Troy Aikman



Troy Kenneth Aikman (born November 21, 1966, in West Covina, California) is a former American football quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League, and currently a television sportscaster for the Fox network. He is formerly a joint owner of the NASCAR Sprint Cup racing team, Hall of Fame Racing, along with fellow former Cowboys quarterback, Roger Staubach. He is referred to as one of "The Triplets" with Cowboys teammates Michael Irvin and Emmitt Smith.

Aikman was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006 and to the College Football Hall of Fame on December 9, 2008 in New York City.

College
The New York Mets offered Aikman a contract out of high school, but instead of playing baseball he chose to pursue football and attended the University of Oklahoma under head coach Barry Switzer.

In 1984, his first season as a collegiate starter, Aikman led the Sooners to wins over Minnesota, Kansas State, and #17 Texas in the Red River Shootout before hosting the Miami Hurricanes and his future head coach Jimmy Johnson.

On October 19, Miami's Jerome Brown broke through the offensive line, sacked Aikman on the Sooner 29-yard line and broke Aikman's ankle. Aikman, who had been six of eight passing for 131 yards, would be lost for the season. Switzer and offensive coordinator Jim Donnan were forced to switch back to the wishbone offense under freshman quarterback Jamelle Holieway. The team went on to win the 1985 National Championship by beating Penn State in the 1986 Orange Bowl. With Holieway established as the starting quarterback at OU, Aikman decided to transfer to UCLA.

Switzer oversaw Aikman's transfer to UCLA, a program under Terry Donahue that was more conducive to a passing quarterback. He had to redshirt one year due to college transfer rules but went on to lead the Bruins to a 20-4 record over two seasons.

As a junior, Aikman led the Bruins to a 10–2 record and the 1987 Aloha Bowl, where they beat the Florida Gators 20-16.

As a senior, Aikman won the 1988 Davey O'Brien Award as the nation's top quarterback, a first for UCLA. He was a Consensus All-American, the UPI West Coast Player of the Year, the Washington DC Club QB of the Year, a finalist for the 1988 AFCA "Coaches Choice" Player of the year award, and he finished third for the 1988 Heisman Trophy. UCLA matched the victory total from the previous season under Aikman, going 10-2 and losing only to USC and Washington State. The 1988 season culminated with a 17-3 Bruin victory over the Arkansas Razorbacks in the 1989 Cotton Bowl, which was played in Dallas. The Dallas media spent most of the Cotton Bowl week promoting Aikman as the "next quarterback of the Cowboys," and much was made of Tom Landry watching Troy Aikman practice during the Bruins' workouts at Texas Stadium. Aikman finished his career as the number two career passing leader in UCLA history. In 2008 he was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.

For a brief period of time, Aikman considered going into a career in his first love, marine biology. However, he found the allure of the NFL to be too much.

Joining Dallas' crew
Aikman was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1989 NFL Draft, by the Dallas Cowboys. On February 25, 1989, new owner Jerry Jones fired Tom Landry, and replaced him with Jimmy Johnson. A few months later in the NFL's supplemental draft, Johnson drafted Steve Walsh who played for Johnson at the University of Miami. Aikman won the starting quarterback job, and Walsh was traded early in the 1990 season.

Aikman's NFL career started with a 28–0 loss to the New Orleans Saints. The following week, Aikman threw his first touchdown pass, a 65-yard completion to Michael Irvin, but the Atlanta Falcons intercepted two passes and won. In a game against the Phoenix Cardinals he threw for 379 yards to set an NFL rookie record.[3] He finished 1989 with an 0-11 record as a starter, completing 155 of 293 passes for 1,749 yards, 9 TDs, 18 INTs.

Following his rookie season, Dallas selected Florida Gators RB Emmitt Smith in the 1st round of the 1990 NFL Draft. With Emmitt Smith and WR Michael Irvin, Aikman nearly led the Cowboys to the playoffs in the 1990 season.

In 1991, Aikman led the Cowboys to a 6-5 record in the first 11 games and had the Cowboys ahead in week 12 against undefeated Washington when he was injured. Steve Beuerlein replaced Aikman. Beuerlein went on to lead the Cowboys to a Wild Card playoff win over the Chicago Bears. Aikman played in a NFC Divisional Playoff game the following week against the Detroit Lions, but lost, 38-6. Aikman was selected to the first of six consecutive Pro Bowls.

