Bowl X saw the Dallas Cowboys face the defending champion Pittsburgh Steelers, in a classic quarterback duel between Staubach and Terry Bradshaw. Dallas would draw first blood on a 29-yard TD pass from Drew Pearson in the first quarter, then take a 10-7 lead into the fourth. But Pittsburgh would score 14 unanswered on a safety, two field goals, and a 64-yard touchdown pass to Lynn Swann to go up 21-10. With only three minutes to play, Captain Comeback would lead Dallas on an 80-yard drive in just over a minute and on only five plays, including a 4-for-4 passing effort from Staubach. Dallas would gain possession again after a Pitt turnover on downs. With 50 ticks left on the clock, Staubach would get the ‘Boys to Pittsburgh’s 38. But they would advance no further as an interception with less than 20 seconds left would seal back-to-back championships for the Steelers. Roger Staubach would finish the game with 226 total yards, two TDs, and three INTs.
There was little doubt that America’s Team would be competitive on the 200th anniversary of the nation’s independence. And indeed, the Dallas Cowboys would go 11-3 to win the NFC East in ’76. Roger Staubach’s 2,715 passing yards would be good enough for fifth-best in the league, while his 3.0% interception rate was fourth. They would host a familiar foe, the L.A. Rams, in the Divisional Round. But Staubach was way off his game after throttling the Rams just one year prior. He would go a poor 15-for-37 for 150 yards, no scores, and three picks. The Cowboys would pay dearly for his underperformance, relinquishing a 10-7 fourth quarter lead, and finally being eliminated at the final whistle, 14-12.
The 1975 season resulted in a surprising finish, nearly culminating in a Super Bowl. The 1976 season had resulted in a surprising playoff letdown after a strong season. Although everyone knew Dallas would be good in 1977, it was anyone’s guess as to how good. But the Cowboys had a secret weapon in ’77, a rookie running back from the University of Pittsburgh named Tony Dorsett. His, 1,280 yards from scrimmage would be eighth in the NFL, and his 13 TDs among non-quarterbacks trailed only the 16 scored by the Chicago Bears’ Walter Payton. This helped take the pressure off Roger Staubach, and the quarterback would have a terrific year as a result. The 35-year old would lead the NFL in INT rate (2.5%) and finish second in passer rating (87.0). He would also finish third in passing yards (2,620), completion percentage (58.2%), and TD passes (18).
The 12-2 Cowboys laid waste to the visiting Chicago Bears in the Divisional Round, holding NFL MVP Walter Payton to 60 rushing yards. Roger Staubach was solid on the day with an 8-for-13 passing performance for 134 yards, one touchdown, one INT, and 25 yards rushing. It set up a date with their other great NFC rivals of the ‘70s, the Minnesota Vikings, for a spot in the Super Bowl. The Dallas Doomsday Defense harassed quarterback Bob Lee (who had replaced an injured Fran Tarkenton earlier in the season) throughout the day. Meanwhile, Roger the Dodger would throw for 165 yards, with a TD, and an INT. Dallas would win with little trouble, 23-6, and find themselves back in the Big Game.
In Super Bowl XXII at the Louisiana Superdome, the Dallas Cowboys faced two surprising foes. First, the Denver Broncos, who were playing in the first Super Bowl. They had managed to defeat the two teams that had won the previous three Super Bowls, the Oakland Raiders and the Pittsburgh Steelers, on their postseason route to the championship. The second surprising foe was Denver’s quarterback, former Cowboys signal caller Craig Morton. He had helped turn his third organization into winners. But the drama dissipated early as Dallas built a 13-0 halftime lead and were never really threatened. The defense held Morton to a 4-for-15 performance for 39 yards and a ghastly four interceptions before he was pulled for back-up Norris Weese. Meanwhile, Staubach shined, going 17-for-25 for 183 yards and a touchdown. He would get knocked out of the game for one drive in the fourth quarter, replaced under Center by a young Danny White. But Staubach would return to finish the game, a dominating 27-10 victory, and the Dallas Cowboys’ second Super Bowl title.
The 1978 season saw the league schedule expand to 16 regular season games. The Cowboys were hardly fazed by this, again winning the NFC East at 12-4. In starting 15 games, Roger Staubach would finish with a league-best 84.9 passer rating. He would also finish third in passing yards per game (212.7), and tied for second in TD passes with 25. Hosting the Atlanta Falcons in the Divisional Round, Staubach had been a mediocre 7-for-17 for 105 yards when he was knocked out of the game. Understudy Danny White came in and managed to rally the Cowboys from a one-touchdown halftime deficit to a 27-20 win, helping salvage the season. Staubach would return one week later and help the ‘Boys win their second consecutive NFC title, a definitive 28-0 win over the Rams in L.A. Despite two INTs, he would throw for two TDs and 126 yards as Dallas would return to the Super Bowl to face their most famous rival of the decade.
