The Untold Story: Why Troy Aikman Almost Walked Away from the Dallas Cowboys

During a challenging period in his early career, Troy Aikman, the legendary quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, nearly requested a trade. The frustrations he faced early on in his career and the team dynamics at the time pushed him to contemplate leaving the team that he would later help lead to multiple Super Bowl victories.


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Troy Aikman Nearly Left the Cowboys Before Legendary Dynasty Began

Despite not having the most impressive stats among NFL quarterbacks, Troy Aikman is known for leading the Dallas Cowboys to three Super Bowl titles during his 12-year career. However, before achieving this success, Aikman almost left the team.

Aikman's early days with the Cowboys were tough. After being drafted in 1989, his rookie season ended with an abysmal 1-15 record. Aikman played 11 games and lost them all. In 1990, the Cowboys improved to 7-9, but Aikman struggled with 11 touchdown passes and 18 interceptions.

Building the "Triplets"

By 1991, the Cowboys had built a strong team, featuring Aikman, running back Emmitt Smith, and wide receiver Michael Irvin. Despite this, the team was only 7-5 after 12 games, fighting for a playoff spot. Aikman suffered a knee injury, forcing backup Steve Beuerlein to take over. Beuerlein led the Cowboys to five straight wins and earned the starting spot in the playoffs. He led the team to a 17-13 win over the Chicago Bears but struggled in the next game, a 38-6 loss to the Detroit Lions.

Aikman Contemplates Leaving

After the loss to the Lions, Aikman considered leaving the Cowboys. According to reporter Randy Galloway in the NFL Films' documentary *A Football Life*, Aikman was ready to request a trade. Galloway recalled, “After that game in the locker room... he went, ‘I'm gone. I'm asking for a trade. This is not going to work.’"

A Meeting that Changed Everything

However, a pivotal meeting with head coach Jimmy Johnson changed Aikman's mind. Johnson reassured Aikman, telling him, “This is your team. You are my guy. No more fooling around.” This vote of confidence marked the beginning of a new era for the Cowboys.

The Cowboys’ Dynasty

In 1992, Aikman had his best season and led the Cowboys to their first Super Bowl victory. The team repeated this feat the following year, becoming the sixth NFL team to win back-to-back titles. In 1996, the Cowboys won their third Super Bowl in four years, cementing their legacy as one of the NFL’s greatest dynasties.

Troy Aikman was central to the Cowboys' success in the 1990s, but it almost didn’t happen as he once considered leaving Dallas before the dynasty had begun.

In short, it is Aikman's trade thinking that proves how one singular moment could decide the fate of an entire franchise and eventually propel him to be one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history.


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