NFL Network's 'A Football Life' Profiles Hall of Fame Quarterback Troy Aikman

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​​'Troy Aikman: A Football Life' Airs Friday, December 2 at 9:00 PM ET​

"Honestly, if we would have had more people like Troy, I guarantee you we would have won more." – Michael Irvin

The sixth season of NFL Network's Emmy-nominated series A Football Life Presented by Gillette continues Friday, December 2 at 9:00 PM ET with Troy Aikman: A Football Life, profiling Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman. The one-hour show produced by NFL Films features sitdown interviews with Aikman, former teammates Michael Irvin, Emmitt Smith and Jay Novacek, former head coaches Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer, and more.

Each episode of A Football Life – as well as all NFL Network programming – is streamed live on the NFL Mobile from Verizon app (NFL.com/mobile) and via Watch NFL Network on tablet (NFL Mobile and Watch NFL Network apps), PC (NFL.com/watch), Xbox One and Xbox 360(NFL on Xbox app) and other connected TV devices (NFL app on Apple TV and Playstation 4). To watch full episodes of A Football Life and for additional content, visit NFL.com/AFootballLife.

During his 12 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, Troy Aikman was known for his calm, unflappable demeanor and the apparent ease with which he played the quarterback position. Yet Aikman's football life was one of hard work, trying times and ultimate success. Troy Aikman: A Football Life explores the career of the three-time Super Bowl champion, chronicling the immense success he achieved as a player and his post-playing career in broadcasting.

To view a trailer for Troy Aikman: A Football Life, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeB8u1iTDdg.

Among the topics discussed in Troy Aikman: A Football Life are:

The work ethic, toughness and discipline he learned from his father, and how it made him a successful football player

Choosing to play at the University of Oklahoma over Oklahoma State, and then transferring to UCLA

The Cowboys' selection of Steve Walsh in the Supplemental Draft and the quarterback competition entering his rookie season

in the Supplemental Draft and the quarterback competition entering his rookie season The decision to start Steve Beuerlein in the playoffs in 1991

in the playoffs in 1991 The differences in coaching styles between Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer

and His decision to retire from football and pursuing a career in broadcasting

Emmy-nominated actor Josh Charles narrates.

Troy Aikman: A Football Life includes interviews and appearances from the following people and more:

Troy Aikman

Jerry Jones – Cowboys owner

Emmitt Smith – Cowboys teammate

Michael Irvin – Cowboys teammate

Jimmy Johnson – Former Cowboys head coach

Jay Novacek – Cowboys teammate

Daryl Johnston – Cowboys teammate

Steve Walsh – Cowboys teammate

Barry Switzer – Former Cowboys and University of Oklahoma head coach

Norv Turner – Former Cowboys offensive coordinator

Terry Donahue – Former UCLA head coach

Jerry Rhome – Former Cowboys quarterback coach

Brad Sham – Cowboys radio broadcaster

Provided below are some select quotes from Troy Aikman: A Football Life:

- "Our huddle was absolute chaos. There are five guys in there with big personalities just saying how we should play the rest of the game…As soon as Troy walked back into the huddle, you could hear a pin drop. Everything stopped. He was in control." – Daryl Johnston

- "You watch his mechanics and they're always the same, and they're just dang-near perfect." – Jay Novacek

- "I don't know that I was always as calm as what it may have appeared. I'm certainly a very emotional guy and I don't know that that was ever captured." – Troy Aikman

- "[Steve] Walsh knew the offense but there was clearly, clearly a talent difference. Troy's arm is a gift from God." – Michael Irvin

- "It's the game I'm most proud of, as strange as that sounds. I'm proud of the way that we responded and I believed that we showed the football world why it was that we had been champions." – Troy Aikman on the loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game

- "That was the first time I really felt like I feel the pressure. I feel that he feels he has to do the things that Jimmy used to do to keep everybody there and I'm sure that took a lot of fun out of it for him." – Michael Irvin

- "As great as the first part of my career was, the back half of my career was every bit as frustrating. Once Jimmy left, I felt like we were kind of hanging on." – Troy Aikman

- "Concussions had nothing to do – absolutely nothing to do – with my retirement. Ultimately, the reason I retired after 12 years was because I felt that I had worked hard to develop some level of credibility and respect within this game. And I felt like that was being jeopardized by decisions that were being made beyond my control within the organization, and I didn't want to be a part of it anymore." – Troy Aikman

- "Honestly, if we would have had more people like Troy, I guarantee you we would have won more." – Michael Irvin

This year, the 13-episode season of the highly-acclaimed series A Football Life airs Friday at 9:00 PM ET. Below is a broadcast schedule for the upcoming episodes of A Football Life:

December 9 – Charles Woodson

– Charles Woodson December 16 – Kevin Greene

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