The set of Good Morning America isn’t exactly where you expect bold Super Bowl predictions. But when Troy Aikman, a three-time champion and longtime face of the Dallas Cowboys, glanced toward Michael Strahan and named the Cowboys, it didn’t land like a confident pick. It landed like a punchline. Strahan raised his eyebrows. Joe Buck smirked. The studio laughed.

But that offhand moment sparked a wave of speculation. Was Aikman being serious? Sarcastic? Just trying to get a rise out of his old NFC East rival? Now, days later, the Hall of Fame quarterback has clarified what he meant—and why the Cowboys’ future, in his eyes, might still hold real promise.

During the May 13 episode of Good Morning America, NFL fans were treated to a rare moment of levity when Robin Roberts asked Troy Aikman for his Super Bowl pick. Sitting next to longtime partner Joe Buck and former Giants DE Michael Strahan, Aikman looked over and half-smirked, “Cowboys, yeah,” delivering the line with a sheepish grin that immediately triggered laughs and head shakes.

Now, we know it wasn’t entirely serious. The legend just confirmed it. Appearing later that day on ESPN NFL Schedule Release, Aikman addressed the viral moment. “People tend to get excited and overreact to everything these days. I was half-joking because Michael Strahan was in the studio,” he said with a chuckle, before pivoting to a more grounded analysis. He then praised the Eagles and the Commanders as the better and tougher teams. Joe Buck, meanwhile, made his own prediction with a bit more conviction, naming the Buffalo Bills as his title favorites.

The Cowboys have not won a Super Bowl in 3 decades. This year, Jerry Jones took many definitive steps. It started with the HC Mike McCarthy leaving the franchise. They stuck to their defensive upgrade plans in the Draft, despite fans’ anguish. Then they went ahead and signed WR George Pickens. They also signed another WR, Parris Campbell, from the Eagles. Jerry Jones realizes that the pain of not winning anything is crossing limits.

The Super Bowl-winning QB also gave his views on the Cowboys’ roster.

Troy Aikman believes the Cowboys might be better than people think

Aikman, who led Dallas to three Lombardi Trophies during the 1990s, knows how far the franchise has fallen in the public’s perception. The Cowboys haven’t appeared in an NFC Championship game since 1995—despite making the playoffs in five of the past seven seasons with Dak Prescott at the helm.

“I think Dallas has been flying under the radar a little bit this offseason,” Aikman said. “Rightfully so. They don’t deserve a lot of talk at this point. But I do believe they’re going to be a better football team this year.”

That cautious optimism is rooted in the team’s revamped roster. After parting ways with head coach Mike McCarthy, the Cowboys brought in Brian Schottenheimer—presumably to better align with Dak Prescott’s strengths. Despite criticism of their 2025 draft haul, including the selection of Alabama guard Tyler Booker at No. 12 overall, Jerry Jones pushed forward with moves in free agency. The strategy signals a shift toward building around Prescott in his prime. Still, the pressure is on.

Jones, now 82, is visibly determined to break the nearly three-decade Super Bowl drought. The Cowboys’ tag as “America’s Team” grows shakier each year they fall short. Recently, former Cowboys WR Michael Irvin became emotional while signing autographs, voicing frustration over the team’s failure to return to the NFL’s biggest stage. But Aikman insists that despite the criticism, there’s a path forward. “They’re going to contend and be stronger than they’ve probably gotten credit for up to this point,” Aikman added.

It’s not quite a Super Bowl guarantee. But for a fanbase that’s long since traded confidence for cautious hope, Troy Aikman’s tempered support might just be the signal they needed.