Troy Aikman Biography

1966-

American football player

Star quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys for more than a decade, Troy Aikman led "America's team" to three Super Bowl victories before the toll of multiple injuries finally took him out of the game. In April 2001, rather than risk a potentially disabling injury, Aikman at the age of thirty-four left professional football to launch a new career as a sports broadcaster. Although he expressed regret at leaving the game that had been his the focus of his life for more than half his years, Aikman told the Associated Press (AP): "I know it's the right thing for me because of my health, concussions, the back problems I've had. It took its toll." He recalled fondly being linked with wide receiver Michael Irvin and running back Emmitt Smith

Troy Aikman

as one of "The Triplets." Of their association, Smith said, "All three of us stepped up. We all pushed one another. He [Aikman] probably was the laid-back one, but he was the stubborn one, too. His stubbornness was really his way of showing that losing was not an option."

CONTACT INFORMATION

Address: Troy Aikman, c/o Fox Sports West, 10000 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90067-7002. Phone: (310)286-3800.