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14) Troy Aikman
Dallas Cowboys, 1989-2000
If Young was the prototype for the modern-day quarterback, Aikman was the embodiment of what every GM in pro football was looking for at the position from 1950 until Y2K. That is, a tall, steady presence in the pocket and in the huddle, complete with a strong arm that operated with a tight release. Aikman could see, sense and let it fly as quickly as anyone, despite not being necessarily known for doing so. You might have heard that Aikman's numbers aren't as impressive because the
Cowboys' offense was all about running the football. Well, that isn't exactly true. What
is accurate is that Dallas' offense was a replica of the Air Coryell attack, which threw for quality, not quantity. With the
Cowboys leading so often late in games in the '90s, there was no need to keep chucking it. From 1992 through 1995, the
Cowboys led the league in fourth-quarter rushing attempts every season. Thus, the low passing yards. Moreover, Aikman was a master of the intermediate throws: the deep outs and the skinny posts. So, no, his passer rating didn't soar over 100, because he didn't incessantly toss the Sam Bradford-to-
Jerick McKinnon 2-yard dumps that inflate completion percentage and passer rating. What Aikman did do was win. He won his first seven postseason starts, ultimately finishing with an 11-4 playoff mark. He was outstanding when the
Cowboys needed him to be. From 1992 through '95, there was no better playoff quarterback.
Perhaps what is most notable is what many opponents (and the legendary Pat Summerall) said about Aikman: That he was the most accurate passer they ever saw.