The Miami Dolphins are heading into the new season looking much different than last year. The Dolphins have a brand new quarterback with limited experience, a new general manager, and head coach.
After a handful of disappointing seasons, the Dolphins need all the help they can get to change things up.
Back in January, the Dolphins brought in Troy Aikman, a three-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback, as a consultant for their search for the general manager and head coach. Drafted first overall in 1989 from the UCLA Bruins, Aikman played twelve seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. He spent his whole career in Dallas, playing alongside Emmett Smith and Michael Irvin as one of the iconic trios in gridiron football.
Irvin recently addressed Aikman's new role as a consultant in Miami. He acknowledged that it pains him to see his former teammate suiting up to help the Dolphins while the Cowboys are also in a slump.
'It does pain me to see that. I mean, I think it's criminal for any club not to try to just glean as much as you can from a guy like Troy Aikman…. He understands each thing that's going on in your organization. I mean, there is no better place for information than to get it from a guy like Troy,' Irvin said
However, Irvin understands that it has to do with the Dallas management rather than Troy Aikman. Aikman had revealed he wanted a similar role in Dallas, like how John Elway was able to help the Broncos. He also explained how that wasn't possible under the structureJerry Jones has set up.
'Troy wanted a John Elway situation here in Dallas. And I know he wanted it, and certainly he's earned it. But it's not going to happen,' Irvin added
The Dallas Cowboys are entering the 2026 season with one of the most demanding travel schedules in the NFL. They are making necessary logistical practices before the regular season even begins. The team is set to face several long trips and quick turnarounds that could test both the players' conditioning and the coaching staff's ability to keep the roster healthy and prepared.
Dallas will arrive in Oxnard, California, for training camp in late July and spend nearly three weeks getting ready for preseason action. Their first preseason game comes on August 15 against the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. Instead of immediately returning home afterward, the Cowboys will remain on the West Coast to continue preparations.
The team's second preseason game will take place on August 22 against the Arizona Cardinals in Phoenix. After that matchup, Dallas will quickly head back to Texas with only a short turnaround before their final preseason game on August 28 at AT&T Stadium against the New Orleans Saints. That game will also carry extra attention because former Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore is now with New Orleans.
The preseason logistical nightmare will help when the regular season presents an even more unusual situation. Under the NFL's current 17-game format, the Cowboys are officially scheduled for nine home games and eight road games. However, one of those home games will actually be played internationally in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Cowboys will play the Baltimore Ravens on September 27.
As a result, the Cowboys will only play eight true home games at AT&T Stadium this season. The Brazil matchup counts as a neutral-site game, meaning Dallas loses some of the normal advantages that come with playing at home, including familiar surroundings, routine travel, and crowd support.
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