Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s Football Past: Why He Didn’t Make It To the NFL
Published by Jude Wilmot on January 31, 2011
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
Before big movie roles and flying body-slams, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was making a name for himself on the football field.
Yes, that’s right, Mr. Six-pack with the Million-Dollar Smile was dropping bodies on the field before he ever thought about stepping into a wrestling ring.
Johnson was heavily sought after by many top colleges before deciding to take a full scholarship ride at the University of Miami.
In his first year as a Hurricane, his team won a national championship.
In 1994 (his senior year), Johnson suffered a major back injury which would forever cripple his football career and ruin his chances of being drafted into the NFL. And in 1995, Johnson left the University of Miami with a BA in Criminology.
In one last desperate attempt to fulfill his dream of making it to the NFL, Johnson signed with a Canadian football team, the Calgary Stampeders.
With a weekly salary of less than $200, Johnson ate little, lived in a run-down apartment and slept on an old dingy mattress he had found at a local dump site.
Johnson saw little playing time with his Canadian team and eventually was let go to make room for a former NFL player.
Canada would be his last attempt at a pro football career.
Although Johnson never made it to the NFL, he eventually moved on to bigger and better things. With his mega-success in the world of wrestling and acting, Johnson has become one of the most popular multi-talented figures in the world.
His life has left him with a winning smile, a strong sense of accomplishment and a big, fat college national championship ring.
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