Troy Aikman was born on November 21, 1966, in West Covina, California. He grew up in Cerritos, California, before moving to Henryetta, Oklahoma, where he was an all-state player at Henryetta High School. Early on, Aikman developed a passion for sports, particularly football and baseball. He even turned down a contract from the New York Mets in order to pursue college football, which took him to the University of Oklahoma and later to UCLA, where he became one of the top quarterbacks in the nation.
Aikman transferred to UCLA in 1986 and quickly gained recognition as one of college football’s premier quarterbacks. His leadership and performance led him to win the 1988 Davey O'Brien Award, which is given to the nation’s top quarterback. In 1989, he was selected as the first overall pick in the NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys, marking the beginning of a pivotal era for the franchise.
Aikman joined the Cowboys during a time of significant transition. The franchise, struggling through the 1980s, was bought by oil and gas executive Jerry Jones in 1989 from then-owner H.R. Bright. Jones, along with newly hired head coach Jimmy Johnson, overhauled the team’s structure. Notably, legendary coach Tom Landry was replaced, and many new players and staff were brought in. A wave of talented players were added alongside Aikman, including Daryl Johnston, Mark Stepnoski, Emmitt Smith, Erik Williams, Russell Maryland, and Darren Woodson. These additions, along with key holdovers like Michael Irvin, Nate Newton, and Mark Tuinei, would set the stage for the Cowboys' resurgence in the 1990s.
With Aikman at quarterback, the Dallas Cowboys won three Super Bowl titles in 1992, 1993, and 1995. He was named Super Bowl XXVII Most Valuable Player in 1993. Known for his accuracy, poise, and leadership, Aikman played a critical role in the Cowboys’ success throughout the decade. He was selected to six Pro Bowls and led Dallas to three NFC Championships.
By the time he retired in 2000, Aikman had become the Cowboys' all-time leading passer with 32,942 yards—a record that stood until Tony Romo surpassed it in 2013. Aikman remains high on the Cowboys' all-time leaderboards for pass completions, attempts, interceptions thrown, and longest completed pass. Over his 12-season career, he completed 2,898 of 4,715 pass attempts and endured multiple concussions and injuries, which ultimately contributed to his retirement.
| Birth Date: | 21 Nov, 1966 |
| Age: | 53 yrs |
| Citizenship: | United States of America |
| Birth Place: | West Covina |
| Education: | University of California, Los Angeles University of Oklahoma |
| Gender: | Male |
| Description: | American retired football quarterback |
| Twitter Id: | TroyAikman |
| Net Worth 2021: | 60 million |
