Quarterback Troy Aikman finished his collegiate career as the third rated passer in NCAA history. An All-America at UCLA, Aikman joined the Dallas Cowboys as the first overall pick in the 1989 NFL Draft. He became the first Dallas rookie quarterback to start a season opener since Roger Staubach in 1969. Although he showed great promise and threw for a rookie-record 379 yards in a game against the Phoenix Cardinals, the team finished 1-15. As the young quarterback improved, however, so too did the Cowboys' record.
In 1990, Aikman completed 226 of 399 passes for 2,579 yards and 11 touchdowns - the team finished 7-9. The following year he completed an NFC-best 65.3 percent of his passes, and the Cowboys improved to 11-5 and advanced to the second round of the playoffs.
In 1992, in just his 52nd game, Aikman reached the 10,000-yard passing mark, and his 302 completions were second most in team history. That season also marked the end of Dallas' odyssey from worst to first. With their high-powered offense and stingy defense, the 13-3 Cowboys swept through the 1992 NFL playoffs, scoring a combined total of 116 points in three games including a 52-17 victory over the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXVII. Aikman's 22 of 30 for 273 yards passing and four touchdowns earned him Super Bowl MVP honors.
Over the next three seasons, the Cowboys enjoyed three consecutive 12-4 records and victories in Super Bowls XXVIII and XXX. Aikman, wide receiver Michael Irvin, and running back Emmitt Smith delivered an offensive attack that opponents found nearly impossible to contain. When defenses focused on Irvin and/or Smith, Aikman would find tight end Jay Novacek or wide receiver Alvin Harper. In the 1994 NFC Divisional Playoff Game against the Green Bay Packers, Aikman completed 23 of 30 passes for 337 yards. Irvin, Novacek, and Harper, each had more than 100 yards receiving. Aikman's 94-yard touchdown pass to Harper was the longest play from scrimmage in NFL post-season history at the time.
With 90 wins in the 1990s, Aikman became the winningest starting quarterback of any decade in NFL history. Unfortunately, during his final two seasons, injuries began to take a toll on the Dallas quarterback and the team's winning ways. Finally, after the 2000 season, the Cowboys' six-time Pro Bowl selection announced his retirement from football. His career statistics include 32,942 yards and 165 touchdowns for a passer rating of 81.6.
All-Pro: 1993 (SN)
All-NFC Second Team: 1994 (UPI) ? 1995 (UPI)
(6) - 1992, 1993, 1994*, 1995, 1996*, 1997*
* Did not play
At time of his retirement following 2000 season
[Tied for 2nd] Most Times Sacked, Game - 11 (vs. Philadelphia, Sept. 15, 1991)
Super Bowl Records
[1st] Highest Completion Percentage, Career - 70.0
[2nd] Lowest Percentage, Passes Intercepted, Career - 1.25
[Tied for 2nd] Most Consecutive Completions, Game - 10 (SB XXX, vs. Pittsburgh)
[Tied for 3rd] Most Touchdown Passes, Game - 4 (SB XXVII, vs. Buffalo)
Post-Season Records
[2nd] Longest Pass Completion - 94 (to Alvin Harper, vs. Green Bay, 1994)
[3rd] Highest Completion Percentage, Career - 63.8
[Tied for 3rd] Most Games, 300 or More Yards Passing, Career - 4
[Tied for 3rd] Most Consecutive Games, 300 or More Yards Passing - 2 (1994)
[Tied for 3rd] Most Touchdown Passes, Game - 4 (SB XXVII, vs. Buffalo)
Team Records
