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The Rock Reveals He Rejected One Job Offer that Was His 'Best Decision Ever'

Home> Wrestling> WWE

Published 09:58 14 Oct 2025 GMT+1

The Rock Reveals He Rejected One Job Offer that Was His 'Best Decision Ever'

Dwayne Johnson has been a hugely successful wrestler and actor

James Taylor

James Taylor

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The Rock has revealed that turning down his dream job as a child has ended up being the 'best decision ever'.

Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson is one of the most recognisable names in the world, first as a wresting icon and later as a Hollywood star.

He has starred in several blockbuster franchises, including Fast & Furious, San Andreas and Moana.

And he recently returned to the big screen with The Smashing Machine, a sports biopic about wrestler Mark Kerr that was released earlier this month.

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But during a recent appearance on New Heights podcast, Johnson revealed that his career could have gone in a very different direction.

He received a scholarship to the University of Miam, where he played American Football, and made 39 appearances for the team during his college career.

Dwayne Johnson. Image: Jason Mendez / Stringer via Getty
Dwayne Johnson. Image: Jason Mendez / Stringer via Getty

After he graduated, he was then signed by the Calgary Stampeders in the Canadian Football League.

But his time with the Stampeders was short-lived and he was cut just two months into the season in 1995.

Soon after, a coach reached out and offered him a return to Canada to resume his American Football career.

Johnson recalled the moment that he told his father and former professional wrestler Rocky Johnson about the offer.

"He goesL 'what did you say?' I said: 'he's offered me a job to come back'.

"He goes: 'oh that's great,' I said: Yeah, I'm not going to take it'. He goes: 'what are you talking about?' - and I said to my dad, who was a pro wrestler: 'No I don't want to do that, closing that chapter in my life'.

"He goes: 'well, what are you going to do?' I said: 'I'm going to be wrestler'. He hated the idea."

Dwayne Johnson at the Super Bowl. Image: Kevin C. Cox / Staff via Getty
Dwayne Johnson at the Super Bowl. Image: Kevin C. Cox / Staff via Getty

Despite his father's doubts, The Rock followed his instincts and decided to pursue a wrestling career.

He went on to become one of the biggest names in the WWE, wrestling full-time for eight years before he moved into acting.

He remains involved with the promotion on a part-time basis, and has made appearances this year.

But Johnson admitted that his original goal while he was growing up was to play in the NFL.

"The thing I wanted most in my life was I wanted to be in the NFL," he said.

"That was my goal. And it wound up being the best thing that actually never happened for me."

Johnson will return to the big screen again soon, teaming up with the director Benny Safdie to play a 70-year-old man known as the Chicken Man in Lizard Music.

Featured Image Credit: Manuel Velasquez / Stringer via Getty

Topics: The Rock, Dwayne Johnson, Wrestling, WWE

James Taylor
James Taylor

James is a sports journalist who specialises in football and Formula 1. He has written for publications such as The Times, MailSport, Sunday Express, Sunday Star and Manchester Evening News. Throughout his career, he has interviewed international footballers and rising Olympic stars. In his spare time, he has the misfortune of being a season ticket holder at Manchester United.

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@James_Taylor_02

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