“Tragic”: Cowboys Legend Troy Aikman Mourns Major Oklahoma City Tragedy With Noble Gesture

Even though Troy Aikman will always be remembered as the Dallas Cowboys’ cool-headed quarterback, if you ask him where his soul is, he’ll probably say it’s far from Texas stadiums and Hall of Fame busts. “I went from being a city kid riding my bike everywhere to living seven miles outside of town on dirt roads on a working farm—feeding cows, pigs, goats, horses, you name it,” said Aikman. A young Troy discovered that the most important lessons in life are not found in playbooks but rather in grazing livestock at the crack of dawn in Henryetta, Oklahoma. He didn’t just grow up in Oklahoma. The place helped shape who he is now.

April 19, 1995. Oklahoma doesn’t require an explanation for that date. 168 people were killed in the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, which changed Oklahoma City’s spirit forever and left a haunting country. And three decades after tragedy shook the state to its core, Aikman isn’t just remembering the pain—he’s showing up to honor it, in a way only he can. Because it wasn’t only a national tragedy to Troy Aikman. It was painfully personal.

He discussed the tragic day with Eddie Radosevich on the Franchise Morning show. The Franchise Sports (@FranchiseOK) posted on X: Hall of Famer Troy Aikman joined the Franchise Morning Show to talk about his involvement with the OKC Memorial Marathon with EIGHT beer, as well as preview the NFL Draft and talk about Baker Mayfield’s journey in the league. When Eddie Radosevich asked Aikman about what he remembers from that day, Aikman responded, “Yeah. Well, it was, you know, obviously, a tragic event in our nation’s history. And, it impacted me, because of my ties and the time spent there in Oklahoma.” Then he added, “My sister was at St. Anthony’s when the bombing took place.” She was already entrenched in the city’s healthcare community—the CEO of St. Anthony—and for the Aikman family, the events of that day dug deep.

Hall of Famer Troy Aikman joined the Franchise Morning Show to talk about his involvement with the OKC Memorial Marathon with EIGHT beer, as well as preview the NFL Draft and talk about Baker Mayfield’s journey in the league.https://t.co/TdNTLgbwLt pic.twitter.com/7KUd5TvEYC

— The Franchise Sports (@FranchiseOK) April 23, 2025

Aikman, Jerry Jones, and the whole Dallas Cowboys team flew to Oklahoma City shortly after the bombing. The task? To visit hospitals, meet first responders, and just be there. Because you don’t just send prayers and thoughts when your second home is in danger. You show up. “Jerry flew us up there, had a chance to visit with a lot of the first responders, went by the hospitals, visited with a lot of the people that were involved, in the bombing, and, just a tragic, tragic time,” said Aikman.

He even remembered that he and his sister were supposed to talk to ESPN’s Roy Firestone at a charity softball game that was planned to help the victims and first responders of the bombing. I did my interview, and then it was time for my sister to do hers, and she couldn’t do it. It was just too emotional. As close as she and I are, we’ve never talked about it. It was such a dark time, not just for Oklahoma but for our country.” The bombing may have happened thirty years ago, but for Aikman—and for Oklahoma—it still echoes.

Troy Aikman honors tragedy with EIGHT beer sponsorship

In 2025, the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon will commemorate the bombing’s 30th anniversary as well as its 25th running. And Troy Aikman will be the one standing tall at the finish line, both literally and emotionally. But he won’t just be there as a spectator. He will be there as a sponsor, honoring the resilience of the Oklahoma spirit with his most recent endeavour, EIGHT Elite Light Beer.

Aikman’s passion project, EIGHT, is a light beer made with just three ingredients: water, malt, and hops. It was inspired by his conviction in clean living and genuine connections. No additives, sweeteners, or sugars. It was introduced in Oklahoma and is brewed with the same purity that Aikman infuses into everything he touches. “I think a lot of people what they don’t understand is that these big light beer companies they put a lot of additives in their beer. There’s a lot of sweeteners, sugar, syrups, corn, rice. Eight has none of that,” he remarked.

But make no mistake—this isn’t just about brand synergy. It’s about legacy. It’s about showing up for a community that shaped him. “People run for different reasons,” Aikman said. “But the message that comes out of all of this is how resilient the state of Oklahoma is.”

This year, Tammy, Aikman’s sister, will participate in the race once again. Carrying on her yearly custom of remembering the lives lost and those forever altered. And, runners will receive more than just medals when they cross the finish line; they will receive a beer, which was created to honor those who put in the work. Aikman has himself run marathons and feels that the best moment after a runner finishes the race is when he cracks open a beer. “The hard work is preparing for the run. But then, when you get to the race, that’s the fun part. And the most fun part is when you finish and you get that beer to celebrate,” he added.

This isn’t a marketing stunt. This is a man going back to his roots. This is Troy Aikman, Oklahoma’s son, offering a cold beer and a warm gesture to a city that never forgot what it means to rise after ruin.

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