Cowboys' records held by Aikman at the time of his retirement following the 2000 season
[1st] Most Seasons Leading Team, Passing - 12 (1989-00)
[1st] Most Consecutive Seasons Leading Team, Passing - 12 (1989-00)
[1st] Highest Passer Rating, Rookie Season - 55.7 (1989)
[1st] Most Passing Attempts, Career - 4,715
[1st] Most Passing Attempts, Rookie Season - 293 (1989)
[1st] Most Passing Attempts, Game - 57 (vs. Minnesota, Nov. 26, 1998)
[1st] Most Pass Completions, Career - 2,898
[1st] Most Pass Completions, Rookie Season - 155 (1989)
[1st] Most Pass Completions, Game - 34 (at N.Y. Giants, Oct. 5, 1997; vs. Minnesota, Nov. 26, 1998)
[1st] Highest Pass Completion Percentage, Career - 61.5
[1st] Highest Pass Completion Percentage, Season - 69.1 (1993)
[1st] Highest Pass Completion Percentage, Rookie Season - 52.9 (1989)
[1st] Most Passing Yards Gained, Career - 32,942
[1st] Most Passing Yards Gained, Rookie Season - 1,749 (1989)
[1st] Most Passing Yards Gained, Game, Rookie Season - 379 (at Phoenix, Nov. 12, 1989)
[1st] Most Seasons, 3,000 or More Passing Yards - 5 (1992-93, 1995-97)
[1st] Most Games, 300 or More Passing Yards, Career - 13
[1st] Most Touchdowns Passing, Career - 165
[1st] Most Touchdowns Passing, Rookie Season - 9 (1989)
[1st] Most Touchdowns Passing, Game, Rookie - 4 (vs. L.A. Rams, Dec. 3, 1989)
[1st] Most Consecutive Games, Touchdown Pass - 16 (1993-1994)
[1st] Most Passes Intercepted, Career - 141
[1st] Most Consecutive Passes Attempted, None Intercepted - 216 (1999)
[1st] Most Passing Attempts, No Interceptions, Game - 57 (vs. Minnesota, Nov. 26, 1998)
[1st] Lowest Percentage Passes Intercepted, Career - 2.99
[1st] Lowest Percentage Passes Intercepted, Season - 1.53 (1993)
[1st] Lowest Percentage Passes Intercepted, Rookie Season - 6.14 (1989)
[1st] Highest Passing Attempts/Sack Ratio, Career - 19.2
[1st] Highest Passing Attempts/Sack Ratio, Season - 36.0 (1998)
[Tied for 1st] Most Touchdowns Passing, Game - 5 (at Washington, Sept. 12, 1999)
[Tied for 1st] Most Consecutive Games, Four or More Touchdowns Passes - 1 (at Washington, Sept. 12, 1999)
[Tied for 1st] Most Passes Intercepted, Game - 5 (at N.Y. Giants, Oct. 15, 2000)
[Tied for 1st] Most Times Sacked, Game - 11 (vs. Philadelphia, Sept. 15, 1991)
[2nd] Passer Highest Rating, Season - 99.0 (1993)
[2nd] Most Passing Attempts, Season - 518 (1997)
[2nd] Most Passing Attempts, Game - 53 (at Cincinnati, Dec. 14, 1997)
[2nd] Most Pass Completions, Season - 302 (1992)
[2nd] Highest Pass Completion Percentage, Season - 65.3 (1991)
[2nd] Highest Pass Completion Percentage, Game - 85.7 (at Atlanta, Dec. 21, 1992)
[2nd] Most Consecutive Passes Completed - 13 (at Atlanta, Dec. 21, 1992; at Oakland, Nov. 19, 1995; at Arizona, Nov. 15, 1998)
[2nd] Most Yards Gained, Game - 455 (vs. Minnesota, Nov. 26, 1998)
[2nd] Most Consecutive Passes Attempted, None Intercepted - 184 (1995)
[2nd] Lowest Percentage Passes Intercepted, Season - 1.59 (1998)
[2nd] Most Times Sacked, Career - 259
[2nd] Highest Attempts/Sack Ratio, Season - 31.9 (1995)
[Tied for 2nd] Most Completions, Game - 33 (at Miami, Oct. 27, 1996)
[3rd] Highest Passer Rating, Career - 81.62
[3rd] Most Passing Attempts, Season - 473 (1992)
[3rd] Most Passing Attempts, Game - 52 (at N.Y. Giants, Oct. 5, 1997)
[3rd] Most Pass Completions, Season - 296 (1996)
[3rd] Highest Pass Completion Percentage, Season - 64.8 (1995)
