Dallas is home to two of the highest paid players in all of professional sports.

Former Highland Park quarterback Matthew Stafford just inked a five-year, 135 million contract extension to remain with the Detroit Lions through 2022 (roughly $27 million per year), and Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw is set to make $35.5 million in 2017 after signing a seven-year $215 million contract back 2014.

We have agreed to terms with QB Matthew Stafford on a five-year contract extension through the 2022 season. — Detroit Lions (@Lions) August 29, 2017

Highland Parks own Clayton Kershaw has reportedly agreed to a extension w/ the #Dodgers for 7 years $215M. That's a record $30.7M a year. — Texas Sports Insider (@TexasInsiders) January 15, 2014

But before the millions, before the fame, Stafford and Kershaw were star athletes in their respective sports at Highland Park High School.

Stafford and Kershaw played football and baseball together, and were even in the same graduating class (2006):

This is crazy. Stafford was Kershaw's catcher and Kershaw was Stafford's center for a time https://t.co/ESJAwaKjal — Michael Florek (@michaelflorek) August 29, 2017

Crazy, right? But what's even crazier is the tremendous success the duo had after their Highland Park days were over.

Path to millons

247 Sports ranked Stafford as the No. 1 pro style quarterback in the class of 2006 over fellow in-state signal callers like Nick Stephens (Flower Mound), Greg McElroy (Southlake Carroll), Taylor Potts (Abilene) and Christian Ponder (Colleyville Heritage).

1 / 3 Highland Park QB Matthew Stafford (7) hugs a cheerleader after the Scots won the 4A Division I State High School Football Championship game. Highland Park High defeated Marshall High 59 - 0 at the Rose Stadium in Tyler, TX on Saturday, December 10, 2005.(JOHN F. RHODES) 2 / 3ORG XMIT: *S0417792908* Sep 9, 2006; Columbia, SC, USA; Georgia Bulldogs quarterback (7) Matthew Stafford attempts a pass against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the second quarter at Williams Brice Stadium in Columbia, SC. Mandatory Credit: Paul Abell-US PRESSWIRE Copyright Â© Paul Abell 09102006xSPORTS2 12312007xNEWS(Paul Abell-US PRESSWIRE / US PRESSWIRE) 3 / 3ORG XMIT: *S0424722369* JACKSONVILLE, FL - NOVEMBER 01: Quarterback Matthew Stafford #7 of the Georgia Bulldogs calls out a play at the line of scrimmage while taking on the Florida Gators at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium on November 1, 2008 in Jacksonville, Florida. Florida defeated Georgia 49-10. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images) 82647218 11092008xSPORTS(Doug Benc / Getty Images)

Stafford committed to play college football at Georgia under head coach Mark Richt, where he was a three-year starter for the Bulldogs from 2006-08. During that span, Stafford completed 564 of 987 pass attempts for 7, 731 yards and 51 touchdowns (33 interceptions). At the end of his senior year, he was voted Second Team All-SEC by the Associated Press, and was also named to the All-SEC Second Team by SEC Coaches and Phil Steele.

MORE: Video on Highland Park friendship between Stafford and Kershaw

Kershaw, an elite high school prospect in his own right, elected to skip college altogether. Originally a Texas A&M pledge, Kershaw was selected seventh overall by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2006 MLB Draft as the top high school pitching prospect in the nation. After spending a few years in the minor leagues, Kershaw made his major league debut on May 25, 2008.

1 / 3ORG XMIT: *S18D0E2CD* Highland Park High's first baseman Clayton Kershaw (23) takes a big swing but misses this time during high school baseball district play between Mesquite Poteet High and Highland Park High in Mesquite on Tuesday, April 15, 2006.(JOHN F. RHODES / 103100) 2 / 3CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 16: Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after pitching the sixth inning against the Chicago Cubs during game two of the National League Championship Series at Wrigley Field on October 16, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)(Getty Images) 3 / 3Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw speaks during a news conference before Game 3 of baseballâs National League Division Series, Monday, Oct. 12, 2015, at CitiField in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)(Frank Franklin II / AP)

MORE: Lions QB Matthew Stafford shares thoughts on his time at Highland Park

The following year, The Detroit Lions selected Stafford with the No. 1 pick in the 2009 NFL Draft.

Worth every dollar

Since entering the major leagues, Kershaw has established himself as one of the premier pitchers in baseball. Along with his seven All-Star game appearances, he was also NL MVP in 2014 and he's won three NL Cy Young awards.

Stafford, on the other hand, has had a slightly different path. Though he was under center in Detroit from Day 1, his first two NFL seasons were plagued with injuries. When healthy, however, Stafford's arm strength, toughness and leadership earned him NFL Comeback Player of the Year honors in 2011, and his first Pro Bowl nod in 2014.

At age 29, Stafford is the fastest player to reach 30,000 career passing yards, and no quarterback has thrown more touchdown passes than him in their first 100 games. In 2016, Stafford led an NFL record eight game-winning drives. And for now, he can call himself the highest-paid player in league history.

It's fair to say that both Stafford and Kershaw have been absolutely money for their teams throughout their pro career.

Not bad for a couple of kids from Highland Park.

Twitter: @CjHolmesDMN