Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman was promoted to the NFL on FOX’ No. 1 broadcast crew prior to the 2002 season, teaming with the Emmy Award-winning duo of play-by-play announcer Joe Buck and analyst Cris Collinsworth. Faced with the difficult task of succeeding the legendary team of Pat Summerall and John Madden, FOX’ new "A-Team" immediately impressed both critics and fans with a consistently entertaining and informative brand of coverage. Highly skilled at succinctly illustrating action on the field, Aikman’s contemporary analysis offers keen insight into the skill and pressure associated with playing in today’s NFL.
After retiring from professional football at the conclusion of the 2000 season, Aikman joined the NFL on FOX as a game analyst on the network’s No. 2 NFL team and quickly displayed the accuracy and work ethic that marked his playing career. Near the end of his rookie season in the booth, Sports Illustrated named him TV’s "Best Newcomer" within their year-end roundup. Aikman’s first experience as a game analyst came during the 1999 and 2000 NFL Europe League seasons when he gained valuable experience working contests for Fox Sports Net alongside Brad Sham.
During Aikman’s incredible playing career he set 45 Cowboys’ passing records, including the club’s career record for completions (2,898), passing yards (32,942), touchdowns (165) and completion percentage (61.3). While leading one of sports’ most famous franchises, the Cowboys won six NFC East titles (1992-96 & 1998) and advanced to four NFC Championship Games (1992-95). Aikman is one of only three quarterbacks to guide his team to victory in three Super Bowls (XXVII, XXVIII and XXX).
Prior to joining the Cowboys, Aikman passed for 5,298 yards and 41 touchdowns in two years at UCLA. The All-American led the Bruins to a 20-4 record, and wins in the 1987 Aloha and 1989 Cotton Bowls. He was the Cowboys’ first round draft choice in 1989, and became the first rookie quarterback to start a season opener for Dallas since Roger Staubach in 1969.
Aikman’s television experience is vast, ranging from numerous appearances on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, a cameo part in the movie "Jerry Maguire," an appearance on the sitcom "Coach," voiceovers for "The Simpsons" and "King of the Hill," plus a segment on Good Morning America in 1999 where he cooked alongside chef Emeril Lagasse. His broadcasting career began locally in Dallas in 1994 on the "Pat Summerall Show with Troy Aikman."
