[1][2] His father Kurt Benirschke, a German immigrant, was a pathologist at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and the founder/director of the Center for the Reproduction of Endangered Species at the San Diego Zoo, where Rolf worked summers in high school and college.

Rolf Benirschke majored in zoology at the University of California, Davis, where he played football under coach Jim Sochor.

He was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the 12th round of the 1977 NFL draft, and was then traded to the San Diego Chargers for his rookie year in the National Football League.

His health problems got worse in the 1979 season, when, on the team plane coming home from a road trip, Benirschke collapsed.

While he did not play, he participated in the opening coin toss and was named honorary team captain for the game, which was a sellout.

In 1984, his kickoffs were viewed to be too short, and he gave a thumbs-up sign to Denver Broncos kicker Rich Karlis before a field goal that defeated the Chargers, prompting a meeting with San Diego owner Alex Spanos over Benirschke's loyalties[clarification needed].

[5] On August 31, 1987, Benirschke was traded to the Dallas Cowboys for a draft pick after he lost his job to rookie Vince Abbott.

After 10 years with San Diego, he retired as the team's all-time scoring leader with 766 points and held 15 club records.

Rolf routinely speaks at national sales meetings, for major corporations, and at health-related events across the country.