Troy Aikman Joined An Unexpected Team In 2003 After Almost Retiring
Miami came close to succeeding in one of several clubs’ attempts to persuade Aikman to come out of retirement.
Troy Aikman worked for Dallas throughout his whole professional life.
In his 12-year career, Troy Aikman, a Dallas Cowboys star and idol, threw 165 touchdown passes and won three Super Bowls. As the 2023 NFL season gets underway, he will be heard on Monday Night Football telecasts as an established broadcaster for ESPN.
However, Aikman claimed this week on a new edition of Adam Schefter‘s podcast that he was almost persuaded to wear another team’s uniform two years after leaving the NFL in 2001. He was enticed by the chance to once again play for his old offensive coordinator in Dallas, Norv Turner.
Troy Aikman in Miami?
The Miami Dolphins were seen as an AFC contender heading into the 2003 NFL season. Head coach Dave Wannstedt believed that all his team lacked was a seasoned quarterback because they were supported by a top-five scoring defense and ace running back Ricky Williams.
The person in mind by offensive coordinator Norv Turner and Wannstedt was…Aikman, as Aikman disclosed to Schefter.
“I had a chance initially, and I was gonna do it quite honestly. I was gonna come back, and the Dolphins were looking at me.” “I had trained that offseason, prepared to come back and play. And they felt like they were a quarterback away from achieving what they wanted to do.”
Troy Aikman
This is not the first report about a club attempting to sign the Hall of Fame quarterback in the early 2000s. Aikman retired following the 2000 season due to a concussion and back issues. While Andy Reid sought Aikman out as a last-minute possibility for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2002, Turner was behind a campaign to convince him to sign with the San Diego Chargers in 2001.
Why did Troy Aikman choose to remain retired?
The Dolphins ultimately decided to stick with Jay Fiedler as their starting quarterback, and a 36-year-old Aikman never donned a Miami uniform.
Aikman told Schefter, “So, I was gonna do it. I thought, ‘Well, I’ll give it a shot.’ Rick Spielman was the general manager, and he ultimately was the one, I believe, that decided not to sign me, which was probably a good thing from their perspective.” “And it was a great thing from my perspective because they weren’t a quarterback away.”
In 2003, the Dolphins came very close to making the playoffs, and it turned out to be their final successful season for five years. Aikman started a lucrative broadcasting career. Most recently, he spoke with Deion Sanders, a former teammate from Dallas who subsequently orchestrated an unexpected victory over TCU to open the collegiate football season.