Super Bowl XXIII guaranteed the league’s first ever three-time champion. Either the Dallas Cowboys (VI, XII) or the Pittsburgh Steelers (IX, X) would be leaving the Orange Bowl with their third Lombardi Trophy. The game would be a shootout unlike any Super Bowl before, with many to this day calling it the greatest ever played. The Steelers would score first, followed by Dallas touchdowns on defense and offense. Pitt would then find the end zone twice more to take a 21-14 lead into the Half. Up 21-17 in the fourth, Pittsburgh would seemingly put the game away with two big TDs to go up 35-17 with less than seven minutes to play. Calling Captain Comeback. In just over four minutes, Staubach would get the Cowboys up the field 91 yards, through the Steel Curtain D, for a touchdown. Then, Dallas would successfully recover an onside kick. In just under two minutes, Staubach and the Cowboys would again find the end zone, the score now 35-31. But one more onside kick was needed, and this one did not succeed. Pittsburgh recovered, taking two knees, and walking off the field as Super Bowl Champions once more. Roger Staubach would have 265 yards of total offense, three touchdown passes, and one interception in the near-comeback.
Another year, another NFC East title, another great season for Roger Staubach. In 1979, the Cowboys would go 11-5, winning their seventh division title of the decade. Staubach again found himself with the NFL’s best passer rating, his 92.3 mark more than eight points ahead of second-place Joe Theismann. He also had the best INT rate (2.4%), and was third in passing TDs with 27. This set up a Divisional Round match-up with the underperforming 9-7 L.A. Rams. But this year would see another upset in the decade-long rivalry, as the Rams came out on top 21-19, on their way to a surprising appearance in Super Bowl XIV. The often-heroic Staubach was just average on this day, at 13-for-28 for 150 yards, with a TD and a pick.
In the offseason, Roger Staubach underwent medical testing. He had suffered at least 20 concussions in his career, and at least two during the 1979 season. The results said that everything looked clear, but that “his next concussion could have life-altering consequences”. Of course it was a difficult decision for Staubach who, despite being 38 years old, had come off arguably the best season of his career. He elected to walk away, leaving the Cowboys in good hands under Center with Danny White. In turn, he was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, on the first ballot, in 1985.
Roger Staubach’s career passer rating of 83.4 was the highest of any quarterback in NFL history when he retired. But he wasn’t called “Roger the Dodger” just for his arm, accumulating 2,264 rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns. He won two Super Bowl rings, and played excellently in two Super Bowl losses against perhaps the best defense the game has ever seen. Under his leadership, the Cowboys (love it or not) were bestowed the moniker “America’s Team”. And while numerous other pro athletes have held the nickname “Captain Comeback”, it was Staubach who was the original. Over his career, he led the Cowboys to 14 comeback wins in the final two minutes, and 23 comeback wins in the fourth quarter. He could have had a lengthier career if not for several lost years due to military service at the beginning of his career, or due to health concerns at the end. But in looking at his numbers, and his impact on the game, the years Roger Staubach did play turned out to be great enough as is.
Chart
| Season | W-L% | Tot Y/G | Tot TD/G | Tot TO/G | Y/C/Y/A | Cmp % | TD% | Int% |
| Reg Season | 0.138 | 0.099 | 0.128 | 0.118 | 0.084 | 0.112 | 0.091 | 0.137 |
| Playoffs | 0.093 | -0.022 | 0.040 | 0.054 | -0.038 | 0.072 | 0.157 | 0.078 |
Longevity Bonus = 0.7 Title Bonus = 2.0
Index Score = 7.924 (average QB = 0.0)
Deviation Rank (out of 155)
| Season | W-L% | Tot Y/G | Tot TD/G | Tot TO/G | Y/C/Y/A | Cmp % | TD% | Int% |
| Reg Season | 4th | 4th | 5th | 19th | 11th | 8th | 20th | 6th |
| Playoffs | T-16th | 79th | 34th | 55th | 103rd | 27th | 17th | 41st |
Why is he on the Top 10 list?
As complete a quarterback as they come, Roger Staubach was simply stupendous during the regular season. He places in the all-time Top 10 in five categories, and in the Top 20 in all eight. His best showings are in win-loss deviation and total yards per game (4th for both), as well as placing 5th in total touchdowns per game, 6th in interception rate, and 8th in completion percentage.
Staubach’s postseason numbers are good, just not in the same realm of near-perfection as his regular season stats. Still, he makes the Top 50 in five of eight playoff categories, notably in win-loss ratio (tied for 16th) and touchdowns per pass attempt (17th). The only category in which he falls outside the Top 100 is postseason average of yards/completion + yards/attempt (103rd). Staubach also gets a two-point bonus for winning two Super Bowls, and a 0.7-point bonus for being the Cowboys’ primary starter for eight seasons.
The Quarterback Project 