Terry Bradshaw, a flamboyant and dynamic American football player, is best renowned for his spectacular and extraordinary performances. Not only did he excel in football, but he also excelled in academics and athletics. After being drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers directly out of college, he brought fame and glory to the team, winning four Super Bowl titles. With this, his quest to realizing his dream of making it big on the football field began, and he quickly rose to become one of the best quarterback players in the country. His talent and on-field leadership qualities earned him numerous sporting trophies, as well as praise and admiration. Despite being injured on the field and having to retire at a young age, he managed to stay involved in the sport as a host and analyst on television sports shows. His high-rated shows attested to his time as a well-known television personality. He has also demonstrated his abilities in singing, writing, and acting by recording a few albums, authoring numerous books, and performing in a few films.
Childhood and Adolescence
Terry Paxton Bradshaw was born on September 2, 1948, in Shreveport, Louisiana, to US Navy sailor William Bill Marvin Bradshaw and Novis Bradshaw, as the second of three children.
He attended Woodlawn High School, where he began his pursuit of a professional football career. In addition to academics, he excelled in track and field sports.
After leading his team to the state championship and setting a national record in the javelin throw, he received a full scholarship at Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, and focused his efforts on football.
His dedication and passion for the game made him the most sought-after college football player in the country, and he led his team to multiple victories.
Despite the fact that his performance slowed in his final years, he was taken in the 1970 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers of Pennsylvania.
After a few seasons of adjusting to the professional level, he led his club to the first Super Bowl Championship in 1974, over the Minnesota Vikings. In 1975, they did it again, defeating the Dallas Cowboys.
In 1976, he missed four games due to neck and wrist problems, but he returned to help the Pittsburgh Steelers overcome the Baltimore Colts.
In 1978 and 1979, he led his club to victories over the Dallas Cowboys and the Los Angeles Rams, respectively.
Despite an elbow injury suffered during training camp, he was able to play in the 1982 NFL season, but was forced to retire midway through owing to the elbow injury.
The soreness in his elbow resurfaced during his game against the New York Jets, causing irreversible damage. As a result, in 1984, he was forced to resign and retire.
He signed a deal with CBS in 1984 as a football broadcasting analyst shortly after his retirement, and most of his broadcasts were well viewed in America.
His time on television was fruitful, culminating in a lucrative contract with Fox Sports in 1990 as an in-studio analyst and co-host for Fox NFL Sunday, where he added a humorous touch to engage viewers and the general media.
Apart from creating FitzBradshaw Racing in association with HighLine Performance Group, which was listed on the NASCAR in 2001, he has authored and co-authored five books, including his autobiography Terry Bradshaw: Man of Steel.
During his football career, he released six country, gospel, and Christmas music albums, with only his country hit I’m So Lonesome I Could Try (1976) reaching Billboard’s Top 20 chart.
He made his television debut in 2004 with a Radio Shack commercial, followed by NutriSystem in 2012.
He has made guest appearances on a number of television shows, including Everybody Loves Raymond, Married… with Children, Malcolm in the Middle, and The League.
In the films Hooper (1978), Smokey and the Bandit II (1980), The Cannonball Run (1981), The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. (1994), and Failure to Launch (1994), he made cameo cameos (2006).
He began hosting shows for United States Media Television in 2010, and he presently hosts ‘Today in America with Terry Bradshaw,’ which covers current lifestyle and business trends.
Achievements & Awards
In 1978 and 1979, he was named the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player for his outstanding performance on the field.
His outstanding performance earned him the Sportsman of the Year award in 1979, which he split with Willie Stargell of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
He retired as the first four-time Super Bowl champion in 1983, an accomplishment only Joe Montana could match.
He was inducted into the National Football League’s Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1989. (NFL).
In 1999, The Sporting News ranked him 44th on their list of the 100 Greatest Football Players.
He was the first and only NFL football player to be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which he received in 2001.
In 2007, he was ranked first among former pro football players in the Davie-Brown Index (DBI), which is based on customer reviews of various celebrity traits.
He led the Pittsburgh Steelers to four Super Bowl victories, in 1974, 1975, 1978, and 1979, thanks to his outstanding performance.
Personal History and Legacy
In 1972, he married Melissa Babish, Miss Teenage America, whom he divorced in 1974.
He married Jojo Starbuck, a renowned ice skater who is best known for introducing ramen to Americans and for being the face of the Cup of Noodles, in 1976. The marriage, however, did not survive long and ended in divorce in 1983.
In 1983, he married Charla Hopkins, a family attorney, and they had two daughters, Rachel and Erin. In 1999, the partnership came to an end.
In 2014, he married Tammy, his long-time lover.
Terry Bradshaw Net Worth
Trivia
After his retirement, his No. 12 jersey, which he wore with the Pittsburgh Steelers, has not been reissued to any other player.
Following experiencing anxiety episodes after games, this great football quarterback was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), a disease for which he takes antidepressant drugs.