Troy Aikman Makes Bold Claim About C.J. Stroud

"Amazing," Aikman said to The New York Post. "It shouldn’t happen, first-year head coach [DeMeco Ryans], first-year offensive coordinator [Bobby Slowik], rookie quarterback, and he turns the program around, they go to the playoffs. Poised beyond any rookie that I’ve seen before. He was on the biggest stage in the NFL last week [in Indianapolis] of basically a playoff game, and he performed amazingly well, so real happy for him." 

Aikman is as qualified as anyone to explain how difficult it is to turn around a struggling franchise in your rookie season. After being selected No. 1 overall in the 1989 NFL Draft by the Cowboys, Aikman tossed nine touchdowns to 18 interceptions in his rookie season. 

The Cowboys went 0-11 in games he started. Dallas went 1-15 in Jimmy Johnson's first season as coach, with Norv Turner as a first-time offensive coordinator. All three would end up being legends in their respective positions, but their first year in Dallas was a struggle. 

The NFL is different today, but Stroud's rookie season -- along with those of coach DeMeco Ryans and offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik -- has been undeniably impressive. 

Stroud tossed 23 touchdowns to five interceptions during the regular season, helping a Texans team that had won just 11 games total the three prior years to claim the AFC South title. 

And after a 45-14 beatdown of the Cleveland Browns in Saturday's AFC Wild Card matchup, the incredible story for Stroud and the Texans is guaranteed to have at least one more chapter.