Once upon a time, the legendary Terry Bradshaw was playing second fiddle to a man who would later go on to star in his very own reality TV show, Duck Dynasty. 

The New York Post reports on one of the more peculiar sports stories out there, involving a four-time Super Bowl Champion who may have had a very different life had it not been for the love Phil Robertson had for duck hunting. 

In the late 1960s, Robertson was the starting quarterback for the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs while Bradshaw warmed the bench behind him.

Bradshaw, a high-school football sensation from Texas and two years younger, caused a media frenzy when he first arrived at the school, according to now-retired defensive backs coach EJ Lewis.

Anyone who watches Duck Dynasty might be familiar with the patriarch making mentions to Bradshaw or "Bradshawing," but not many knew the strong connection the two had, and the effect one decision had on each other's life. 

Robertson—reportedly a former NFL prospect—decided to quit football and hand the No. 1 spot at quarterback to Bradshaw. The reason: his heart just wasn't in it. 

Lewis, a former defensive backs coach, goes on to explain: 

But “football meant everything to Bradshaw,” Lewis said. “He breathed it. And to Phil it was just about upholding his scholarship.”

Lewis actually tells the story of he and the university president going to plead with Robertson not to quit the team. Upon arriving, they happened upon the young man gutting a deer in the house.

Robertson and the Duck Dynasty clan recently met with Larry King and the patriarch went into depth about his decision, "but in those days, Larry, it was $60,000 a year. And I would miss duck season."

Not quite sure if the morale of the story hasn't already bludgeoned you over the head by now. If not, we will continue with this very telling interview Robertson gave recently.

He meets with Bradshaw at an airport after over four decades of traversing two very separate and extremely different paths.

A chance meeting at an airport gave both men an assessment of the biggest decisions of their lives. Bradshaw, broken down by injuries, is rich and famous, but most importantly, has the memories every football fan would kill to have. 

Robertson, a man who couldn't get away from the call of the hunt four decades ago, went on to make millions of dollars with his duck-call company and is now a star in his own reality-TV show.

Do what you are passionate about and never look back. 

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