Troy Aikman | Biography & Facts - Britannica

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• Introduction & Top Questions
• Early life and college
• NFL and TV analyst
• Personal life

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• Where did Troy Aikman go to college?
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• Pro Football Hall of Fame - Troy Aikman
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Troy Aikman American football player Ask Anything Homework Help Also known as: Troy Kenneth Aikman Written and fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Jan. 18, 2026 •History Britannica AI Ask Anything Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask Anything Top Questions

How many Super Bowls did Troy Aikman win?

Quarterback Troy Aikman led the Dallas Cowboys to three Super Bowl victories (1993, 1994, and 1996). He was named MVP of Super Bowl XXVII in 1993.

Where did Troy Aikman go to college?

Troy Aikman initially attended the University of Oklahoma, but he left the school after coach Barry Switzer introduced the wishbone formation to the Oklahoma offense, emphasizing a running game at the expense of Aikman’s strong passing skills. Aikman transferred to the University of California, Los Angeles. He led UCLA to a 20–4 record, with postseason victories in the Aloha Bowl (December 1987) and the Cotton Bowl (January 1989). He was named All-American in his senior year and placed third in the polling for the Heisman Trophy, college football’s most prestigious award.

Is Troy Aikman married?

Troy Aikman is not currently married. In 2000 he wed Rhonda Worthey, a former publicist with the Dallas Cowboys. The couple had two daughters, Jordan and Alexa Aikman, before divorcing in 2011. From 2017 to 2023 Aikman was married to Catherine (Capa) Mooty.

Troy Aikman (born November 21, 1966, West Covina, California, U.S.) is an American retired gridiron football quarterback who led the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL) to three Super Bowl victories (1993, 1994, and 1996). Aikman later became a noted TV football analyst.

Early life and college

Aikman was raised in Cerritos, a suburb of Los Angeles, before moving with his family to the small town of Henryetta, Oklahoma, where he was an all-state high school standout. He was recruited by coaches Barry Switzer of the University of Oklahoma and Jimmy Johnson of Oklahoma State University; both later went on to coach him as a professional with the Cowboys. Aikman chose the University of Oklahoma, but he left the school after Switzer introduced the wishbone formation to the Oklahoma offense, emphasizing a running game at the expense of Aikman’s strong passing skills.

Aikman subsequently attended the University of California, Los Angeles, where, as a transfer student, he had to sit out the 1986 season. He excelled in his remaining two years at UCLA, leading his squad to a 20–4 record, with postseason victories in the Aloha Bowl (December 1987) and the Cotton Bowl (January 1989). He was named All-American in his senior year and placed third in the polling for the Heisman Trophy, college football’s most prestigious award.

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The Cowboys, one of the most dominant and popular teams in the 1970s, had fallen on lean times by 1989, when the team made Aikman the overall number one draft selection. He fared poorly in his first few seasons, throwing more interceptions than touchdown passes and missing games because of injuries. In 1992–93, however, his first season without injuries, Aikman led the team—which included running back Emmitt Smith and receiver Michael Irvin—to a Super Bowl victory as the Cowboys defeated the Buffalo Bills. Aikman was named the game’s Most Valuable Player. In 1994 the Cowboys again played the Bills in the Super Bowl and defended their title.

Career Stats

• Total yards: 32,942
• Passing attempts: 4,715
• Passing completions: 2,898
• Completion percentage: 61.5%
• Touchdowns: 165
• Interceptions: 141

Two years later Aikman guided Dallas to victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers for another Super Bowl championship. In 1996 he also appeared in his sixth consecutive Pro Bowl. The following year he threw for more than 3,000 passing yards—the fourth time he had accomplished the feat during his career—but the Cowboys failed to make the playoffs. Various injuries, notably concussions, limited his play over the next several seasons, and in April 2001 he retired.

Aikman subsequently became a television football analyst. In 2006 he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Quick Facts In full: Troy Kenneth Aikman (Show more) Born: November 21, 1966, West Covina, California, U.S. (age 59) (Show more) Awards And Honors: Pro Football Hall of Fame (2006) Super Bowl (1996) Super Bowl (1994) Super Bowl (1993) Pro Football Hall of Fame (inducted 2006) 3 Super Bowl championships 6 Pro Bowl selections 1997 Walter Payton Man of the Year (Show more) Education: University of Oklahoma University of California, Los Angeles (Show more) Height/Weight: 6 ft 4 inches, 219 lb (1.93 m, 99 kg) (Show more) Throws: right-handed (Show more) Position: quarterback (Show more) Jersey Number: 8 (Dallas Cowboys, 1989–2000) (Show more) Draft: Drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the first round (first overall) of the 1989 NFL draft. (Show more) Twitter Handle: @TroyAikman (Show more) Completion Percentage: 61.5 (Show more) Games Played: 165 (Show more) Interceptions: 141 (Show more) Touchdowns: 165 (Show more) Yards Gained By Passing: 32942 (Show more) Yards Per Attempt: 7.0 (Show more) See all related content Show More

Personal life

In 2000 Aikman wed Rhonda Worthey, a former publicist with the Cowboys. The couple had two daughters, Jordan and Alexa Aikman, before divorcing in 2011. From 2017 to 2023 Aikman was married to Catherine (Capa) Mooty.

Access for the whole family! Bundle Britannica Premium and Kids for the ultimate resource destination. Subscribe The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.