Phil Robertson Explains Why He Turned Down NFL For ‘Duck Dynasty’

Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson had the chance to play in the National Football League (NFL) but instead chose to hunt for ducks, a career choice that has made him rich and famous.

Speaking to Billy Bush and Kit Hoover on Monday’s Access Hollywood Live Robertson said of his potential NFL career:

“I had some offers.”

Robertson then explained that he doesn’t regret his decision after recently running into former college teammate Terry Bradshaw:

“I ran into my old buddy Bradshaw, for the first time since the locker room back at Louisiana Tech. I ran into him at the LA airport. I said, ‘Bradshaw, you’ve done well, my man.’ And then he started telling me about how many injuries he received.”

It turns out that Robertson made his decision to skip the NFL because of duck season:

“They said, ‘Why don’t you go in the NFL and play football?’ In the ‘60s, the late ‘60s, the going price was $60,000. You make the team? 60 grand. I thought, ‘And I miss duck season? And I have large, violent… men chasing me trying to stomp me in the dirt?’ It just seemed like a lot of stress and not a lot of money.”

While making a career out of hunting ducks might have seemed like a big gamble it has paid off with millions of dollars in earnings and the respect of his duck hunting counterparts.

If you’re a fan of Phil Robertson Duck Dynasty returned to A&E on Wednesday night at 10/9 PM Central.