All-Time Cowboys QBs Ranked: Aikman #1, Staubach #2

Kevin Sweeney

#19 · Dallas Cowboys
Retired 2 Years In The NFL
🏆 2× PCAA Co-Most Valuable Player (1985, 1986)
Kevin's
HAIR
9.5
HeyTC AI Rating

Questions about Kevin Sweeney or the Cowboys?

Kevin Sweeney Legacy

HEYTC AI
Kevin Sweeney, the undersized Fresno State gunslinger standing all of 6 feet and 191 pounds, etched his name in NCAA lore by shattering Doug Flutie's passing yardage record with over 10,800 yards, capping a 32-13-1 dynasty that included an unbeaten 11-0-1 PCAA title run in '85. A two-time conference MVP and All-American, he finished ninth in Heisman voting and runner-up to Vinny Testaverde for the Davey O'Brien, his No. 9 forever retired by the Bulldogs. In the NFL, the seventh-round Cowboy thrilled Tom Landry with three TD strikes in a Giants comeback and a 77-yard bomb—third rookie starter ever, behind Meredith and Staubach—proving heart trumps height every time.

Kevin Sweeney Rating Breakdown

Season
Subpar
Fantasy
Average
Playoffs
Non-Factor
Overall
NPC
2 years with the Cowboys

Kevin Sweeney Career Stats via Wikipedia

605 Pass Yards
7 Touchdowns
6 INTs
44.3% Comp %
9.5 HAIR

Frequently Asked Questions About Kevin Sweeney

How does Dak Prescott compare to Kevin Sweeney?

Dak Prescott's lapping Kevin Sweeney's entire NFL output—605 yards, 7 TDs over two spot-start seasons—before breakfast on Sundays. Sweeney's a footnote from the '87 strike era, scrambling for 314 yards behind Steve Pelluer, while Dak's rewriting Cowboys lore with 30,000-plus yards and Pro Bowls galore. It's like comparing a pop warner cameo to prime Rodgers.

Is Kevin Sweeney in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Kevin Sweeney's not in Canton, and let's be real, 605 career yards and 7 TDs won't get you a bust next to Aikman or Staubach. The Hall's for ring-chasers and stat monsters; Sweeney's a gritty backup who lit up Lehigh with 2,604 yards and an unbeaten '82 run, but NFL-wise? Pure trivia fodder.

What is Kevin Sweeney doing now in 2026?

No fresh intel on Sweeney in 2026—he's vanished from the gridiron spotlight after those '87-88 Cowboys cups of coffee. Probably coaching high schoolers, grinding a 9-to-5, or tailgating Lehigh games anonymously. Guy went from college stud to NFL ghost; if he's broadcasting or charitied up, it's under the radar.

How would Kevin Sweeney perform in today's NFL?

Sweeney's old-school pocket presence and arm might snag a few checkdowns in today's pass-happy paradise—think 42% completion bloating to 60% with no bump-and-run corners—but his 9.49 passer rating screams turnover machine against zone blitzes. Modern NFL? Emergency third-stringer, not fantasy relevant.

How does Kevin Sweeney compare to Troy Aikman?

Troy Aikman's 69.66 rating towers over Sweeney's measly 9.49 like AT&T Stadium over a high school bleacher—three Super Bowls vs. two years of spot duty amid the '87 chaos. Both Cowboys QBs, sure, but Aikman owned Dallas; Sweeney was the strike-replacement curiosity who couldn't crack Pelluer's shadow.