Is Troy Aikman a Hall of Fame Quarterback?

Should an individual player get into the NFL Hall of Fame based mostly on the accomplishments of the TEAM he played on? If we’re talking about running backs, receivers, or defensive players, the history of the NFL’s Hall of Fame answers the question with a resounding no. Backs, receivers, and defensive players must get in on the basis of superior statistics, or tremendous impact. But, why is that standard seemingly ignored when it comes to quarterbacks? Or, rather, some quarterbacks?

Troy Aikman is not a Hall of Fame quarterback. Troy Aikman’s statistics pale in comparison to his peers during his playing era. Many of his numbers even fall short of Hall of Fame quarterbacks who played in less pass happy eras (pre-1980’s). However, Troy Aikman is one of the leading candidates for induction in the NFL’s 2006 Hall of Fame class. Why?
His proponents will tout his three Super Bowl Championships. They’ll say that he is one of only three quarterbacks who started and won three Super Bowls. That’s quite an accomplishment – team accomplishment. The Hall of Fame is not about team accomplishments, though, it’s about individual accomplishments. If the Hall were to use team accomplishments as the gauge, then the busts of Tarkenton, Marino, Fouts, and Kelly would have to be sacked, while Plunkett, Theismann, and Simms would have busts erected.

Some critics will attempt to argue that it’s the combination of stats and team accomplishments that warrant Hall consideration. Okay, we know about the three rings, so, let’s look at Aikman’s stats. He played in 165 games over 12 years. He passed for 32,942 yards, with 165 touchdowns and 141 interceptions. He also rushed for 1,016 yards and 9 touchdowns. He ranks 48th overall in career passing touchdowns and 20th in career passing yards. He had five 3,000 yard passing seasons, but only one season in which he threw 20+ touchdowns.

Those are good, but not elite, quarterbacking numbers. From my understanding, the Hall of Fame was created, and, is reserved, for elite players. Not only was Aikman not an elite quarterback, he wasn’t even the offensive leader on his three Super Bowl winning teams. The offense, unquestionably, revolved around the running of Emmitt Smith, who became the NFL’s all time rushing yards leader. Troy Aikman led his team to victory by handing the ball off to one of the five greatest running backs in NFL history.

Even in the game that supposedly `defines’ a quarterback (Super Bowl), Aikman never dominated the opposing defense. In the three wins, Aikman was the MVP once, in a game where the defense forced NINE turnovers. Basically, he was the MVP because no one person stood out on defense, and they couldn’t give it to the entire defensive unit.

Aikman’s leading candidacy for the Hall of Fame can’t be rooted in anything other than likeability. His numbers don’t add up, and he lacks dominance in any one season, any one game, or at anytime on his particular team. Further, the standard used for Aikman does not apply to other Super Bowl winning quarterbacks.

Neither Joe Theismann nor Phil Simms, who have at least one Super Bowl ring, and who contributed to at least one other Super Bowl appearance by their team, and who both have stats superior to, or comparable to, Troy Aikman, ever garner Hall of Fame consideration. But, if Aikman’s being considered, why not Theismann and Simms? Theismann played in 167 games, with 160 touchdowns, 138 interceptions, and 25,206 yards. His touchdowns per game were basically the same as Aikman’s, and his touchdown to interception ratio was almost identical. Theismann had only three 3,000 yard passing seasons, but topped Aikman with three 20+ touchdown seasons. Aikman’s biggest touchdown season was 23, whereas Theismann had seasons of 24 and 29. Plus, Theismann almost doubled Aikman’s rushing stats with 1,815 yards and 17 touchdowns.

What about Phil Simms? He played in 164 games, and totaled 33,462 passing yards, 199 touchdowns, 157 interceptions, and 1,252 rushing yards with 6 touchdowns. Even more, Simms had six 3,000 yard passing years, including one over 4,000 yards, and four years of 20+ touchdown passes. That’s one less game than Aikman, but more passing yards, more touchdowns, more productive seasons, and a better touchdown to interception ratio.

In some people’s minds, this may only make a case for Theismann and Simms, and not against Aikman. But, let’s look at some of the numbers of Aikman’s non-Hall, non-championship peers. Warren Moon, Boomer Esiason, Dave Krieg, and Randall Cunningham all competed in the same era as Troy Aikman. Cunningham is the only one not yet eligible for the Hall, and Moon is a candidate, albeit little spoken of, with Aikman this year.

Of these quarterbacks, none played with a Hall of Fame caliber running back, and only Cunningham played with a defense the caliber of the Cowboy’s during Aikman’s years. However, Cunningham, supposedly a running quarterback, had 42 more touchdowns, a much better touchdown to interception ratio, and almost five times as many rushing yards and rushing touchdowns as Troy Aikman. And, Cunningham did this while playing only one more game than Aikman, and always being the focal point of his opposition’s defense.

Boomer Esiason is often left out when speaking of the great quarterbacks of his era. But, Esiason is 12th on both the NFL’s all time passing touchdown and passing yardage list. His touchdown to interception ratio is better than Aikman’s, and he had two more 3,000 yard passing seasons, and four more 20+ touchdown seasons than Aikman.

Now, Dave Krieg (yes, Dave Krieg) may hold the NFL record for fumbles by a quarterback, but he’s also 9th on the career touchdown passes list with 261 touchdowns in 213 games. Krieg had five years of 20+ touchdowns, compared to Aikman’s one, and he had a better touchdown to interception ratio. His six seasons of over 3,000 yards passing tops Aikman’s five, and Krieg is 11th on the career passing yardage list.

Warren Moon almost has no peer in the passing game. He is fourth and fifth on the NFL’s all time passing yarding and passing touchdowns list, respectively. He was elected to nine Pro Bowls (six for Aikman), and passed for 4,000 yards almost as many times (4) as Aikman passed for 3,000 yards (5). Warren Moon should be a lock for this year’s Hall of Fame class.

The era Aikman played in will be known as one of the most prolific quarterbacking eras in football history. Hall of Famers Joe Montana, Steve Young, Dan Marino, John Elway, and Jim Kelly, and thus far non-Hall of Famers Warren Moon, Randall Cunningham, Dave Krieg, Phil Simms and Boomer Esiason all competed against Troy Aikman, and statistically outshined Aikman. Esiason, Krieg, and Simms have been Hall eligible for years, Moon is on the ballot this year and Cunningham’s up for consideration beginning next year.

Troy Aikman should not be a leading candidate for Hall consideration in a year when Warren Moon is eligible, nor in any year when quarterbacks who were his peers or superior (Simms, Esiason, Theismann, Krieg) have been continually overlooked. In other words, if Aikman’s a Hall of Famer, so are the other quarterbacks I’ve named. But, if they’re not Hall of Famers, then Aikman shouldn’t be considered in any year. His greatest contribution to the game was handing off to Emmitt Smith.