Back in the days when a Heisman winner didn’t automatically turn pro and play in the NFL. In his case, that was partly because he had a required hitch with the Navy upon graduation (as did Staubach) and because he had more profitable things to do with his time than play professional football.
Bellino did play briefly in the American Football League with the Boston Patriots, parts of three seasons (1965-67).
Back then the NFL wasn’t necessarily big money either.
A lot of players used to have real jobs in the off season.
Lou “the toe” Groza of the Browns had an insurance agency, and it wasn’t just his name on the front, my dad actually bought policies from Lou.
Now of course the NFL min wage is nearly a half mil.