Dallas Cowboys legend Troy Aikman will surprisingly add another chapter to his NFL career with the Miami Dolphins rather than with the team with which he won three Super Bowls. With the connections that Aikman has in Dallas, one would think he’d easily land an executive role in the front office, especially given his relationship with owner Jerry Jones. However, fate saw the former quarterback head to the Sunshine State.
How does he feel about it?
Troy Aikman Opens Up on Feelings About Cowboys Not Hiring Him As an Executive
While some players become executives, coaches, or analysts after their NFL careers, Aikman became a commentator, a role he has excelled in — even winning an Emmy Award. But after 25 years in the business, the Cowboys legend was hired by the Dolphins as a consultant to help search for their next head coach and general manager.
Many found it strange that Aikman had never been appointed to a similar role in Dallas, which he responded to on the “DLLS Cowboys Podcast.”
“I won’t be a general manager in the NFL,” he said. “But with that said, I’ll always wonder what kind of general manager I would’ve been, and I believe I would’ve been a good one. But everyone thinks they would be good at something they’ve never tried.”
“The Cowboys have never elected to do that, at least with me.”
Dallas Cowboys Legend Troy Aikman discusses his consultant role with the Miami Dolphins and why something like this hasn’t happened with his former team. pic.twitter.com/oXnhhKJrKu
— DLLS Cowboys (@DLLS_Cowboys) March 31, 2026
In his consulting capacity, Miami hired Jon-Eric Sullivan as general manager and Jeff Hafley as head coach. Sullivan spent 22 years as an executive with the Green Bay Packers, and Hafley is a former defensive coordinator from the Packers’ stable.
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“I think the Dolphins were wise in understanding my relationships around the league, and knowing that I have information that they don’t have, or can’t get,” Aikman added. “I think they were smart in taking advantage of that… The Cowboys never elected to do that, at least with me — maybe they have with others. But I don’t feel there’s a conflict [with the Cowboys never offering a similar position].”
With a hand in the Dolphins’ operational setup, Aikman will understandably root for Hafley’s team despite his rich history with the Cowboys.
“I will say I’m going for the Dolphins because now I have something at stake (having helped to hire new personnel),” he said. “I think they hired two really talented, wonderful people. I think that’s going to prove itself. Twenty-six is going to be a tough season because of the cap when they let Tua [Tagovailoa] go, but I want to see them do well.”
Hafley’s hiring caught many by surprise this offseason, and it will be interesting to see if Aikman and the rest of Miami’s executives delivered a masterstroke by hiring him.
