Did You Know Phil Robertson & Terry Bradshaw Played College Football Together?
It’s hard to believe, but Pro Football Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw once played backup quarterback to another superstar football player. That superstar player was none other than Phil Robertson.
The name “Phil Robertson” surely rings a bell for most people, but not because of his sports career. Instead of becoming a football legend like Bradshaw, Robertson went on to become known as the founder of Duck Commander and a star of the television series Duck Dynasty.
Louisiana Tech honored former QBs Terry Bradshaw and Phil Robertson…from Duck Dynasty (USA TODAY Sports): pic.twitter.com/aU8PJUkslX
— SB Nation (@SBNation) September 13, 2013
Although Robertson was a talented athlete, football wasn’t his greatest passion in life. He loved hunting and being outdoors far more.
As Robertson told Sports Illustrated in 2013, at least one NFL team was interested in him after seeing his success as the starting quarterback at Louisiana Tech. But the football and duck hunting seasons intertwined, and Robertson chose to give up the former in favor of the latter.
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After Robertson left, Bradshaw followed in his footsteps. He ended up pursuing an NFL career and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Bradshaw won a total of four Super Bowls over the course of his career.
Terry Bradshaw Reflects On His Early Football Days
Now a sports analyst, country music singer, and actor, Bradshaw is regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time. He spoke about his life and career in the documentary, Terry Bradshaw: Going Deep.
In the documentary, Bradshaw shared what it was like playing football with Robertson. He said:
“I knew he didn’t care anything about football. He cared about duck hunting. Two years of sitting behind that guy, and all he wanted to do is shoot stuff.”
Phil Robertson & Terry Bradshaw. #Week2Reunion. Yes, Bradshaw played BACKUP to the @DuckDynastyAE star at @LATechFB » pic.twitter.com/xoscyHa1nC
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 15, 2013
Bradshaw said Robertson would ask if he wanted to come duck hunting too, but he would turn down his offers.
“No, I don’t want to,” Bradshaw recalled telling Robertson. He joked, “I want you to get knocked out so I can start. And he did. And I did!“
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Bradshaw was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 1988. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame the following year.
Over three decades later, his former teammate Robertson was also inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. But not as a football player…as an outdoorsman.
How crazy is it that Bradshaw and Robertson played on the same football team in college? Check out the video below from 2013 to hear them talk about why Robertson left football behind.