Before rising to fame as an unexpected reality TV star on Duck Dynasty, Phil Robertson made a name for himself as a standout college quarterback with a shot at the NFL.
Robertson, whose family announced his passing on Sunday at age 79, ultimately declined an NFL opportunity to pursue his true passion — hunting.
In the late 1960s, he played quarterback for Louisiana Tech, even starting ahead of future Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw. Despite receiving an offer from the then-Washington Redskins during his junior year, Robertson chose to walk away, saying his heart simply wasn’t in professional football.
"Throwing a touchdown pass to a guy sprinting down the sideline and watching him take it all the way for six was a thrill," Robertson once said in an interview with Yahoo Sports. "But for me, the real joy came from standing in flooded timber, surrounded by 35 or 40 mallards dropping down through the trees. That filled my heart more than all the football in the world ever could."
Robertson went on to channel that passion into founding Duck Commander, a hunting company known for its patented duck calls. His success eventually led to the creation of the hit reality TV series Duck Dynasty, where he and his family gained a massive following for their outdoor lifestyle and strong family values.
On May 25, Robertson’s family announced his passing. His son, Jase Robertson, shared a heartfelt tribute on X (formerly Twitter), writing:
"My dad has gone to be with the Lord today! He will be missed, but we know he is in good hands, and our family is good because God is very good! We will see him again!"