Aikman's Back Pain: NFL's Toll

0:00On March 29th, Troy Ackman opened up about his nagging back problems on a recent podcast. The Hall of Fame quarterback had surgery right after winning his first Super Bowl with the Dallas Cowboys. That fix came from the same docs who worked on stars like Wayne Gretzky and Darryl Strawberry. Even now, over 20 years later, he still deals with pain in that lower left-facet joint. The trouble started back in 1993 during a weightlifting session, though docs say it built up over time. No major red flags like nerve damage, men no rush for an MRI. His procedure cleared out a damaged disc piece between the fifth lumbar and first sacral vertebrae. It echoed what Joe Montana faced years earlier with the 49ers, but Ackman's op was a bit different. Ackman bounced back to play, feeling great at first, but the joint kept breaking down. Folks often blame his 11 concussions for an early exit at just 34 after 12 NFL seasons. Truth is, back shots helped him through that final 2000 game against Jacksonville,

1:01but the hits and wear powder too much. Fast forward and retirement was supposed to heal everything, per the doctors. Instead, he manages daily with flexibility work, smart eating, and wellness routines. No more surgeries or heavy meds. Ackman marbles at today's players, stretching careers way longer than his era allowed. These stories remind us football's toll lingers, no matter the three Super Bowl rings or the glory days. Ackman's grind keeps him moving, proving resilience off the field counts just as much.