Troy Aikman Makes His Feelings Known About Dallas Cowboys Coach Mike McCarthy
Although he’s supposed to be unbiased as a member of the media, Troy Aikman will always be tied to the Dallas Cowboys. The former No. 1 draft pick and three-time Super Bowl champion still has close ties to the team. One of those ties, however, is gone as Jason Garrett, Aikman’s former backup quarterback, was fired as head coach of the Cowboys after last season. Garrett was replaced by former Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy. Aikman recently gave his thoughts on the new coach of the Cowboys.
Troy Aikman went from QB to the broadcast booth
Troy Aikman was the first player selected in the 1989 NFL draft. Coming out of UCLA, the Dallas Cowboys selected the quarterback, and he started 11 games in his rookie year. He went 0-11 in those games. Aikman then teamed with running back Emmitt Smith and wide receiver Michael Irvin to form a Big 3 that went on to win three Super Bowls.
After Aikman’s Hall-of-Fame career with the Cowboys, he jumped into the broadcast booth. Aikman’s final season as a player was in 2000 when he played in 11 games. He battled concussions throughout his career and suffered another one against the Washington Redskins, which proved to be his final one.
In 2001, Aikman joined Fox as a color commentator for the NFC telecasts. In 2002, he teamed up with Joe Buck to form the telecast’s lead crew. He has gone on to broadcast six Super Bowls.
Mike McCarthy taking over for Jason Garrett as head coach
Former Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy was hired this offseason to replace longtime Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett. Garrett had been the head coach for the last 10 years. He compiled a record of 87-70, including the playoffs.
McCarthy spent 13 years as the head man in Green Bay. He was let go during a dismal 2018 season in which the Packers were 4-7-1. McCarthy, an offensive-minded coach, strung together eight straight winning seasons with the Packers beginning in 2009. McCarthy guided the Packers to a Super Bowl title during the 2010 season.
The following season Green Bay went 15-1 and drew the top seed. They fell to the San Francisco 49ers, who went on to lose to the Baltimore Ravens in the Super Bowl. McCarthy went 135-85-2, including the postseason, during his reign as Packers head coach.
Aikman expresses his thoughts on McCarthy
According to The Dallas Morning News, Troy Aikman recently appeared on The Musers on 96.7 FM/1310 AM The Ticket. He was asked his thoughts on the Dallas Cowboys’ new head coach, Mike McCarthy. “”I feel good. I felt good about him when he was in Green Bay each year and every time we spoke to him and the plan.
“He seemed to have a good vision on what he wanted to do and what he wanted to accomplish,” Aikman said. “I think when he took this job, much like each season, each offseason there in Green Bay, he has a clear understanding of what it is that he wants to get accomplished and what that team’s going to look like. And I think he’s flexible.”
Aikman did say he expected McCarthy to call the plays, which won’t be the case. “I am surprised that he’s not calling plays,” Aikman said. “I still think he’ll be very involved in the offense, that’s his expertise. But in Green Bay, he gave up the play calling and when he took it back he said he’d never give it up again, that it’s something he feels that he’s good at.”
