Troy Aikman was a part of the ESPN crew for Monday’s broadcast of the Los Angeles Rams vs Atlanta Falcons showdown in Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Before the game, the ex-Cowboys star discussed coach Sean McVay and his quarterback, Matthew Stafford.
Troy Aikman talked about the importance of a good organization and a dedicated staff in developing a quarterback in the league. He also dissected the current landscape in the NFL, highlighting how quarterbacks who are drafted high go on to be labeled as busts because of poor organizational and coaching decisions.
“We’ve talked about it last week, with Kyle Shanahan and what he’s done with the 49ers offense,” Aikman said. “There’s others around the league, and Sean McVay is another one of those great offensive minds. And for Matthew Stafford to get that opportunity to play within that scheme, good for him. There’s a lot of quarterbacks in this league, and over the history of this league, that never got that opportunity to play for someone like Sean or some of the others that are so talented.”
“I think there’s been a lot of quarterbacks that have been drafted high, who have left the game and have been labeled as bust. And I think that’s unfair because I do feel that organizations and coaching have failed quarterbacks more than quarterbacks have failed organizations. I’ve been there. I’ve been around the best of the best. And I’ve been around others that aren’t as good.”
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Troy Aikman spent his entire NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys. They drafted him with the first overall pick in the 1989 draft. However, his debut with the team was underwhelming, putting up a 0-11 record as a starter and finishing his rookie year with a 1-15 record.
However, three years later, in 1991, the Cowboys hired Norv Turner as the new offensive coordinator. This completely changed the landscape and allowed Troy Aikman to show off his full potential. Under Turner’s scheme, the ex-quarterback led the team to two Super Bowl victories.
In 1994, Nov Turner left to become the coach of the Commanders. That is where Ernie Zampese took over as his replacement. Aikman won his third and final Super Bowl during the 1995 season. During his 12-year stint in the league, he recorded 32,942 yards and 165 TDs passing.
Troy Aikman heaps praise on Nate Landman during the Ram vs Falcons broadcast
Nate Landman spent three years with the Falcons before joining the Rams in March 2025. On Monday, the linebacker got the chance to face his former team.
During a first-and-10 play in the first quarter, Landman forced Falcons QB Kirk Cousins to throw an incomplete pass. Troy Aikman praised the linebacker for his efforts and his overall debut Rams campaign.
“Well Landman, he’s had a great year,” Aikman said. “Landman, he just keeps getting better and better and better. He was with Atlanta last year. In fact, he was a locker mate to Kirk Cousins. … They elect to not resign him. He lands in LA and has had a great year for him.
The Rams are in third place in the NFC West with an 11-4 record following last week’s 38-37 overtime loss to the Seahawks.