Veteran Dallas sports columnist Randy Galloway shared a little-known story about the early years of the Dallas Cowboys dynasty during the latest episode of The Galloway Gallop on Dallas Express Sports Network.
Galloway recalled the aftermath of the Cowboys’ playoff loss to Detroit early in the Jimmy Johnson era, when quarterback Troy Aikman entered late in the game after starter Steve Beuerlein struggled.
According to Galloway, the situation left Aikman furious.
“Troy was finished. He was out of here,” Galloway said, recalling that Aikman told him he wanted to be traded.
Galloway said Aikman told him the news privately in the locker room, giving the columnist what would have been a major scoop. But Aikman asked him not to publish the story immediately.
“I went, ‘Troy, God, I have just scooped the world,’” Galloway recalled.
The next day, however, everything changed.
Aikman called Galloway and explained that head coach Jimmy Johnson had met with him and reassured him about the future of the franchise.
“He said Jimmy called me in and said, ‘Troy, the team is yours,’” Galloway said. “Who do you want to be the offensive coordinator? Who do you want at receivers? What do you want?”
Aikman ultimately stayed with the Cowboys, and the team went on to build one of the most dominant dynasties in NFL history.
Galloway said he never regretted honoring Aikman’s request not to publish the story immediately.
“You’ve got to honor that,” he said. “You totally destroy trust if you don’t.”
Watch the full episode of The Galloway Gallop below to hear the full story.