Age: 29
3rd season in pro football & with Cowboys
College: Navy
Height: 6’3” Weight: 197
Prelude:
After starring at Navy, where he won the Heisman Trophy as a junior in 1963, Staubach didn’t arrive in the NFL until completing his five-year military commitment in 1969. The Cowboys had drafted him in the 10th round of the ’64 draft, as a future consideration (he was also picked by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 16th round of the AFL draft), and Staubach joined them in ’69. After backing up Craig Morton for two years, he alternated with the veteran in ’71 before winning the starting job outright.
1971 Season Summary
Appeared in 13 of 14 games, started 10 of them
[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Passing
Attempts – 211 [20]
Most attempts, game – 31 at St. Louis 11/7
Completions – 126 [17]
Most completions, game – 20 at St. Louis 11/7
Yards – 1882 [14]
Most yards, game – 232 at NY Giants 12/12
Completion percentage – 59.7 [3]
Yards per attempt – 8.9 [1]
TD passes – 15 [8, tied with Len Dawson]
Most TD passes, game – 3 vs. NY Jets 12/4, at NY Giants 12/12
Interceptions – 4
Most interceptions, game – 1 on four occasions
Passer rating – 104.8 [1]
200-yard passing games – 1
Rushing
Attempts – 41
Most attempts, game - 7 (for 60 yds.) at St. Louis 11/7
Yards – 343
Most yards, game – 90 yards (on 6 carries) vs. Philadelphia 11/14
Yards per attempt – 8.4
TDs – 2
Scoring
TDs – 2
Points - 12
Postseason: 3 G
Pass attempts – 51
Most attempts, game - 19 vs. Miami, Super Bowl
Pass completions – 31
Most completions, game - 12 vs. Miami, Super Bowl
Passing yardage – 321
Most yards, game - 119 vs. Miami, Super Bowl
TD passes – 3
Most TD passes, game - 2 vs. Miami, Super Bowl
Interceptions – 0
Rushing attempts – 15
Most rushing attempts, game - 8 vs. San Francisco, NFC Championship
Rushing yards – 75
Most rushing yards, game - 55 vs. San Francisco, NFC Championship
Average gain rushing – 5.0
Rushing TDs – 0
Awards & Honors:
NFL Player of the Year: Bert Bell Award
NFC Player of the Year: Sporting News
2nd team All-NFL: PFWA, NEA
1st team All-NFC: AP, Pro Football Weekly, Sporting News
Pro Bowl
Cowboys went 11-3 to win the NFC East and led league in total offense (5035 yards), points scored (406), and touchdowns (50) and NFC in passing yards (2786). Won NFC Divisional playoff over Minnesota Vikings (20-12), NFC Championship over San Francisco 49ers (14-3), and Super Bowl over Miami Dolphins (24-3).
Aftermath:
Injured early in the 1972 season, Staubach saw only limited action, but returned to the starting job in ’73 and led the NFL in passing (94.6 rating) and TD passes (23, tied with Roman Gabriel of the Eagles). From 1975 through the end of his career in ’79, he was named to the Pro Bowl five straight times and led the league in passing in each of his last two seasons (1978 and ’79). The Cowboys went to the Super Bowl three more times with Staubach at quarterback, winning once. He retired as the top-ranked passer in NFL history at the time (83.4 rating). Highly mobile, he also rushed for 2264 yards. Staubach was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1985.
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MVP Profiles feature players who were named MVP or Player of the Year in the NFL, AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated Press, Pro Football Writers Association, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, Maxwell Club – Bert Bell Award, or the league itself).
[Updated 2/15/14]