Cowboys Legend Troy Aikman has come down heavily on the NFL’s rules regarding quarterback safety.

Speaking on the Rodeo Time Podcast, Aikman reflected on how the new rule changes have affected the game.

Aikman said that while the current rules might be helpful for quarterbacks, they become increasingly difficult for the defensive linemen to follow.

“They protect quarterbacks. The quarterbacks are, are, you know, really what's driving the sport in a lot of ways,  not taking anything away from all the other players, but I mean, the quarterbacks are determining a lot of the futures for these teams," Aikman said on the matter.

Quarterbacks are the driving force for TV ratings and fan viewership. The NFL has implemented rules to protect quarterbacks from injuries over the years. This may seem like a good idea on paper, but referees have not enforced these rules correctly.

Defensive linemen have to be careful not to land on top of a quarterback when tackling, or not hit him after the quarterback releases the ball, or hit the quarterback below the knees.

Defensive linemen have increasingly become unsure about what is allowed and not allowed. The rule changes have also not had the desired effect. Quarterback injuries have been increasing since the 2023 season, and attrition is high.

When a quarterback gets injured, the wide receiver also gets impacted as their chemistry gets disrupted. Concussion and non-contact soft tissue injuries remain the biggest contributors to quarterback injuries.

Troy Aikman Shares How He Would Fare in the Modern NFL

When asked about how his game would have translated in today’s rules, Aikman had a pretty straightforward answer.

“It'd be fine. I think I would have really enjoyed playing in today's NFL.  It's different, you know, and there are elements of the game that I maybe don't like as much," Aikman said, referring to the new quarterback rules.

Aikman also spoke at length about how he would have liked to play in a pass-heavy game rather than a running-heavy game during his time.

“The pendulum is starting to swing back more towards running the football, but there was a period where teams were throwing the ball a lot, you know, 60, 65, 70% of the time. And to be a quarterback in that type of offense, which I never was, would have been appealing to me,” Aikman said.

Do you think the new quarterback rules are essential, or are they hindering the gameplay? Let us know in the comments!

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Written by

Shyam Hari

Edited by

Kalp Thaker