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. Formed Hall Of Fame Racing with Roger Staubach to compete in NASCAR.

NFL career

He was the projected number-one overall pick in the 1989 NFL draft, held by the Cowboys. The proud franchise had fallen on hard times, going a woeful 3-13 in 1988. On February 25, 1989, new owner Jerry Jones shocked the sports world by sacking the beloved Tom Landry—the only head coach the Cowboys ever had, replacing him with Johnson, who, to no one's surprise, took Aikman.

Related Topics:
1989 NFL draft - Jerry Jones - Tom Landry

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Johnson did not develop the rookie Aikman along slowly, but instead threw into him into action immediately. He stumbled to an 0-11 record (155 of 293 for 1,749 yards, 9 TDs, 18 INTs) as the Cowboys went 1-15. Fans and sportswriters, still reeling from Landry's firing, publicly disparaged the team's "savior."

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But Aikman proved resilient, and, in 1990, led the Cowboys to the brink of the playoffs. He also started having more help from his teammates, as Johnson showed an uncommon ability for evaluating talent, selecting Emmitt Smith. Dallas was 7-7 with 2 weeks to play before Aikman suffered a season-ending injury. Dallas would lose its final 2 games, but fans were taking notice of the blond-haired, blue-eyed leader of "America's Team." Advertisers began to capitalise on his good looks and prominent position, and Aikman began to appear in commercials and quickly became a national celebrity.

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In 1991, the Cowboys made it to the playoffs and 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 Super Bowl XXVII at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena against the Buffalo Bills. Aikman completed 22 of 30 passes for 273 yards with 4 TDs as Dallas outplayed Buffalo, 52-17. He was named Super Bowl MVP.

Related Topics:
Pro Bowl - Super Bowl XXVII - Rose Bowl - Pasadena - Buffalo Bills - MVP

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The next year Dallas again won the Super Bowl, defeating the Bills again. It was widely expected that the team might win the Super Bowl in 1995, becoming the first team to win three consecutive titles. However, Jones and Johnson began having disputes regarding their own personal responsibility for the team's success. Jones sacked Johnson, and hired Barry Switzer. Despite the turmoil, the Cowboys almost returned to the Super Bowl, but were beaten in the NFC Championship game by the San Francisco 49ers.

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In 1996, the Cowboys won a record-tying 5th Super Bowl, beating the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Aikman threw for over 3,300 yards. That August, a book was published alleging that Aikman was a racist, and Switzer planted rumors that Aikman was gay because he thought Aikman was trying to get him fired. In 1997, Aikman became the first quarterback in Dallas history to have three straight 3,000-yard seasons. However, the team missed the playoffs, and Switzer, suffering the first losing season of his career, coupled with his own off-the-field woes, quit in January 1998.

Related Topics:
Pittsburgh Steelers - Gay

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Revolving-door personnel changes plagued the Cowboys for the rest of Aikman's tenure. His pass protection failed him repeatedly as the team, stymied by the newly-enacted salary cap, began a decline. On December 10, 2000, Washington Redskins linebacker Lavar Arrington sacked Aikman with such force that his head literally bounced off the turf; it was his 10th concussion, and the end of his career. The Cowboys finished the season 5-11.

Related Topics:
Salary cap - December 10 - 2000 - Washington Redskins - Linebacker - Lavar Arrington - Concussion

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After he was waived a day before he was due a $7 million/7-year contract extension, Aikman, who asserted he could still play, but found no interested teams, announced his retirement on April 9, 2001. He ended his career as the Cowboys' all-time leading passer (32,942 yards). His 90 wins in the 1990s is the most by any quarterback in any decade, and his 61.5 percent completion rate is fourth best of all time.

Related Topics:
April 9 - 2001

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