"A Football Life: Troy Aikman" to Premiere at Hall of Fame on Friday

NFL Network’s “A Football Life: Troy Aikman” will be premiered on Friday (Dec. 2) at the Pro Football Hall of Fame with additional screenings on Saturday (Dec. 3). The one-hour documentary produced by NFL Films tells the life story of the legendary Hall of Fame quarterback who led the Dallas Cowboys to three Super Bowl victories during a career that landed him in Canton.

An All-American at UCLA, Aikman was drafted first overall in the 1989 National Football League Draft by the Cowboys. He became the first Dallas rookie quarterback to start a season opener since ROGER STAUBACH in 1969. Despite some personal success on the field, the Cowboys went 1-15 Aikman’s rookie season. The next two seasons showed more promise as Aikman led the Cowboys to 7-9 and 11-5 records, respectively. Additionally, he completed an NFC-best 65.3 percent of his passes in 1991 as the Cowboys advanced to the second round of the playoffs.

By his fourth season and just his 52nd game, Aikman reached the 10,000-yard mark and his 302 completions were second most in team history. That year turned the Cowboys franchise around completely as they finished 13-3, dashed through the 1992 NFL playoffs and capped it all off with a 52-17 victory over the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXVII.

The Cowboys continued with their success under Aikman’s leadership with victories in Super Bowls XXVIII and XXX. Aikman closed out the 1990s with 90 wins – making him the winningest quarterback of any decade in NFL history at the time of his retirement. The six-time Pro Bowl selection finished his career with 32,942 yards and 165 touchdowns for a passer rating of 81.6 percent. At the time of his retirement, Aikman held or shared 47 team passing records.

Aikman reflected on his time in Dallas during 2006 Enshrinement speech and praised those who helped him achieve great success that ultimately earned him a bronzed bust in Canton.

“In addition to great coaching and ownership, I had the pleasure of playing with a very gifted and special group of players,” Aikman shared. “It's no wonder we enjoyed so much success in the '90s considering all the talent we had. I enjoyed the best seat in the house as I watched Emmitt Smith run his way to the NFL's all-time rushing record. Michael Irvin, whose work ethic was second to none, was one of the most special teammates I've ever had the opportunity to play with.”

Guests visiting the Hall of Fame this weekend will have the opportunity to view “A Football Life: Troy Aikman” with the purchase of a museum admission. The hour-long film will run continuously from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.