Cowboys offseason countdown: 99 facts until the regular season (Day 8)

We countdown the days to kickoff giving you an interesting fact about each number. Today is number 8

We are at day 8 of our 99 day countdown until the regular season. Here is your daily fact associated with number 8.

This one is easy to talk about as there is only one number 8 for Dallas. Troy Aikman.

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Troy Kenneth Aikman was born November 21st, 1966 and was the first overall pick in the 1989 NFL draft. He was the first rookie quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys to play a season-opener since Roger Staubach in 1969. Despite demonstrating significant potential and achieving a rookie-record of 379 passing yards in a match against the Phoenix Cardinals, the team concluded the season with a 1-15 record. Nevertheless, as the young quarterback developed his skills, the Cowboys’ performance also began to improve.

In 1990, Aikman successfully completed 226 out of 399 passes, accumulating 2,579 yards and 11 touchdowns, while the team concluded the season with a record of 7-9. The subsequent year, he achieved an NFC-leading completion rate of 65.3 percent, contributing to the Cowboys’ improvement to an 11-5 record and their advancement to the second round of the playoffs. In 1992, during his 52nd game, Aikman surpassed the 10,000-yard milestone in passing, with his 302 completions ranking as the second highest in the franchise’s history.

That season also signified the conclusion of Dallas’ journey from the bottom to the top. With a formidable offense and a robust defense, the 13-3 Cowboys dominated the 1992 NFL playoffs, amassing a total of 116 points across three games, including a decisive 52-17 triumph over the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXVII. Aikman’s performance, completing 22 of 30 passes for 273 yards and four touchdowns, earned him the title of Super Bowl MVP.

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In the subsequent three seasons, the Cowboys achieved three straight 12-4 records and triumphed in Super Bowls XXVIII and XXX. The offensive prowess of Aikman, wide receiver Michael Irvin, and running back Emmitt Smith proved to be a formidable challenge for opposing defenses. When defenses concentrated on either Irvin or Smith, Aikman adeptly connected with tight end Jay Novacek or wide receiver Alvin Harper.

During the 1994 NFC Divisional Playoff Game against the Green Bay Packers, Aikman completed 23 out of 30 passes for a total of 337 yards, with Irvin, Novacek, and Harper each surpassing 100 yards in receiving. Notably, Aikman’s 94-yard touchdown pass to Harper set a record for the longest play from scrimmage in NFL postseason history at that time. With 90 victories in the 1990s, Aikman became the most successful starting quarterback of any decade in NFL history upon his retirement.

Regrettably, in his final two seasons, injuries began to impact the Dallas quarterback and the team’s performance. Ultimately, following the 2000 season, the six-time Pro Bowl selection announced his retirement from professional football. His career statistics reflect 32,942 passing yards and 165 touchdowns, culminating in a passer rating of 81.6.

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