Friday, March 29, 2024

Aikman ends NFL career with Dallas Cowboys

By JAIME ARON
The Associated Press

IRVING, Texas - Troy Aikman’s NFL career ended with the Dallas Cowboys after all.

The three-time Super Bowl champion announced his retirement at a news conference Monday at Texas Stadium, where he starred for 12 seasons.

“You watch and you think that your time will never come,” said Aikman, fighting back tears as he announced his plans. “My time has come.”

Aikman suffered four concussions in his last 20 starts - giving him 10 in his career - and has a degenerative back problem.

“I know it’s the right thing. I know it’s the right thing for me because of my health, concussions, the back problems I’ve had, it’s took its toll,” he said.

Aikman said the competitor in him wanted to continue, but he said his family weighed in his decision.

“I think when all things are considered it was the right thing for me and my family,” Aikman said. “I just can’t do it anymore. If it was just me, then I think it would be a little easier to try to go on.”

Aikman regained his composure as he talked about the 12 years he played for the Cowboys.

“It was 12 of the best years of my life, professionally speaking,” Aikman said.

“This man has touched us all and for that we’re grateful,” Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said when introducing Aikman.

Aikman spoke after a film clip that covered Aikman from a young child to the Super Bowl.

Aikman said last week he was trying to choose between pursuing a job as a starting quarterback in the NFL or moving into a broadcast booth. He’ll likely make the transition to TV, with Fox the front-runner to hire him.

The 34-year-old Aikman’s future has been in limbo since he was waived by the Cowboys on March 7, a day before he was due a $7 million bonus and seven-year contract extension.

Aikman set nearly every team passing record and was among the best postseason quarterbacks in NFL history.

But he missed five games last season because of injuries and was knocked out of three more, all in the first quarter. When he played, Aikman lacked his trademark arm strength and accuracy, sinking him to the worst quarterback rating among NFC starters.

Aikman said last week that his back was his greatest concern.

Some fans have wanted Aikman to walk away since his concussions began adding up. While they feared the long-term implications of the head injuries, Aikman never flinched. He went out believing he could remain healthy and productive.

After a few weeks of looking around the NFL for openings, Aikman told Steinberg he was finally ready to listen to job offers from the broadcast networks that had been after him for years.

Aikman did color commentary on NFL Europe games for Fox two years ago. He enjoyed the experience more than he expected and received rave reviews.

Fox is looking for a game analyst to replace Matt Millen, who joined the Detroit Lions as president and CEO.

Aikman has been a marquee name since the Cowboys made him the No. 1 pick in the 1989 draft.

After losing his first 11 games, he led Dallas to Super Bowl titles after the 1992, ’93 and ’95 seasons. Only Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw have won as many Super Bowls.

Rather than joining Montana, Joe Namath and Johnny Unitas as quarterbacks who ended their careers in seemingly foreign uniforms, Aikman will forever be a Cowboy.

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