Actor Dwayne Johnson, who is also renowned for his work in professional wrestling as WWE Superstar “The Rock,” has opened up about his many failed dreams. The People’s Champion, a member of the TKO Board of Directors—the parent company of the WWE and UFC—portrays “The Final Boss” sporadically on WWE shows. In Hollywood, Forbes named him the highest-paid actor in 2024, earning $88 million net. Some of his popular movies include the “Fast & Furious” and “Moana” franchises.
The Rock reflects on his NFL dream that never came true
On X (formerly Twitter), Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson opened up on a bevy of topics, including his other dreams growing up. He recounted playing for the Canadian Football League (CFL) in Calgary, noting that he never made it to the NFL.
Thanks for the question and yes, I always dreamed of being an actor, but here’s all my other “dreams & goals” I had as I was going down the road of life.
Cheers to always putting in the work with our own two hands and God bless those chips on our shoulders.
And gynecology.
Some… pic.twitter.com/GeNkgNwUWz— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) April 14, 2025
“I had a shot to play professional football. I played up in the Canadian Football League in Calgary, as many of you know, the CFL. I never made it to the NFL. That was my dream. That was my ticket out. I always thought I was going to be a pro-football player and play for the Giants, and win a Super Bowl, and play on a Super Bowl-winning defense. That was always my dream and goal,” Johnson said.
The Rock further candidly spoke about his childhood. Coming from a poor background, he hoped that when he finally makes it in the NFL, he can buy his parents their first home. “I always felt like that was going to be the thing that was going to allow me to buy my parents their first home. We never lived in a house when I was growing up,” Dwayne Johnson reflected on his humble beginnings.
“So I was like, ‘When I make it to the NFL, I’m going to buy my parents their first home.’ Anyway, that never happened. I never made it to the NFL. But I always say—making it to the NFL is the best thing that never happened for me, because it set me on a path, and it also put a chip on my shoulder that never went away.”
But later, Johnson followed his father’s footsteps and became a professional wrestler. Despite a rocky start, he eventually carved out a legacy in the business, etching his name in the globally successful wrestling promotion WWE’s history. This also transitioned into his acting career in Hollywood.
Injuries plagued Dwayne Johnson’s football career
One of the main reasons Dwayne Johnson could not continue was because of his injuries. While playing for the University of Miami, Johnson was a promising defensive lineman, but a shoulder injury during practice in his freshman year brought his pursuit to a screeching halt. After graduating, he went undrafted. However, he signed with the Calgary Stampeders in the CFL, and briefly played before injuries caught up.
The Rock has also openly discussed about getting cut two days after playing his first game for the Calgary Stampeders against the B.C. Lions. This shattered his dreams of playing for the NFL, as he went home with $7 in his pocket. This later famously became the inspiration for his production house in Hollywood, “Seven Bucks Production.” In the end, his destiny outraced his dream.