In 1992, Aikman set career highs in completions (302), passing yards (3,445) and touchdown passes (23), and led the Cowboys to a team record 13 regular season victories and the 2nd best record in the NFC. During the playoffs Aikman broke Joe Montana's record of 83 passes without an interception by throwing 89.[3] The Cowboys defeated the Eagles at home in the Division Playoffs and squared off against the 49ers in the NFC Title Game, a matchup that featured the 2 best teams in the NFC. The Cowboys won 30-20, with Aikman completing 2 game changing completions to send the Cowboys to their 1st Super Bowl appeance since 1979. In Super Bowl XXVII against the Buffalo Bills, Aikman lead the Cowboys a blowout victory, 52–17. Aikman was named Super Bowl MVP after completing 22-of-30 passes for 273 yards and 4 TDs.

In 1993, Aikman posted a 125.0 passer rating, despite missing playing time due to a hamstring injury. Dallas finished 12–4, the best record in the NFC. In the playoffs, Aikman again guided Dallas to home playoff victory, this time over a young, upstart Green Bay Packers squad lead by QB Brett Favre, who was in his first full season as a starting QB. Aikman then shredded the 49er secondary in the NFC Title game 38-21, before leaving the game with a concussion after 49er DT Dana Stubblefield's knee hit Aikman's head. In Super Bowl XXVIII, Aikman was kept out of the endzone, but a combination of key turnovers by the Bills offense and the running of Emmitt Smith helped lead to a 30-13 victory for the Cowboys.

Following Super Bowl XXVIII, Aikman spoke of still feeling the ill effects of the concussion he suffered against the 49ers in the NFC Title game. Aikman spoke afterwards how he did not remember anything about Super Bowl XXVIII, let alone playing in the game.

Head Coach Jimmy Johnson left the team on March 29, 1994, and Jerry Jones hired Barry Switzer, Aikman's former college coach at Oklahoma. The Cowboys finished with the 2nd best record in the NFC, (behind the 49ers) and Aikman again missed playing time due to injuries. Dallas won the Division playoff game against Green Bay 38-9, but fell to the 49ers in the NFC Championship game, 38-28. Aikman was battered and bruised all day long, yet showed the resiliance that earned the respect of fans, coaches, and players alike.

In 1995, Aikman passed for over 8,300 yards passing as the Cowboys once again finished with the best record in the NFC, with the 49ers having the second best record. Aikman was knocked out of a highly anticpated rematch between Dallas and San Francisco when 49er DT Dana Stubblefield landed on Aikman, forcing his knee to hit the turf. After a stunning playoff loss at home by the 49ers to the Packers, the Cowboys hosted the Packers in the NFC Title Game and, for the third straight season, knocked the Green Bay Packers out of the playoffs to earn their 3rd Super Bowl appearance in the last four years. Dallas won Super Bowl XXX against the Pittsburgh Steelers 27–17, with Aikman throwing 1 TD pass.

In 1996, despite offensive troubles, Aikman again helped lead Dallas to another NFC East Division title and a home game for the Wild Card playoff round, a 40-15 drubbing of the Minnesota Vikings. The win ironically, is the last playoff victory for the Dallas Cowboys franchise. Dallas fell in the Divisional Playoffs to Carolina 26-17.

In 1997, Aikman became the first quarterback in Cowboys' history to have three straight 3,000-yard seasons, but the team finished 6–10 and missed the playoffs for the 1st time since 1992. Switzer suffered the first losing season of his career. He resigned in 1997.

1998 was a rebound year for Aikman and Cowboys, and despite missing 5 games, Aikman again helped lead Dallas back to the NFC East title and the playoffs. Dallas was stunned at home in the Wild Card game as the Arizona Cardinals won 20-7.

The 1999 season started off with a bang for Aikman and the Cowboys as they squared off against the Washington Redskins. Aikman fired a career high 5 TD passes, including the game winner in OT to beat Washinton. 1999 also marked the final playoff appearance for Troy Aikman, and the final season the big three (Aikman, Irvin, Emmitt Smith) would play together. Dallas finished 8-8 and lost in the Wild Card playoff game to Minnesota, 27-10.

The 2000 season was Aikman's final season as a professional football player. Aikman suffered from several concussions during the season, and a revolving door at QB took place between Aikman and former Eagles QB Randall Cunningham. Aikman's final game was a home game to the Washington Redskins. Aikman was hit by linebacker LaVar Arrington and suffered the 10th concussion of his career. The hit not only ended Aikman's season, but ultimately, his career.

After he was waived a day before he was due a $70 million/7-year contract extension, Aikman announced his retirement on April 9, 2001 after failing to find another team. He ended his career as the Cowboys' all-time leading passer (32,942 yards). 90 of his 94 career wins were in the 1990s and were the most by any quarterback in any decade until Peyton Manning surpassed him in the 2000s with 101.