Fansided

Dallas Cowboys all-time Mount Rushmore

By William Schneiderhan

IRVING, TX - JANUARY 7: Running back Emmitt Smith #22 of the Dallas Cowboys runs upfield against the Philadelphia Eagles at Texas Stadium in the 1995 NFC Divisional Playoff Game on January 7, 1996 in Irving, Texas. The Cowboys defeated the Eagles 30-11. (Photo by Joseph Patronite/Getty Images)
IRVING, TX - JANUARY 7: Running back Emmitt Smith #22 of the Dallas Cowboys runs upfield against the Philadelphia Eagles at Texas Stadium in the 1995 NFC Divisional Playoff Game on January 7, 1996 in Irving, Texas. The Cowboys defeated the Eagles 30-11. (Photo by Joseph Patronite/Getty Images) /
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Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman (C) drops behind the line as he prepares to hand off the ball in the first half of their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers 31 August at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA. Aikman tied a career high with four touchdown passes as the Cowboys defeated the Steelers 37-7, AFP PHOTO/KIMBERLY BARTH (Photo by KIMBERLY BARTH / AFP) (Photo credit should read KIMBERLY BARTH/AFP via Getty Images)
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman (C) drops behind the line as he prepares to hand off the ball in the first half of their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers 31 August at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA. Aikman tied a career high with four touchdown passes as the Cowboys defeated the Steelers 37-7, AFP PHOTO/KIMBERLY BARTH (Photo by KIMBERLY BARTH / AFP) (Photo credit should read KIMBERLY BARTH/AFP via Getty Images) /

3. Troy Aikman, QB (1989-2000)

Jimmy Johnson, Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin and Troy Aikman. Say those names around fans of the Cowboys and watch them blush. Those four represent the best days most of them have experienced while being fans of the Dallas Cowboys.

Roger Staubach had been a cornerstone quarterback during his time, a player that still resonates with fans to this day. As discussed the slide before, he and his legendary head coach Tom Landry linked up for many successful years, which resulted in two Super Bowls.

Well, in 1989, management found the franchise’s next great quarterback and head coach duo. Johnson was hired prior to the season, and the team drafted Troy Aikman with the first pick in the 1989 NFL Draft.

Over the first two seasons of his career, Aikman fought to acclimate to the NFL. In his rookie year, he was 0-11 as a starter. 1990, his second year, he improved to 7-8 after the team drafted a running back named Emmitt Smith.

The 1992 season was when the Cowboys, and Aikman, took off. He threw for career highs in yards (3,445 yards) and touchdowns (23). The team won the Super Bowl, then made it back-to-back championships in 1993. Two seasons later in 1995, Aikman and the team captured a third title, this time under Barry Switzer.

Aikman’s numbers do not jump off the page. He had no 30+ touchdown, 4,000+ yard seasons like we see today from the league’s best quarterbacks. The game was different back then, and Aikman was a Hall of Fame quarterback for that time.

The former first-overall pick was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2006. He made six Pro Bowls and was once named the Walter Payton Man of the Year for 1997. His 32,942 passing yards and 165 passing scores are both second in team history to Tony Romo. His 94 regular-season wins are the most by any other Cowboys quarterback.

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