[3rd] Highest Pass Completion Percentage, Game - 80.8 (at N.Y. Giants, Sept. 30, 1990)
[3rd] Most Passing Yards Gained, Season - 3,445 (1992)
[3rd] Most Games, Four of More Touchdowns Passes, Career - 3
[3rd] Most Passing Attempts, No Interceptions, Game - 45 (vs. Washington, Nov. 16, 1997)
[3rd] Lowest Percentage Passes Intercepted, Season - 1.62 (1995)
[3rd] Highest Passing Attempts/Sack Ratio, Season - 26.8 (1996)
[3rd] Longest Pass Completion - 90 (to Alvin Harper, at San Francisco, Nov. 13, 1994; to Jason Tucker, vs. N.Y. Giants, Jan. 2, 2000, TD)
[Tied for 3rd] Most Consecutive Passes Completed - 12 (at Green Bay, Oct. 6, 1991)
Post-Season Records
[1st] Most Passing Attempts, Career - 502
[1st] Most Pass Completions, Career - 320
[1st] Consecutive Passes Completed - 10 (vs. Pittsburgh, Jan. 28, 1996)
[1st] Highest Pass Completion Percentage, Career - 63.75
[1st] Highest Pass Completion Percentage, Game - 76.67 (vs. Green Bay, Jan. 8, 1995)
[1st] Most Passing Yards Gained, Career - 3,849
[1st] Most Passing Yards Gained, Game - 380 (at San Francisco, Jan. 15, 1995)
[1st] Most Games, 300 or More Passing Yards, Career - 4
[1st] Longest Pass Completion - 94 (to Alvin Harper, vs. Green Bay, Jan. 8, 1995, TD)
[1st] Most Consecutive Passes Attempted, None Intercepted - 111 (1991-93)
[1st] Most Passing Attempts, No Interceptions, Game - 34 (at San Francisco, Jan. 17, 1993)
[1st] Most Consecutive Games, Touchdown Pass - 5 (1992-1993, 1994-1995)
[Tied for 1st] Most Passing Attempts, Game - 53 (at San Francisco, Jan. 15, 1995)
[Tied for 1st] Most Touchdowns Passing, Game - 4 (SB XXVII, vs. Buffalo)
[2nd] Most Passing Attempts, Game - 49 (vs. Arizona, Jan. 2, 1999)
[2nd] Most Pass Completions, Game - 30 (at San Francisco, Jan. 15, 1995)
[2nd] Highest Pass Completion Percentage, Game - 75.68 (vs. Green Bay, Jan. 16, 1994)
[2nd] Most Passing Yards Gained, Game - 337 (vs. Green Bay, Jan. 8, 1995)
[2nd] Most Touchdowns Passing, Career - 23
[2nd] Most Passes Intercepted, Career - 17
[2nd] Most Passing Attempts, No Interceptions, Game - 33 (vs. Green Bay, Jan. 14, 1996)
[Tied for 2nd] Most Consecutive Passes Completed - 8 (SB XXVII, vs. Buffalo)
[Tied for 2nd] Most Passes Intercepted, Game - 3 (vs. Arizona, Jan. 2, 1999)
[3rd] Most Pass Completions, Game - 28 (vs. Green Bay, Jan. 16, 1994)
[3rd] Highest Pass Completion Percentage, Game - 73.33 (SB XXVII, vs. Buffalo)
[3rd] Most Consecutive Passes Attempted, None Intercepted - 88 (1994-96)
[3rd] Most Passing Attempts, No Interceptions, Game - 30 (SB XXVII, vs. Buffalo)
Team Statistical Championships
Passing Titles: 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 19994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
Passing Touchdown Leader: 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
1997 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year
Super Bowl XXVII MVP
| 1989 |
Dallas Cowboys |
1 |
15 |
0 |
(5th) |
| 1990 |
Dallas Cowboys |
7 |
9 |
0 |
(4th) |
| 1991 |
Dallas Cowboys |
11 |
5 |
0 |
(2nd) |
| 1992 |
Dallas Cowboys |
13 |
3 |
0 |
(1st) |
| 1993 |
Dallas Cowboys |
12 |
4 |
0 |
(1st) |
| 1994 |
Dallas Cowboys |
12 |
4 |
0 |
(1st) |
| 1995 |
Dallas Cowboys |
12 |
4 |
0 |
(1st) |
| 1996 |
Dallas Cowboys |
10 |
6 |
0 |
(1st) |
| 1997 |
Dallas Cowboys |
6 |
1 |
0 |
(4th) |
| 1998 |
Dallas Cowboys |
10 |
6 |
0 |
(1st) |
| 1999 |
Dallas Cowboys |
8 |
8 |
0 |
(2nd) |
| 2000 |
Dallas Cowboys |
5 |
11 |
0 |
(4th) |