Aikman << AYK muhn >> , Troy (1966-…), was a leading quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). Aikman played for the Dallas Cowboys from 1989 to 2000 and helped lead the team to victories in the Super Bowl in 1993, 1994, and 1996. He became known for his accurate passing and leadership skills on the field.
Troy Kenneth Aikman was born on Nov. 21, 1966, in West Covina, California. He played at the University of Oklahoma in 1984 and 1985. He sustained a broken ankle in the fourth game of the 1985 season and missed the remainder of the year. Aikman transferred to the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). After sitting out a year because of rules governing athletes who transfer, he played for UCLA in 1987 and 1988. He earned All-American honors his final year and was the 1988 winner of the Davey O’Brian Award, given to the nation’s top quarterback.
Dallas selected Aikman as the top choice in the 1989 draft. He became the team’s starting quarterback his rookie year. Aikman was named the Most Valuable Player in the 1993 Super Bowl. Back injuries and several concussions shortened Aikman’s playing time in 2000. He retired in 2001, after Dallas released him during the off season, and became a television analyst for NFL games. Aikman was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006 and the College Hall of Fame in 2008.
