Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman certainly understands the Dallas and Washington rivalry better than anyone. The three-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback played 12 years for the Cowboys and had his career ended in 2000 on a hit by Washington linebacker Lavar Arrington.
Shortly after his playing career ended, Aikman joined the broadcast booth where he has been ever since, becoming one of the NFL’s best color commentators as a member of Fox’s No. 1 team with Joe Buck.
So, even after his career, Aikman has called plenty of Washington/Dallas games. Therefore, he’s seen plenty of Washington quarterbacks over the years.
Now, Aikman thinks Washington may have something in its current starting quarterback, Taylor Heinicke. Aikman was a guest on “The Musers” on 1310 “The Ticket” [KTCK-AM] in Dallas-Fort Worth this week and talked Week 14’s game between the WFT and Cowboys and Heinicke.
“We had one game this year,” Aikman said, referencing he and Buck calling a Washington game. “I like him. I like the way he competes. I like the way he can move around. I think he does some really good things, and I think the players believe in him.”
In the early years of Aikman’s career, his offensive coordinator was Norv Turner. Turner would later become Washington’s head coach for seven seasons. Now, Turner’s son, Scott, is Heinicke’s offensive coordinator with Washington.
He’s (Heinicke) one of those guys you pull for because he has been the underdog for his whole career, yet here he is doing some good things in the NFL for the Washington team. I like what I’ve seen. And I like what I’ve seen of their offense in the way they’ve been able to play and do some good things there with Scott Turner. Norv’s son is the offensive coordinator, and I think he’s kind of hitting his stride as well as a play-caller.
Washington swept Dallas in 2020. Heinicke wasn’t the quarterback in either of those games, so this will be his first action against Washington’s hated rival.
A win on Sunday and Heinicke will further enhance his already growing legend with a large portion of Washington’s fan base.