The NFL’s minimum salary for the 2025 season stands at a noteworthy $840,000 for rookies, with experienced players earning upwards of $1.255 million. This significant pay scale underscores the league’s substantial financial growth over the decades. Remarkably, it was not long ago that even the most celebrated players struggled to stay afloat, often juggling side jobs to make ends meet. One such player is Roger Staubach, a legendary figure in Dallas Cowboys history, whose journey from the military to football stardom and eventually to a lucrative business empire illustrates the evolving landscape of athlete compensation.
From Vietnam to Super Bowl Star
Born on February 5, 1942, in Cincinnati, Ohio, Roger Staubach’s path was anything but conventional for an NFL superstar. After high school, he spent a year at the New Mexico Military Institute before attending the U.S. Naval Academy, where he won the Heisman Trophy in 1963. Following college, Staubach served four years of active duty, including a year in Vietnam, after which he joined the Cowboys in 1969 at the age of 27.
Staubach’s rookie salary in 1969 was just $25,000. Despite the challenges, he quickly rose to prominence as the team’s starting quarterback, leading the Cowboys to ten consecutive victories, including a historic win at Super Bowl VI in January 1972.
Salary Bump
Recognizing Staubach’s newfound status, the Cowboys offered him a three-year contract worth $75,000 annually just two months after his Super Bowl victory. This amount, equating to approximately $582,000 today, was significant, yet Staubach’s decision to handle the negotiations himself reflected his desire to maximize his earnings while minimizing agent fees. In a subsequent interview, Staubach emphasized the importance of managing his off-season commitments:
“I’ve got a long future ahead, and I don’t saturate myself with off-season appearances. It can hurt you as an athlete. I’ve begun working out, and by May I’ll be going five days a week.”
From Star Quarterback to Real Estate Rookie
Over six off-seasons, he learned the intricacies of commercial real estate, noting the industry’s frequent bias toward landlords. Staubach’s innovative insight led him to represent tenants instead, paving the way for a revolutionary approach in the field.
Turning Down a Fortune
The Staubach Company
By the mid-1980s, The Staubach Company had grown into one of Texas’s premier real estate firms, firmly establishing Staubach’s legacy in business. By 2007, the company boasted around 1,500 employees and managed over $28 billion in annual transactions.
The $650 Million Sale
Sharing the Windfall
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